The Cincinnati Reds are staring at a pivotal offseason after falling out of postseason contention and spending most of the year below .500. They’ve got real building blocks in place, but they still need more if they want to push this roster forward in a hurry.
Elly De La Cruz is already one of the best players in the game, and he finished the season on a tear. Chase Burns looks like one of the league’s top pitchers, and Sal Stewart has also emerged as one of the sport’s best young sluggers. Even with that core, the Reds still have obvious holes to address.
One idea that has picked up some attention involves New York Yankees infielder Anthony Volpe, and it even got a nod from a familiar Reds voice. When one user on X floated the possibility of Cincinnati trading for Volpe, former Reds star Joey Votto replied, "I like this idea."
Volpe wouldn’t be an answer at shortstop in Cincinnati with De La Cruz already there, but he could still fit as an infield upgrade. Third base and second base remain areas with questions, and Volpe could help fill one of them.
Second base stands out most. Matt McLain is still young, but he hasn’t been productive for Cincinnati since 2023, and the Reds can’t keep waiting forever for that spot to stabilize. The club has also toyed with the idea of moving McLain to the outfield, which would open up another need elsewhere.
Volpe’s case comes from a mix of upside and track record. He was sent to the minors halfway through the 2026 season, then came back up and hit .265 with a home run, nine RBIs, and four runs scored. He also showed some promise in limited postseason action.
Across four big-league seasons, Volpe has produced 9.5 WAR and collected 94 doubles, 16 triples, and 54 home runs in 542 games. The drawback is the bat profile: his OPS sits well below .700, far short of what the Yankees want from him.
That’s exactly why he could appeal to Cincinnati. For a Reds club trying to solve a few lingering roster issues, Volpe looks like the kind of reclamation project worth considering.
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Noelvi Marte Is Still Fighting For A Bigger Reds Role
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The 23-year-old remains an intriguing name in the Reds system, but last season also came with a blunt reminder of how far he still has to go. He hit .189/.229/.321 in 63 major league games, and Nick Krall publicly said the club should have moved him down sooner, a pointed assessment that underscored how much Martes bat still needs to stabilize before the Reds can count on him for more. [Read more 🡒]