Nick Lodolo is the Reds player Bleacher Report has pegged as the most likely to be moved this offseason, and the logic behind it is pretty straightforward.
Cincinnati has some roster-building decisions ahead as it looks toward 2027, and left-handers with just one year of team control rarely sit comfortably in the middle of those conversations. Kerry Miller made Lodolo the Reds’ pick in his recent rundown of the player most likely to be traded from every MLB team, and the timing lines up with where Cincinnati stands.
Miller pointed to Lodolo’s uneven 2026 season, which was derailed by a blister that delayed his debut until Mother's Day weekend. Still, the broader track record is part of what makes him appealing to other clubs.
As Miller wrote: "Lodolo had a rough go through 2026, hampered by a blister that kept him from making his season debut until Mother's Day weekend," Miller wrote. "But he had a sub-4.00 FIP in each of 2022, 2024, and 2025 and is a prime candidate for a bounce-back year.
With only one year of team control remaining, though, the Reds might/should put him on the trade block to see how much others are willing to bet on his potential comeback campaign."
The Reds have already locked up two of their younger arms, Hunter Greene and Chase Burns, which makes a long-term deal for Lodolo look unlikely. That’s a big part of why this speculation has taken hold.
For Reds fans, the name attached to Lodolo has become familiar for the wrong reasons: blisters, missed time, and uncertainty about whether he can handle a full season. With that in mind, the idea of moving him now has a certain appeal if the front office can find the right return.
Of course, nothing is guaranteed. Lodolo could still open 2027 in a Reds uniform and stay there for the whole year.
His injury history, especially the blister issues, could also affect what Cincinnati can get back in a deal. And as was reported in August, the Reds have not been shy about setting a high asking price on their players.
So while Lodolo looks like the most obvious trade candidate on the roster, the Reds could just as easily hold onto him. If the goal is to make the 2027 club better, though, trading him this winter would be a move worth serious consideration.
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