CINCINNATI (WKRC) – While the Reds may not have hit the home run fans hoped this offseason, they haven’t exactly struck out either.

The Athletic reported on Thursday that the team was in trade talks with the Chicago White Sox in an attempt to land slugger Luis Robert Jr., but that those talks ended on Sunday when the Reds were unwilling to part with shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo and couldn’t agree how much of Robert’s contract the White Sox would pay. Robert is slated to make $15 million in 2025 and has $20 million club options for both 2026 and 2027 that can be bought out for $2 million each season. That means Robert is guaranteed $17 million, which would be worth the price if he can be guaranteed to turn in a season like he did in 2023 when the center fielder had a slash line of .264/.315/.542 with 38 homers. The problem is he never hit more than 14 homers in any of his other four seasons, and last season he slashed .224/.278/.379.

Robert may well have been the home run fans were hoping, especially considering he also won a Gold Glove as a rookie in 2020, but it also could have been a costly whiff, as well.

In place of landing Robert the Reds earlier on Tuesday reportedly reached an agreement with free agent outfielder Austin Hays pending a physical.

The cost for Hays is $5 million, and while he is coming off a sub-par season with both the Baltimore Orioles and Philadelphia Phillies in which he slashed .255/.303/.396 with six home runs in 255 plate appearances, he was also plagued by leg injuries and then a kidney infection in September. In the previous three seasons with Baltimore as a starter he hit 54 homers and was selected to the American League All-Star team in 2023.

This is the type of reasonably-priced move the Reds must make, at least under the constrains of what ownership is willing to shell out in terms of overall payroll. You may argue that ownership should be willing to spend more, but if Director of Baseball Operations Nick Krall has a payroll guideline he must meet, then signing Hays for $5 million rather than adding Robert for $17 million and parting ways with a top prospect is the prudent move.

The Reds needed to add a right-handed hitting outfield bat and they did that with Hays. It’s not too far-fetched to believe at 29 years old he can have a bounce back season close to what he did from 2021-23, and he has a career OPS of .800 against left-handed pitching.

Hays has played all three outfield spots, although he has primarily been a corner outfielder, and new Reds manager Terry Francona could have a full right-handed hitting outfield of Hays in right field, Stuart Fairchild in center field (has a career OPS of .755 against left-handed pitching) and Spencer Steer in left field. The Reds had a team OPS of .673 against left-handed pitchers last season.

The Hays move was followed up on Wednesday by the team acquiring veteran left-handed relief pitcher Taylor Rogers in exchange for minor league right-hander Braxton Roxby. The Giants are also reportedly sending $6 million to Cincinnati to help offset half the cost of Rogers’ $12 million contract.

The 34-year-old Rogers has been a durable reliever since breaking into the majors in 2016 and has closing experience. He has a career 3.34 ERA in 490 2/3 innings pitched, with 509 appearances. He has 83 saves, including two 30-save seasons.

He not only gives the Reds an alternative to closer Alexis Diaz on days Diaz needs a rest, but also gives them a third quality left-hander in the bullpen to go along with Sam Moll and Brent Suter (and potentially a fourth if Alex Young makes the team on a minor league deal).

Those two moves come after the Reds earlier this offseason traded for starting pitcher Brady Singer, who may allow Francona to move Nick Martinez back to the bullpen. The team traded for veteran backup catcher Jose Trevino to replace the departed Luke Maile, and added utilityman Gavin Lux, who provides depth at several positions.

It’s hard to argue the offseason moves don’t either make the team better or have the potential to make the team better.

With what should be a quality pitching staff, the continuing evolution of shortstop Elly De La Cruz, return of Matt McLain and a healthy Christian Encarnacion-Strand added to the mix, the Reds have actually positioned themselves for major improvement over their 2024 win-loss record without hitting that home run acquisition.