CINCINNATI \u2014 Five days after the Reds\u2019 2025 season ended in Los Angeles, the team\u2019s president of baseball operations, Nick Krall, and general manager Brad Meador sat in the front-office suite that looks over the playing field at Great American Ball Park and outlined three priorities for the offseason \u2014 rebuilding the team\u2019s bullpen, improving the defense and adding to the offense.<\/p>\n
Monday, in that same suite, Krall sat in front of a laptop holding a video conference announcing the team\u2019s signing of designated hitter Eugenio Su\u00e1rez.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we did a lot of things that we wanted to do, wanted to accomplish,\u201d Krall said Tuesday. \u201cYou\u2019re always trying to get better in no matter what you\u2019re doing; you\u2019re always looking for a way or an angle to figure out how to improve your club.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 2025 Cincinnati Reds went 83-79 and made the postseason in a full season for the first time in 12 years. The team has lost players, but the additions do appear, on paper, to be improvements.<\/p>\n
Whether those improvements are enough to help the Reds advance in the postseason for the first time since 1995 or, at least, host their first playoff game since 2012, won\u2019t be known until the season plays out. In the 120 days between Krall\u2019s sitdown with local reporters and Tuesday\u2019s Su\u00e1rez signing, the Cincinnati front office can point to each of those three needs being addressed.<\/p>\n
Rebuilding the bullpen<\/p>\n
Bullpen additions<\/p>\n
Player<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Throws<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 team<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 appearances<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 IP<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 ERA<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
acquired<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Cincinnati<\/p>\n
70<\/p>\n
68 2\/3<\/p>\n
2.88<\/p>\n
Re-signed<\/p>\n
L<\/p>\n
PIttsburgh\/Seattle<\/p>\n
70<\/p>\n
65 1\/3<\/p>\n
3.58<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
L<\/p>\n
Los Angeles Angels<\/p>\n
69<\/p>\n
61 2\/3<\/p>\n
3.36<\/p>\n
Trade<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Atlanta<\/p>\n
65<\/p>\n
59<\/p>\n
3.05<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
Bullpen losses<\/p>\n
Player<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Throws<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2026 team<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 apperances<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 IP<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 ERA<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Transaction<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
40<\/p>\n
165 2\/3<\/p>\n
4.45<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
75<\/p>\n
68 1\/3<\/p>\n
4.21<\/p>\n
Club option declined<\/p>\n
L<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
48<\/p>\n
67 2\/3<\/p>\n
4.52<\/p>\n
Club option declined<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
25<\/p>\n
25 1\/3<\/p>\n
4.62<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Seattle<\/p>\n
7<\/p>\n
7 1\/3<\/p>\n
6.14<\/p>\n
Trade<\/p>\n
Even after the addition of Su\u00e1rez, Krall noted that rebuilding the bullpen was his top priority during the offseason. While the Reds were wooing Kyle Schwarber, the front office worked on bringing back closer Emilio Pag\u00e1n. His 32 saves were the second most in the National League in 2025, despite not starting the season as the closer, even with incumbent Alexis D\u00edaz starting the season on the IL.<\/p>\n
Reds manager Terry Francona spent most of the season with just one lefty available out of the bullpen, and Brent Suter is more of a reliever who is left-handed than a left-handed specialist. That\u2019s good for adding innings, but not as good when a tough lefty is at the plate with the game on the line. Sam Moll spent much of the season in Triple A trying to regain the form he showed in 2023 after an injury-plagued 2024.<\/p>\n
This season, Francona could look out and see a pair of veteran lefties in his bullpen in Caleb Ferguson and Brock Burke. Ferguson signed a one-year deal while Burke came over in the three-team trade that sent infielder Gavin Lux to the Tampa Bay Rays. Those moves were followed by the addition of right-hander Pierce Johnson, whose option was not picked up by the Atlanta Braves.<\/p>\n
The biggest loss from the team\u2019s bullpen may have been Nick Martinez, who started more games (26) than he entered in relief (14). Martinez\u2019s versatility will be missed. Martinez was one of the team\u2019s most valuable players for his ability and willingness to pitch in any situation. When the Reds couldn\u2019t find a reliever at the trade deadline, the team instead added a starter (Zack Littell) and moved Martinez to the bullpen.<\/p>\n
Bullpen performance has certainly been volatile from year to year. However, the additions seem to outweigh the losses, especially considering the team is returning three of its late-inning relievers in Pag\u00e1n, Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft. Those three, plus the three newcomers, are joined by Moll, Connor Phillips and Lyon Richardson, who cleared waivers after he was designated for assignment. The hard-throwing tandem of Zach Maxwell and Luis Mey, who both made their big-league debuts in 2025, is also returning.<\/p>\n
Despite losing Martinez and Littell, the Reds have a deep stable of starters, including Chase Burns in his second pro season and Rhett Lowder, Julian Aguiar and Brandon Williamson returning after missing all of 2025 with injuries. Chase Petty and Jose Franco also fit into that mix.<\/p>\n
Improve the defense<\/p>\n
The team\u2019s biggest defensive addition was not acquired in the offseason, but at the trade deadline with third baseman Ke\u2019Bryan Hayes. The Reds pursued Su\u00e1rez at the deadline, but pivoted to the slick-fielding Hayes after the Arizona Diamondbacks sent Su\u00e1rez to Seattle. Hayes won the National League Gold Glove at third, his second career Gold Glove, and is widely considered the best defensive third baseman in baseball today.<\/p>\n
The only real addition to the defense in the offseason was outfielder Dane Myers, acquired from the Miami Marlins. Myers, who will be 30 when the season begins, is a true centerfielder and was 3 Outs Above Average in just 518 innings in center last year.<\/p>\n
The signing of Su\u00e1rez likely means less time at first base for Spencer Steer, who was a Gold Glove finalist at the position in his first full year there in 2025. Steer will likely play some first, as will Su\u00e1rez, but rookie Sal Stewart is likely to get the bulk of the playing time there. Stewart, 22, played all of 17 innings over two games in his minor-league career before making 10 starts (81 innings) at the position in the big leagues. He even had a start there in the postseason. Stewart was primarily a third baseman in the minors, but will get more time to work at the position in spring training.<\/p>\n
Noelvi Marte had even less experience at his new position when he was moved to the outfield in July. The 24-year-old hadn\u2019t played the outfield since he was a kid when he started the Reds\u2019 July 20 game in right field at Citi Field. He ended up starting more games in right (48) than he did at third (34). Marte will also work in center this spring.<\/p>\n
The team did lose utility man Santiago Espinal, who provided solid defense across the diamond. Steer will be asked to pick up Espinal\u2019s role as a plug-and-play defender wherever the team needs him.<\/p>\n
Bolster the offense<\/p>\n
Position player additions<\/p>\n
Player<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bats<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 team<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 PA<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 Avg.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 OBP<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 Slugging<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 HR<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Acquired<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Arizona\/Seattle<\/p>\n
657<\/p>\n
.228<\/p>\n
.298<\/p>\n
.526<\/p>\n
49<\/p>\n
Free agency<\/p>\n
L<\/p>\n
Athletics<\/p>\n
344<\/p>\n
.212<\/p>\n
.294<\/p>\n
.404<\/p>\n
14<\/p>\n
Free agency<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Miami<\/p>\n
333<\/p>\n
.235<\/p>\n
.291<\/p>\n
.326<\/p>\n
6<\/p>\n
Trade<\/p>\n
Position players lost<\/p>\n
Player<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Bats<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2026 team<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 PA<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 Avg.<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 OBP<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 Slugging<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
2025 HR<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
Transaction<\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n
L<\/p>\n
Tampa Bay<\/p>\n
503<\/p>\n
.269<\/p>\n
.350<\/p>\n
.374<\/p>\n
5<\/p>\n
Trade<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Chicago White Sox<\/p>\n
416<\/p>\n
.266<\/p>\n
.315<\/p>\n
.453<\/p>\n
15<\/p>\n
Team declined mutual option<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
328<\/p>\n
.243<\/p>\n
.292<\/p>\n
.282<\/p>\n
0<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
R<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
110<\/p>\n
.359<\/p>\n
.400<\/p>\n
.544<\/p>\n
4<\/p>\n
Free agent<\/p>\n
Before the Su\u00e1rez signing, the Reds\u2019 best-case scenario was getting healthy seasons from Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Steer, while hoping Marte\u2019s move off the dirt helps him at the plate, and Hayes continuing the offensive improvement he showed after coming to the Reds (.569 OPS with Pittsburgh, .656 with Cincinnati).<\/p>\n
The addition of Su\u00e1rez, though, addresses the offense\u2019s biggest need: power.<\/p>\n
Su\u00e1rez\u2019s 49 home runs in 2025 were more than that of the team\u2019s top two home-run hitters, De La Cruz (22) and Steer (21), combined. Since Su\u00e1rez, Joey Votto and Nick Castellanos all clubbed more than 30 home runs in 2021, the Reds haven\u2019t had a player hit more than 25 in a single season. The last player to hit as many as 49 home runs for the Reds? Su\u00e1rez in 2019. Su\u00e1rez returns to a ballpark where he\u2019s already hit 101 home runs in his career and adds protection to the lineup, likely hitting cleanup behind De La Cruz.<\/p>\n
The Reds also added outfielder JJ Bleday, a former top prospect who put up a .762 OPS with 20 home runs in 2024, but followed with a .698 OPS with 14 homers in 2025, even as the Athletics moved to a more hitter-friendly park in Sacramento.<\/p>\n
The Reds weren\u2019t going to completely overhaul their offense, but Su\u00e1rez is certainly the big bat needed and a bow on top of what was eventually a successful offseason.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"CINCINNATI \u2014 Five days after the Reds\u2019 2025 season ended in Los Angeles, the team\u2019s president of baseball…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":556020,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2391],"tags":[537,5,50,4,3226],"class_list":{"0":"post-556019","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-athletics","8":"tag-athletics","9":"tag-baseball","10":"tag-cincinnati-reds","11":"tag-mlb","12":"tag-mlb-athletics"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/channels.im\/@mlb\/116018334261044349","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/556019","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=556019"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/556019\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/556020"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=556019"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=556019"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/mlb\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=556019"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}