The Reds have a little over 24 hours to sort out their roster, and Friday night’s win over the Pirates only added another layer to the deadline buzz.
Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh 8-7 for its second straight victory and moved to within 4½ games of a playoff spot. But the moment that had fans talking came after the final out, when RedsTV showed Terry Francona, Nick Lodolo, and Brady Singer walking onto the field to celebrate.
As the camera followed the trio, Francona and Lodolo were seen with a hand on each other’s shoulder, talking briefly before the broadcast turned back to Sal Stewart and the rest of the on-field celebration. That was enough to send people scrambling for meaning, especially with the trade deadline approaching fast.
Maybe it was nothing. Maybe it was just a quick postgame conversation. But with deadline speculation already swirling, the scene immediately sparked the question: did Francona get word that Lodolo could be on the move?
Lodolo hasn’t been the subject of the same constant rumor mill as Hunter Greene and Brady Singer, but his name has started to surface. The Athletic recently listed the left-hander among its 60 players most likely to be traded before Monday’s deadline.
There’s also the injury angle. Lodolo is on the 15-day injured list while working back from a blister on his left hand.
And yes, players on the IL can still be traded. He threw a bullpen session earlier this week, and everything points to him getting back on the mound later this month.
From a front-office standpoint, Lodolo looks like the kind of arm that could draw interest without bringing back a massive haul. His injury history makes it hard to imagine the Reds landing a huge return, but he could still appeal to a club willing to send a Major League bat back in exchange. That kind of offer could be tempting.
Then there’s the contract piece. Lodolo is under team control for just one more season, and the looming Collective Bargaining negotiations between the owners and the MLBPA only complicate the picture.
So if Cincinnati can get something useful for Lodolo before the deadline hits, there’s at least a chance it pushes them toward making the deal. For now, it’s just one more deadline mystery for Reds fans to watch closely.
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 🡒]