Reds Rumors: Why Holding Onto Brady Singer (For Now) Might Be the Smartest Play
Brady Singer’s name has been swirling in trade talks all winter, and for good reason. He’s entering the final year of his contract, set to make $12.75 million in 2026, and the Reds are carrying a deep rotation.
That combination - a solid starter on an expiring deal and a team with pitching depth - tends to draw attention across the league. And attention is exactly what Cincinnati’s getting.
But here’s the thing: while teams are calling about Singer, they’re even more interested in the Reds’ younger arms - Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott. That trio represents the future of the Reds’ rotation, and they come with something every front office covets: years of team control.
That’s why, despite the buzz, Cincinnati isn’t eager to move them. Instead, they’d prefer to deal Singer, whose contract is up after this season and carries a higher salary.
From a strategic standpoint, that makes sense. Greene, Lodolo, and Abbott are high-upside arms still under control for multiple seasons.
That’s gold in today’s game. Singer, meanwhile, is a known quantity - a dependable right-hander who can eat innings and give you a shot every fifth day - but he doesn’t come with the long-term upside or cost certainty teams are looking for in January.
That’s the key difference between the offseason trade market and the deadline. In the winter, front offices are thinking long-term.
They’re building rosters not just for April, but for October and beyond. That’s why we’ve seen teams pay steep prices for controllable pitchers with question marks.
Take Edward Cabrera, for example. The Cubs gave up a haul for him despite his durability concerns, command issues (a career 11.7% walk rate), and a 4.95 ERA just two seasons ago.
Why? Because he’s cheap and under control through 2028.
Singer doesn’t check those boxes. He’s more expensive, and he’s a rental. That makes him a tougher sell in January, especially when teams can sign a veteran like Chris Bassitt or Lucas Giolito for a similar price without giving up a young bat in return.
And that’s what the Reds are looking for - a controllable young hitter who can make an impact in their lineup. That’s a tough ask right now. But come July, the math changes.
At the trade deadline, teams aren’t thinking about 2027. They’re thinking about surviving the dog days of summer and making a run in October.
That’s when a guy like Singer becomes more valuable. His expiring contract becomes a feature, not a flaw.
He’s a plug-and-play rotation piece who can stabilize a staff and potentially slot into a postseason rotation.
If he pitches well in the first half, the Reds can market him as more than just a mid-rotation arm. He becomes a proven vet with playoff value - and maybe even a long-term fit for whichever team acquires him. That stretch run can serve as an audition of sorts, giving a contender a chance to kick the tires before deciding whether to re-sign him after the season.
And for the Reds, waiting has its perks. They get more time to evaluate their own internal options - see who’s ready to step up from Triple-A, monitor the health of their rotation, and assess whether they’re in the playoff hunt themselves.
If they are, they might decide to keep Singer and ride it out. If not, they’ll be in a position to sell to the highest bidder - and that bidder will likely be more desperate than any team is right now.
So while it might be tempting to clear Singer’s salary off the books today, patience could pay off in a much bigger way. The trade deadline and the offseason are two very different markets, and Singer is built for the former.
Right now, he’s undervalued. But give it a few months, and the Reds could find themselves holding one of the more attractive arms on the market - especially if injuries pile up and contenders start scrambling.
Bottom line: Cincinnati doesn’t need to rush this. Singer’s value could peak at just the right time.