CINCINNATI (WXIX) – On Saturday, after the Cincinnati Reds added two outfielders who were good in 2024 but took a step back in 2025, Nick Krall described signing JJ Bleday and trading for Dane Myers as “potential upside” moves.
Krall views Bleday as a solid corner outfield defender who has provided some power and can come into camp and compete for an every day spot in the lineup.
The Reds traded Double-A outfielder Ethan O’Donnell for Myers in a deal that Krall said developed in about 18 hours. Krall said that Myers’ demonstrated ability to hit LHP as well as Myers’ standout defense can help the club in 2026.
While the Reds just added two outfielders and while they have 13 potential big league roster spots accounted for with players already on the roster, the front office still has the flexibility to make more moves.
“We’ve got some more money to be able to use,” Krall said. “We looked at these deals as potential upside. But it also allows us to continue to make this team better.”
Bleday is reportedly set to make $1.4 million, and Myers is on a pre-arbitration contract. The Reds’ front office didn’t exhaust its financial flexibility with these two moves.
“You’re still looking for bullpen depth,” Krall said. “We’re still looking to add some offense. Both of them are places you’d love to be able to get better… We’re going to try to improve the rest of the offseason. We want to figure out if there’s a way to get better. We’ve got a good group to go in and compete. You’re always looking to get better.”
Right now, here’s where the position player group stands.
CATCHER: Tyler Stephenson and Jose Trevino.
The Reds are set here for 2026. A very under-the-radar storyline is that this is Stephenson’s final year of team control, and a potential replacement for 2027 isn’t in the farm system. Catcher is the Reds’ weakest spot in the minor leagues outside of Alfredo Duno, a 19-year-old who is a couple of years away. Do the Reds and Stephenson reach a deal on an extension?
FIRST BASE: Spencer Steer/Sal Stewart
The following lineup should be really good defensively: Steer (1B), Matt McLain (2B), Elly De La Cruz (SS), Ke’Bryan Hayes (3B), Bleday/Myers (LF), TJ Friedl (CF), Noelvi Marte (RF).
The Reds have consistently valued defense over the last few years, and Steer was a Gold Glove finalist. Krall also said that Steer remains an option in left field.
There’s going to be plenty of room for Stewart to play, and Krall said that Steer remains an option in left field. The Reds’ lineup needs difference makers in the top-half to emerge. Terry Francona has called Stewart one of the more polished young hitters that he has seen, and Stewart will get a chance to grow through big league at-bats. Stewart can also play second base and third base.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand is on the 40-man roster.
SECOND BASE: Matt McLain
Shoulder surgeries typically take two years to fully come back from, and the Reds have a lot of hope in McLain. Also, for a team that values defense as much as the Reds, McLain is one of the best defensive second basemen in MLB.
The options behind him include Gavin Lux (who made 16 starts at second base in 2025) and Stewart.
Krall said on Saturday that after the Reds added two outfielders, that allows Lux to be a utility infielder more than a utility outfielder.
SHORTSTOP: Elly De La Cruz
De La Cruz won’t start 162 games again in 2026. McLain will move to shortstop on the days where De La Cruz is out of the lineup. Edwin Arroyo will be one of the most interesting prospects to track in the farm system this year as he gets closer to his MLB debut, and he represents the Reds’ next level of depth at shortstop.
THIRD BASE: Ke’Bryan Hayes
The Hayes deal was the clearest example of how much the Reds value defense. While Hayes posted the second-worst OPS of any qualified hitter last year, he’s the best defensive third baseman in the sport.
LEFT FIELD: Ask at the end of spring training (JJ Bleday, Dane Myers, Will Benson).
There’s a very wide range of outcomes for how Bleday’s 2026 season goes. He has the tools, which he showed during his great 2024 season. He also didn’t play well enough in 2025 to keep his spot with the Athletics as he posted a below-average OPS.
“If he can get back to (who he was in 2024) and we can get him back to that,” Krall said, “That’s an everyday player that has some legitimate add to your offense.”
Bleday working on his approach at the plate to get back to the hitter he was in 2024. Last year, he swung and missed too often on pitches in the strike zone.
“The main thing is getting back to the fluidity in my swing and staying in the middle of the field,” Bleday said.
He also spoke at length about the work he’s doing to take the next step defensively in 2026.
“The main thing for me is the speed and first step in the outfield type stuff,” Bleday said. “I’ve done a few things different with my training. More quick twitch type things rather than straight power lifting. I feel like I already have the strength. How can we get that up to speed as quick as we can? I take a lot of pride in my defense.”
Whether it’s Bleday or Benson in the outfield against RHP, Myers profiles as their platoon partner. Myers feels like an upgrade in the role that Stuart Fairchild filled in 2023 and 2024.
Because your depth always gets tested during a season, Myers will eventually get a shot with the Reds to show what he can do vs. RHP. He was below average in those matchups in Miami, and that should give him and the Reds’ staff a clear focus to work on during the spring.
His defense has been his calling card, and Bleday said on Saturday that he knows Myers as a “playmaker” in the outfield.
Bleday said, “I’ve seen a lot of (Myers’) defensive highlights. He’s a really good defender, he can really put the ball on the baseball and he’s a tremendous athlete.”
Benson deserved more opportunity during a 2025 season where he crushed the baseball all year and got unlucky. But the fact that he didn’t get a ton of chances last year followed by today’s moves shows something about where he stands on the depth chart.
Krall made it sound like the Reds continue to look at opportunities to add a potential starting outfielder to the roster, and that player could jump to the front of the line in left field.
Also, you’re going to see a lot of Hector Rodriguez next season. The 21-year-old should be a top-100 prospect in baseball, and his aggressive and dynamic style of hitter is going to bring a different and exciting look to the lineup as soon as he’s ready for his MLB debut.
CENTER FIELD: TJ Friedl
Similar to De La Cruz, the Reds are looking to get Friedl more days off in 2026. Last year, Friedl had an incredible start to the season but faded off in the second half during a year where he made 148 starts in center field.
Friedl is clearly a guy that this coaching staff and front office values. Krall confirmed on Saturday that Friedl is still the guy in center field. Francona slotted Friedl into the leadoff spot all year in 2025, and Friedl had the third-best OBP (.364) of any qualified leadoff hitter in MLB. He fits the team’s identity of creating chaos, getting on base, moving runners and situational hitting.
Myers is an ideal backup for Friedl as a right-handed hitter, and Myers also stole 18 bases last year and can make an impact as a runner.
RIGHT FIELD: Noelvi Marte
His ceiling is as high as any player on the Reds, and the move to the outfield unlocked a huge step from Marte last summer.
DH: Gavin Lux/ Sal Stewart/ Will Benson/ JJ Bleday/TBD
The Reds haven’t had a full-time DH over the last few years, and they’ll mix and match based on injuries and matchups.
Lux, who led the team in starts at DH last season, is underrated. He was a league-average hitter last year, and his ability to work tough at-bats really made an impact in the flow of the lineup. He’s looking to hit for more power in 2026, and the biggest thing for him will be his defense. Left field was a relatively new spot for him in 2025, and he posted -6 Outs Above Average at that position last year. Krall alluded to Lux focusing on the infield more in 2026.
In the Reds’ search for more offense, they could also acquire a first baseman or an outfielder and slot that player in at DH.
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