The Reds spent last winter trying to patch holes on the fly, and the bill came due in 2026.
Cincinnati’s season went sideways in a hurry, and a lot of the damage traces back to the previous offseason. The club swung and missed on an Ohio homecoming for Kyle Schwarber, then pivoted to Eugenio Suárez.
Suárez came with a $15 million price tag and never quite justified it. The Reds also handed out $4.5 million to Caleb Ferguson and $6.5 million to Pierce Johnson, and those two relievers combined for just 0.7 bWAR in 2026.
There was more money tied up in dead weight, too. Jeimer Candelario’s contract still lingered at $15 million, while roughly $16 million was lost to Ke’Bryan Hayes’ shortcomings and Hunter Greene’s injury. For a small-market team, that kind of misfire is the kind that can wreck a season before it really gets going.
So if Cincinnati wants a better 2027, Nick Krall and the front office are going to have to get creative. The Reds will work with a tight budget again, but there are ways to improve without going overboard.
One obvious place to start is the bullpen, and Brock Burke makes a lot of sense on a two-year, $15 million deal. Burke was one of the few bright spots in a shaky relief group last season, logging 77 appearances, 74⅓ innings, a 2.30 ERA and a 23.6% strikeout rate after arriving in a three-team trade. The Reds currently don’t have a left-handed reliever on the roster, which makes a reunion feel especially logical.
Another arm worth considering is Colin Rea, who could come in on a one-year, $7 million deal. Cincinnati reportedly wanted Nick Martinez last offseason before going with Suárez instead, and Rea fits the same general mold as a cheaper alternative.
He doesn’t overpower hitters, but he throws enough pitches to keep them guessing and doesn’t hand out many free passes. The Cubs declined his club option and paid the $1 million buyout, so he should be available at a manageable price.
The Reds could also add some right-handed pop with Josh Bell on a one-year, $6 million contract. Bell hit .255/.319/.419 for the Twins in 2026, and that marked the sixth straight season he posted an OPS+ of 100 or better.
At this point, he’s mostly a DH, though he can still handle first base and give Sal Stewart some occasional time at third. He’s a switch-hitter who works counts and can still get to 20-plus homers.
Taylor Ward is another name that fits the budget on a one-year, $10 million deal. The Ohio native spent most of his career with the Angels before splitting last season between the Orioles and Mariners.
His .225/.359/.311 line wasn’t pretty, but the walk rate was strong at 16.3%, and patience has always been part of his game. The Reds already tried and failed to land Schwarber last winter; Ward might be a more realistic way to bring an Ohio connection home.
In the infield, Jeff McNeil could help stabilize things on a one-year, $4.5 million contract. Matt McLain has had two years to rediscover his 2023 form, but since 2025 he’s hit just .204/.288/.339, even while playing top-level defense.
Edwin Arroyo has upside, and Juan Brito flashed late in 2026, but the Reds still need a fallback at second. McNeil brings a left-handed bat and a long track record of production against righties, plus the kind of versatility that plays across the diamond and in the outfield.
Behind the plate, Jonah Heim could be a short-term answer on a one-year, $3 million deal. With Tyler Stephenson now a free agent, Cincinnati needs someone to bridge the gap until Alfredo Duno is ready.
Jose Trevino isn’t an everyday catcher and needs a platoon partner, and Heim could fill that role. He’s coming off a rough year between the Athletics and Braves, hitting .204 with a 71 OPS+, but he has hit double-digit homers in each of the last six seasons and posted .267/.321/.534 against lefties last year.
None of these moves would fix everything, and that’s the point. The Reds spent $37.7 million on Suárez, Johnson, Ferguson and Brady Singer last season and got very little back.
This winter, that money comes off the books, along with Pagán’s $10 million salary and the $9 million combined for Burke and Stephenson. Cincinnati can also look at bringing back Emilio Pagán to help the back end of the bullpen and maybe swing a trade or two to firm up the rotation.
The pieces are there. The challenge is making the right calls.
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