The Reds have a clear offseason problem, and the fix starts at third base.
If Cincinnati wants more offense, the front office should seriously consider moving Sal Stewart across the diamond and moving on from Ke’Bryan Hayes. Hayes still brings defensive value, but the bat has become too light for a team that needs more production in the lineup. Stewart, by contrast, could give the Reds a more productive option at third while also opening first base for another addition.
That matters because it gives Cincinnati more ways to solve its roster issues. The Reds have multiple holes to fill, and they can’t sink the whole offseason into one position group. If Stewart can handle third every day, the team can shop for a first baseman, where affordable bats are generally easier to find.
Nathaniel Lowe is the perfect example. Cincinnati signed him to a minor league deal in Spring Training, and he ended up making the team. In 83 games, he slashed .266/.341/.480 with 32 extra-base hits before being traded to Cleveland at the deadline.
That kind of value is harder to find at third base than at first. If Stewart proves capable at the hot corner, the Reds don’t need to overcomplicate this. Put him at third, then use the offseason to chase a first baseman who can hit.
Keeping Stewart at first would leave Cincinnati needing more offense from third, and that’s a tougher spot to solve. Moving him to third lets the Reds address that need internally and spend in a place where the market is usually friendlier.
Yes, there’s a defensive trade-off. Hayes’ glove would be missed, and the Reds would need to be comfortable with Stewart handling third on a daily basis. But defense can’t be the only thing driving the decision.
The lineup needs runs. Plain and simple.
Hayes hit .141 with an OPS of .419 in 2026, and numbers like that make the defensive upside irrelevant. That production just isn’t enough for a club trying to take a step forward.
The broader benefit is simple: one move can help two spots. Stewart at third, a new first baseman elsewhere, and suddenly Cincinnati has a clearer path to building a better lineup for next season.
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