A disappointing Reds season has already given way to the same offseason question that always seems to follow Cincinnati: what does real progress actually look like?
The answer starts with the roster. A year after sneaking into the postseason, the Reds tried to run it back with basically the same group, and that approach didn’t hold up. If the front office is staying in place, then the changes this winter have to be bigger than cosmetic.
The rotation is the first place the overhaul needs to begin. Entering 2026, the starting staff was supposed to be the club’s strength, but injuries wrecked Hunter Greene’s season and next season too, leaving rookie Chase Burns as the one arm the team could truly trust.
Brady Singer is a free agent, and there should be less than a 10% chance the Reds bring him back. Nick Lodolo came up often in trade conversations at the deadline, while Brandon Williamson and Rhett Lowder still may have to prove they belong.
That leaves the rotation looking far less settled than it did a year ago.
The obvious question is who Cincinnati would actually pursue. Tarik Skubal and Zac Gallen are not the kind of names this team is likely to chase. Jack Flaherty would at least be a more realistic target, but even that kind of move would come with a hefty price if the Reds want competent starting pitching in free agency.
The offense needs help too, and not just in one spot. Matt McLain and Ke’Bryan Hayes can’t be non-factors at the plate again.
At the same time, the outfield is a major hole, and it may be the cleaner place for the front office to focus. There isn’t anyone on the current roster who has truly locked down a starting outfield job for next season.
The infield could sort itself out if Sal Stewart moves to third base and Spencer Steer returns to first base after his injury, which only makes the outfield search feel even more pressing. If the Reds are willing to spend, Seattle left fielder Randy Arozarena stands out as a name that would make sense. He posted a .865 OPS and hit 26 home runs this season, and adding a bat like that would send a clear message that the front office is serious.
Then there’s Tyler Stephenson, who may end up being one of the clearest tests of all. The Reds made it obvious at the trade deadline that they view him as a key piece, and if that’s still the belief, he should be back in 2027.
Stephenson will have suitors this winter, and letting him walk after keeping him at the deadline would not make much sense. Still, that kind of outcome would not be shocking for this franchise.
Stephenson finished with a .727 OPS and was the second-best catcher in ABS challenges according to ESPN.
At this point, the Reds have to bring Stephenson back.
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Reds Roster Purge Just Took Another Hit Fans Will Notice
The Reds kept reshaping their roster fallout from the 2026 season, clearing two more 40-man spots in the process. Infielder Ivan Johnson was outrighted to Triple-A Louisville, while injured slugger Michael Toglia was claimed off the roster by the Seattle Mariners through waivers, continuing a steady wave of turnover as Cincinnati works through its offseason decisions.
Will Bensons situation added another layer to the shuffle, with the outfielder electing free agency after being designated for assignment and previously accepting a Triple-A assignment. For a club that already knows it needs better depth across both the position-player side and the pitching staff, these moves only sharpen the sense that the Reds are heading into a winter defined by more change than stability. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Added Another Offseason Roster Question In The Outfield
Will Bensons time in Cincinnati appears to have run its course after a season that never quite found a stable rhythm. The outfielder split time between the major league roster and the minors, spending 51 games with the big club and another 66 in the system while his playing time bounced around and his results varied depending on the pitcher in front of him.
For the Reds, Bensons departure adds another offseason question to an outfield group that still needs clarity. He arrived with the promise of building on a strong 2023, but he was unable to sustain that production, and his decision to elect free agency leaves Cincinnati to sort out what comes next in a spot that already felt unsettled. [Read more 🡒]
Reds May Need These 3 Prospects More Than Anyone Realizes
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Graham has made a noticeable offensive leap and could be in line for protection from the Rule 5 Draft, while Duno keeps standing out with the bat even as questions remain about whether he can hold up defensively. Acuna is still earlier in his climb, but the young pitcher is moving through the minors with enough promise to keep the Reds interested, especially if the command keeps improving. By 2027, one or more of these prospects could matter a lot more to Cincinnati than they do right now. [Read more 🡒]