Brady Singer didn’t get the win Thursday night, but he may have done something more valuable for the Reds: reminded everyone exactly why his name belongs in the trade deadline conversation.
Cincinnati fell 1-0 to the Philadelphia Phillies in the series finale, yet Singer was the one Reds pitcher who looked completely in control. He worked into the top of the eighth inning, allowing one run on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Against a tough Phillies lineup, that was easily his sharpest outing of the season.
It also continued a strong stretch that has quietly changed the way Singer looks in Cincinnati. Over his last seven starts, he has put together a 2.79 ERA and 3.94 FIP while striking out 24.4% of the batters he’s faced. That kind of run matters now because it comes at the right moment, with the deadline approaching and the Reds sliding into seller territory.
Singer’s future with the club looks shaky beyond this season. He is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season, and a reunion this winter is considered highly unlikely. He made $12.75 million through arbitration this offseason, and the expectation is that he could be in line for a longer-term deal with a higher annual salary once the next collective bargaining agreement is settled.
That makes him a logical trade candidate. If the Reds believe he’s as good as gone in a few months, moving him now could be the best way to extract value before he reaches free agency. Cincinnati could also hold onto him through the end of the season and extend a Qualifying Offer in the offseason, but that path comes with real risk.
The club already tried that approach with Nick Martinez after the 2024 season, and doing the same thing with a starter in Singer’s range would be expensive. Last year’s Qualifying Offer was worth $22.025 million, a steep price for a pitcher in the No. 3 or No. 4 starter mold.
The Reds do have enough arms to absorb the loss if Singer is dealt. Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott are all capable of finishing the season if healthy. Brandon Williamson is still a possible return later in the year, and Chase Petty, Jose Franco, and Julian Aguiar can provide innings in the second half.
Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder are also in the picture, though both are expected to be shut down or heavily limited at some point because of innings restrictions.
With the Reds all but out of the playoff chase, the direction is clear. They look like sellers, and Singer stands out as one of their most attractive trade pieces. If he keeps pitching like this after the All-Star break, his value is only going to climb.
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