The Reds got a much-needed step forward on Saturday night, even if the bigger picture around the club is still clouded by the trade deadline and a messy stretch of injuries.
Brandon Williamson made his first rehab start since going on the injured list at the end of April, throwing two innings for AA Chattanooga. The left-hander allowed one run, struck out three and walked two as he began working his way back toward Cincinnati.
Williamson landed on the injured list with what is being reported as left shoulder fatigue. His return comes at a time when the Reds have already spent plenty of the season managing pitching absences, with Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Rhett Lowder all having time on the injury list as well.
Before the setback, Williamson’s season had been rough. In six starts, he posted a 6.11 ERA and a WAR of -0.1.
The fact that he got through more than one inning in his first outing back is a notable sign after such a long layoff. That doesn’t mean his path back to the Reds will be immediate, but it does move him one step closer.
And once he’s ready, there’s at least a question hanging over what his role might be. Could he return to the starting rotation? If so, whose spot would he take?
That uncertainty fits the moment for Cincinnati. The trade deadline is Monday, and there’s no shortage of moving parts. Reports have suggested the Reds could be buying, while others have said the team has listened to offers on Elly De La Cruz.
Brady Singer is one of the players the Reds could potentially move, and the front office is not showing its hand yet. If Singer is dealt, Williamson would be the obvious candidate to help cover that spot, even if that would be viewed as a downgrade.
For now, though, the important part is that Williamson is back on the mound. Tuesday should give fans a clearer idea of what the next phase looks like for the Reds.
In Other News...
Reds Face A Catching Problem That Makes Cardinals Hard To Ignore
The Reds are staring at a familiar kind of roster problem, only this one comes with a longer fuse. Tyler Stephenson remains the face of the position for now, but without a contract extension in place, Cincinnati has to think beyond the present and start considering what the catching depth chart could look like once his time here runs out. For a team trying to keep its core intact, that kind of uncertainty at such a demanding spot is hard to ignore.
It also explains why St. Louis keeps surfacing in the conversation. The Cardinals have more catching depth than most clubs, which naturally makes them an appealing neighbor on paper, but trading across the division is rarely simple. Any deal for one of their catchers would come at a steep price, and for the Reds, the challenge is not just identifying a fit, but figuring out whether the cost would be worth paying. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Surge Just Made One Deadline Decision Feel Even Bigger
A strong second half has at least put the Reds in a more interesting spot than they were a few weeks ago. Since the All-Star break, Cincinnati has won four series, and the latest reminder came in a lopsided 10-2 win over the Pirates that kept the momentum going. Even with that run, the club still sits 5.5 games back of the final National League Wild Card position, which leaves the next stretch of games carrying real weight for a team trying to decide how hard to push.
Terry Francona has made it clear the trade deadline belongs to the front office, not the dugout, and that distinction matters now more than ever. The organizations willingness to listen on players such as JJ Bleday, Nathaniel Lowe and Dane Myers suggests the Reds may be thinking beyond this season even as the standings leave the door cracked open. For a team that has played its way into the conversation, the deadline could say just as much about the long view as the standings do about the short one. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Deadline Could Bring Elly De La Cruz The Infield Help He Needs
The Reds are headed toward the trade deadline in seller mode, which opens the door to some familiar roster reshuffling in Cincinnati. Players on expiring contracts like Brady Singer and Tyler Stephenson could be moved if the front office decides to recoup value, and the bigger question is whether any of those deals help shape the club beyond this season.
One name drawing speculation is Baltimore infielder Jackson Holliday, a young player now on the trade block and the kind of addition that would fit a team trying to support its young core. For Cincinnati, the appeal is obvious: a chance to add more infield stability around Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart while the deadline market takes shape, even if no deal is close to being done. [Read more 🡒]