3 Major Free Agents Reds Should Target In 2026

The Cincinnati Reds, having just promptly exited the 2025 postseason without a win, have an important offseason ahead of them. Will they continue to sign band-aid fix players to single-year contracts, or is this the season they finally push their chips in and bring in some serious help?

If Cincinnati does decide to take the latter route, there are many names to choose from who could come in and have an immediate impact. Here’s a look at three major free agents the Reds should target in 2026, as well as who’s all set to leave.

Who’s Leaving? Jul 19, 2025; New York City, New York, USA; Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Emilio Pagan (15) follows through on a pitch against the New York Mets during the ninth inning at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images

First things first, Cincinnati is set to lose several players this offseason. This includes multiple pitchers and outfielders, thus these areas will be most important to target in free agency. 

The pitchers who are becoming free agents include Scott Barlow, Zack Littell, Wade Miley, Nick Martinez, Emilio Pagan, and Brent Suter. The outfielders who are becoming free agents are Miguel Andujar and Austin Hays. 

With that out of the way, let’s look at who the Reds should consider signing this offseason.

Kyle Schwarber

The most obvious player, and the most widely speculated to happen, is Kyle Schwarber. With the Philadelphia Phillies this season, the Middletown-native averaged .240 at the plate with a NL-leading (and second in the MLB) 56 home runs. 

Schwarber also led the MLB in RBI’s with 132. It helps that he’s extremely available as a player, having played in all 162 games this season and at least 150 games each season since 2022. 

The caveat here is the price tag, as Schwarber is coming off a contract worth $ 19.75 million and just had a phenomenal season. He could easily sign with a team in a bigger market with more money to throw around, but there’s still a chance it could happen.

Coming off the heels of their first postseason appearance in half a decade, Cincinnati could decide to pull the trigger now and spend. This would both add an extremely effective bat to the lineup and plug in the gap in left field that the Reds were trying to figure out all season. 

This is the move that makes the most sense, but feels out of reach for the Castellini-owned franchise. If it does happen, however, it would firmly place Cincinnati in the playoff conversation. 

Raisel Iglesias Sep 20, 2025; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Atlanta Braves pitcher Raisel Iglesias (26) pitches in the ninth inning against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Images

The former Redleg, Raisel Iglesias, could also be a good pickup for Cincinnati, as Pagan’s absence (assuming they let him walk) will be felt. This season, Iglesias finished with a 3.21 ERA and 73 strikeouts in just over 67 innings.

Pagan secured the closing role for himself this year, and next year it’s anybody’s guess as to who on the current roster would take his place. Iglesias could easily slide in as a legitimate threat as a closer for this team and could even have a bigger impact than Pagan. 

While this would be another swing-for-the-fences kind of signing, as Iglesias’s last contract was worth $14,500,000, it could still be a massive difference maker. Like Schwarber, this is a move that (on paper) makes almost too much sense. 

Max Scherzer Nov 1, 2025; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Max Scherzer (31) reacts after being relieved against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the fifth inning for game seven of the 2025 MLB World Series at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

With the hit to the pitching staff that Cincinnati is taking this offseason, an addition like Max Scherzer could be just what they need. Injuries among pitchers are abundant (especially in the Queen City), and having a player of this caliber rounding out the rotation would create a deadly assembly line of arms for opponents.

Theoretically, this would give the Reds a starting rotation of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Brady Singer, Andrew Abbott, and Scherzer. Of course, this could change, as Chase Burns or Rhett Lowder could always force their way into the lineup, but these would be the guys opponents prepare for all season. 

Scherzer finished this season with a 5.19 ERA and 82 strikeouts through 17 games. While this isn’t as impressive as his 3.22 career ERA, he’s the kind of pitcher who’s a threat every time he steps out on the mound. 

This move would ensure that even when dealing with an injured starter that Cincinnati would have multiple ace-quality players in the rotation. Coming off a contract worth $15,500,000, though, Scherzer would most likely come with a very large price tag. 

End Of My Reds Rant

Despite none of these three signings being likely, each of Schwarber, Iglesias, and Scherzer could have a major impact on the team. While Schwarber would be exactly the kind of reliable power bat to help the Reds cash in on more runs, Iglesias would anchor the bullpen, and Scherzer would round out the rotation.

Another thing these moves would do is signal to the fans that the organization is serious about contending. With a relationship as tumultuous as the one between Reds ownership and their team’s fans, any show of good grace would be shot in the arm to a largely dejected fanbase.