Cincinnati Reds’ Offseason Check-In: Bullpen Reinforcements, Defensive Upgrades, and a Power Surge with Suárez
CINCINNATI - When the Reds wrapped up their 2025 season in Los Angeles, the front office had a clear mission: rebuild the bullpen, tighten up the defense, and add some thump to the lineup. Fast forward 120 days, and it’s safe to say they checked all three boxes - with a few bold strokes and some strategic depth moves.
On Monday, sitting in the same Great American Ball Park suite where he laid out those goals back in October, Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall officially announced the signing of designated hitter Eugenio Suárez. And while that move grabbed headlines - and rightfully so - it capped off an offseason where Cincinnati quietly but effectively retooled a playoff roster with eyes on taking the next step.
Let’s break down how the Reds addressed each of their offseason priorities.
Bullpen: From Patchwork to Power Arms
Ask around the league, and most execs will tell you the same thing: building a consistent bullpen is one of baseball’s toughest puzzles. The Reds know that better than most. But this winter, they didn’t just reshuffle the deck - they stacked it.
Even before Suárez put pen to paper, Krall made it clear: rebuilding the bullpen was priority No. 1.
And that effort started with bringing back Emilio Pagán, who quietly became one of the most reliable closers in the National League last season. Despite not opening 2025 in the ninth-inning role, Pagán racked up 32 saves - second-most in the NL - and gave manager Terry Francona a dependable late-game option.
The Reds didn’t stop there. One of Francona’s biggest challenges last year was the lack of a true lefty specialist.
Brent Suter gave them innings, but he wasn’t the matchup nightmare you want when a dangerous lefty steps to the plate in the eighth. Sam Moll, who had shown flashes in 2023, spent much of 2025 in Triple-A trying to bounce back from a rough, injury-marred 2024.
This year, the left side of the bullpen looks a lot more stable. Veteran southpaws Caleb Ferguson and Brock Burke join the mix, giving Francona a pair of reliable arms to call on.
Ferguson signed a one-year deal, while Burke arrived in a three-team deal that sent infielder Gavin Lux to the Tampa Bay Rays. Add in right-hander Pierce Johnson - a seasoned late-inning option who came over after the Braves declined his option - and the Reds suddenly have a bullpen with both depth and defined roles.
Losing Nick Martinez hurts. His versatility - 26 starts, 14 relief appearances - gave the Reds an invaluable Swiss Army knife.
When the trade deadline didn’t yield a reliever, Cincinnati pivoted by adding starter Zack Littell and shifting Martinez into the bullpen, where he continued to thrive. That kind of flexibility is hard to replace.
Still, the Reds believe their returning core - Pagán, Tony Santillan, and Graham Ashcraft - plus the new faces, will more than hold their own. Don’t sleep on the hard-throwing duo of Zach Maxwell and Luis Mey, either.
Both made their big-league debuts in 2025 and flashed serious potential. Connor Phillips and Lyon Richardson, who cleared waivers after being DFA’d, add further depth.
And if the rotation stays healthy - with Chase Burns entering year two and arms like Rhett Lowder, Julian Aguiar, and Brandon Williamson returning from injuries - the bullpen won’t have to carry quite as much weight.
Defense: Hayes Leads the Way, Youngsters Get Their Shot
The Reds didn’t make many splashy defensive acquisitions this winter, but the move they did make at last year’s trade deadline is still paying dividends. Ke’Bryan Hayes, acquired after the Reds missed out on Suárez midseason, gives Cincinnati arguably the best defensive third baseman in the game. Hayes brought home his second Gold Glove in 2025 and remains a vacuum at the hot corner.
That move alone raised the team’s defensive floor, but the Reds weren’t done tinkering. Outfielder Dane Myers, picked up from the Marlins, brings legit center field chops. He posted 3 Outs Above Average in just over 500 innings last year - a solid mark that suggests he can be a reliable glove in a key spot.
There’s also some positional shuffling in play. Spencer Steer, a Gold Glove finalist at first base in 2025, will likely see fewer reps there with Suárez in the fold.
Rookie Sal Stewart, just 22, is expected to handle most of the action at first. Stewart is still learning the position - he played just 17 minor-league innings there before logging 10 starts (and a playoff appearance) at first in the bigs - but the Reds are betting on his athleticism and work ethic to make it stick.
Noelvi Marte is another player in transition. After moving to right field midseason - his first time playing the outfield since childhood - Marte ended up starting more games in right (48) than at third (34). He’ll get reps in center this spring, adding even more versatility to his profile.
The departure of utility man Santiago Espinal creates a bit of a gap, but Steer is expected to take on more of that plug-and-play role. Between Steer, Marte, and Myers, Francona has options to mix and match defensively depending on matchups and health.
Of course, the best-case scenario still hinges on the team’s core staying healthy. That means full seasons from Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain, and Steer - and continued growth from Marte and Hayes at the plate.
Offense: Suárez Brings the Boom
If there was one glaring need in the Reds’ lineup, it was power. And with Eugenio Suárez back in town, that need just got a whole lot smaller.
Suárez mashed 49 home runs in 2025 - more than Elly De La Cruz (22) and Spencer Steer (21) combined. That kind of production doesn’t just boost your run total - it changes the way opposing pitchers approach your entire lineup. And for a team that hasn’t had a 30-homer hitter since 2021, Suárez’s return is a game-changer.
This is a reunion with history behind it. Suárez hit 101 home runs at Great American Ball Park during his previous stint in Cincinnati.
He knows the ballpark, the fans, and the moment. Slotted behind De La Cruz in the cleanup spot, he’ll provide much-needed protection and a legitimate threat every time he steps to the plate.
The Reds also brought in outfielder JJ Bleday, a former top prospect who showed flashes of his offensive potential in 2024 (.762 OPS, 20 HR) before dipping slightly in 2025 (.698 OPS, 14 HR). Even with the Athletics moving to a more hitter-friendly park in Sacramento, Bleday couldn’t quite maintain his breakout pace. Still, he adds another layer of depth and upside to the outfield rotation.
Cincinnati wasn’t looking to completely overhaul its offense - and they didn’t need to. But with Suárez anchoring the middle of the order and young talent continuing to develop, this lineup has a chance to be far more dangerous than it was a year ago.
Final Thoughts: A Successful Offseason with Eyes on October
The Reds ended a 12-year drought by making the postseason in a full season. Now, the next step is winning once they get there - something they haven’t done since 1995.
With a retooled bullpen, a defense anchored by the best glove at third base, and a legitimate power bat back in the middle of the order, this team looks more complete than it has in years.
There’s still a season to play, and plenty of questions to answer. But one thing’s clear: the Reds aren’t just hoping for progress - they’re building for it.