There’s still a path, however narrow, for the Reds to stay in the playoff picture. But if Cincinnati does wind up moving pieces before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, it’s just as likely to be selling from a roster that has a few useful parts for contenders.
That was the backdrop after the Reds’ 11-5 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Even with the victory, the more realistic possibility is that some of the players currently in Cincinnati uniforms could be helping someone else in October.
President of baseball operations Nick Krall figures to spend the next month with more calls coming in than going out. And there are plenty of names other clubs could ask about.
Among the position players, JJ Bleday stands out as a possible trade chip. The 28-year-old outfielder is under team control through 2028, and after being non-tendered by the Athletics, he signed a one-year deal with the Reds.
The former No. 4 pick in the 2019 draft opened the year in the minors, then caught fire in May and earned National League Player of the Month honors after hitting .301 with eight homers. He hasn’t kept that pace, but he’s still been a solid piece.
Cincinnati could decide this is the peak of his value, though the club is still hunting for outfield help and Bleday still has two years of arbitration remaining.
Nathaniel Lowe is another bat that could draw interest. The 31-year-old first baseman/designated hitter signed a minor-league deal in spring training, made the Opening Day roster as a left-handed bench option and has mostly worked as a DH.
His line this season sits at .242/.332/.448 with nine homers and 25 RBIs. Lowe also has a track record of helping a contender late in the year, after Boston picked him up from Washington at last year’s deadline and got a .280/.370/.420 stretch from him over 34 games.
Spencer Steer may not be the flashiest name on the board, but he checks a lot of boxes for a team looking for a versatile power bat. The 28-year-old has 14 homers this season and has topped 20 in each of his first three full big league seasons.
He can play all four infield spots and both corner outfield positions, and last season he handled first base full time while finishing as a Gold Glove finalist. Add in above-average speed and strong baserunning, and he’s the kind of player managers trust anywhere on the field.
Catcher Tyler Stephenson is also in the mix, though moving him would mean dealing a player who has spent his entire pro career in Cincinnati. The Reds’ first-round pick in 2015 is headed for free agency after the season.
He’s hit .234/.320/.364 with six homers and 24 RBIs in 2026. Cincinnati already has Jose Trevino under contract through next year with an option for 2028, and top prospect Alfredo Duno is a catcher too, though he’s only 20 and in Double-A.
Stephenson hasn’t become the middle-of-the-order force the Reds once envisioned, but he has been one of the most successful catchers in the majors in Automated Ball-Strike challenges.
Eugenio Suárez is another familiar name who could surface in talks. The 34-year-old third baseman/designated hitter, who turns 35 next week, hit 36 homers for Arizona before being traded to Seattle on July 31 a year ago.
He missed a month this season with an oblique injury and has nine home runs, with a .204/.279/.367 line. Even so, teams know the power is still there, and Suárez remains the kind of streaky slugger who can change a lineup in a hurry.
He also brings a reputation as one of the game’s most popular clubhouse presences.
On the pitching side, Nick Lodolo is the most intriguing starter on the board. The 28-year-old left-hander has dealt with injuries and inconsistency, but he’s made 11 starts and is coming off what might have been his best outing of the season.
His stuff still gives contenders something to dream on. The catch is that the Reds value their pitching depth, so it would probably take a significant overpay to get him.
Brady Singer could also interest teams looking for rotation help. The 29-year-old right-hander is under contract through the end of the season and has gone 3-8 with a 5.03 ERA overall, though he’s posted a 3.16 ERA in six starts since the beginning of June. He’s the definition of dependable depth, and his postseason résumé is limited to striking out the only batter he faced in the 2024 American League Division Series with Kansas City.
The bullpen offers several possibilities as well. Brock Burke has been one of the busiest relievers in the National League, leading the league with 45 appearances.
The 29-year-old lefty has a 3.12 ERA, a save, and a 1.16 ERA in 21 appearances at Great American Ball Park. He’s allowed multiple hits in only seven of his 45 outings, and his fastball averages 96.3 mph.
Caleb Ferguson has been effective too. The 30-year-old left-hander started the season on the injured list with an oblique strain, but he has allowed runs in just three of his 18 appearances and owns a 2.00 ERA with a save. Opponents have produced an average exit velocity of 84.6 mph against him this year, tied for ninth among pitchers with at least 15 innings pitched.
Pierce Johnson brings veteran experience. The 35-year-old right-hander has a mutual option for 2027 and a $1 million buyout.
He missed nearly a month with right elbow inflammation, then returned and didn’t allow a run in four of his first five games back before giving up four runs on two homers against Pittsburgh on June 28. He’s been especially tough with traffic on the bases, holding hitters to a .067 average with runners in scoring position and a .132 mark with any runners on.
In the postseason, he owns a 1.50 ERA in 12 appearances with San Diego and Atlanta.
Sam Moll rounds out the list of left-handed bullpen options. The 34-year-old, who came to Cincinnati at the 2023 deadline, has appeared in 42 games and gone 1-6 with a 3.82 ERA and a save.
He’s struck out 26 of the 88 lefties he’s faced and held them to a .189/.291/.311 line. Overall, he has a 56 percent ground-ball rate and a 31 percent hard-hit percentage.
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