The Cincinnati Reds have an offseason problem staring them right in the face, and it starts on the mound. Hunter Greene is expected to miss the entire 2027 season, Brady Singer is now a free agent, and the rotation suddenly looks thin in a hurry.
That’s why MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand sees a possible reunion with Nick Martinez as a fit for Cincinnati.
“Another of Martinez’s former teams could use his arm in its rotation, as the Reds finished 2026 with a 4.97 ERA from their starters, 28th in the Majors. Martinez posted two solid seasons for Cincinnati in 2024-25, the latter of which came after he accepted a qualifying offer,” Feinsand wrote. “With Brady Singer now a free agent, there is a clear open spot in the rotation that Martinez could capably fill.”
Martinez already knows the organization, and he reportedly enjoyed his time in Cincinnati. That alone makes him an obvious name to watch if the Reds decide familiarity matters in a winter where they have plenty of pitching to sort through.
The bigger question is whether Cincinnati can actually make that kind of move work. Martinez is 36, and the Reds are not in a position to be overly selective.
The market for starting pitching is always tricky, and Great American Ball Park isn’t exactly a place every pitcher is lining up to call home. On top of that, Cincinnati doesn’t have the financial flexibility to chase the biggest names available.
Martinez’s contract situation adds another layer. He turned down a $20 million player option and got a $4 million buyout from the Tampa Bay Rays, so he’s likely aiming for a multi-year deal.
That brings obvious risk for a 36-year-old starter, but it may also be the kind of gamble the Reds have to consider. He doesn’t depend on overpowering velocity, which gives him a chance to age better than many pitchers.
There’s also the Terry Francona factor. Martinez was a favorite of the manager’s, and Francona made that clear in a conversation with Rays manager Kevin Cash, according to MLB.com’s Adam Berry.
“I told him he’s one of my favorite guys,” Francona said. “I said, ‘I’m telling you, if you have him, you will love him.’ He called like the second day, and he goes, ‘I already do.’”
Whether it’s Martinez or someone else, the Reds have to come out of this offseason with more answers for their rotation and pitching depth before 2027 gets underway.
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Sal Stewart Just Gave Reds Fans A Rookie Of The Year Debate
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The race is not a one-note argument, though, and that is what makes it interesting for Cincinnati. Stewarts bat gives him a clear edge in the counting stats, but the broader evaluation includes defensive value and overall WAR, where he sits behind the other finalists. MLB Network will carry the announcement, and for Reds fans, it figures to be one of those nights where production at the plate meets the tougher all-around debate. [Read more 🡒]
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His arrival also closes the book on Derek Johnsons tenure, which ended midway through the season before the sides officially parted ways after the 2026 campaign. For a Reds club that has spent plenty of time trying to sharpen its pitching identity, the hire is the kind that will invite instant debate, especially since the organization looked beyond its own walls to make it. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Let A Surprising Prospect Decision Slip Under The Radar
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Among that group were players with some big-league time and others who had built enough value in the minors to merit attention, making the list more notable than a routine paperwork item. Cincinnati had the option to protect any of those players by moving them onto the 40-man roster, but instead let the market decide their next stop, leaving another layer of the roster picture for the Reds to sort through this winter. [Read more 🡒]