The Reds have a chance to solve one of their infield problems by looking where the market is strongest, not where it’s thinnest.
Third base has been framed as the biggest offseason headache in Cincinnati, especially with Ke’Bryan Hayes in the picture and a free-agent class at the hot corner that’s been labeled extremely underwhelming. That has naturally pushed the conversation toward moving Sal Stewart back to his natural third base spot and then shopping for help at first. But that path comes with a catch: the first base market isn’t exactly overflowing with impact options either.
That leaves another spot on the infield as the more interesting place to hunt. Second base, where Matt McLain has been part of the problem, looks far deeper.
McLain brings a little more versatility than Hayes, but his .608 OPS in 2026 is a hard number to ignore. And unlike third base or first, the second-base pool could actually give Cincinnati some leverage.
Jim Bowden’s projection for Brandon Lowe is the clearest example. Bowden has Lowe landing at $45 million over three years, a number that initially sounds generous, but maybe not when you stack him against the rest of the class. Lowe is in the mix with Jazz Chisholm Jr., Gleyber Torres, and Luis Arraez, with NPB standout Shugo Maki also a possible entrant if he’s posted after a 30-homer season that came with encouraging underlying numbers.
If Bowden’s estimate is anywhere close, Lowe would be within reach for the Reds, and he’d also have the added bonus of taking talent away from a division rival. If the market softens in a different direction, Arraez could become the more realistic target and bring the kind of contact-oriented balance Cincinnati needs.
There are cheaper routes too. Jeff McNeil stands out as a possible value play, especially with the Athletics expected to decline his $15.75 million option and send him to free agency.
The 34-year-old started slowly in 2026, but he finished strong, hitting .310/.342/.451 in the second half. He’s a left-handed bat who posted a .705 OPS against righties this season, while McLain surprisingly managed a .777 OPS against lefties.
Together, they could form a workable platoon at second. McNeil would also add flexibility, with the ability to cover first base, third base, and both corner outfield spots.
And signing a second baseman doesn’t lock the Reds into one path. If they land one of these options, especially a cheaper one like McNeil, Spotrac projects at $5.6 million on a one-year deal, they could still keep enough room to address first base and preserve money for the starting rotation and bullpen.
That’s the real point here: the smart move is to exploit the market that actually offers something. Second base has the talent, the depth, and the price range to make a difference.
Cincinnati doesn’t have to keep forcing the same fix if the right answer is sitting in a different spot on the board. If the Reds let that market pass them by without making a serious run, it would be another sign they still haven’t learned their lesson.
In Other News...
Reds Suddenly Face A Costly Closer Decision This Offseason
Emilio Pagn gave the Reds a steady finish in the back half of the 2026 season, and that late surge has now turned into an offseason dilemma. His work down the stretch made him one of the more interesting bullpen arms on Cincinnatis market, and it also put the club in position to decide whether it wants to keep leaning on a veteran closer or shift the late-inning job elsewhere.
Cincinnati now has to weigh the cost of bringing Pagn back against the possibility that another team will push the bidding higher on the open market. If the Reds choose not to go that route, the conversation quickly turns to the internal options already in house, with the bullpen hierarchy potentially changing in a hurry before next season even begins. [Read more 🡒]
Elly De La Cruz Trade Talk Just Put Pressure On The Reds
The trade-deadline chatter around Elly De La Cruz has only intensified since former MLB general manager Jim Bowden said the Red Sox put together a strong offer for the Reds at the August 3 deadline, only to be turned away. For Cincinnati, that kind of interest underscores just how valuable De La Cruz has become, even as the club continues to build around one of the most electric young talents in the game.
Bowden also suggested the Reds are likely to at least weigh trade possibilities again this offseason, which puts an uncomfortable spotlight on where the organization goes from here. Any serious conversation would surely start with a massive return, and the Dodgers have already been floated in speculative scenarios, but for now the bigger story is the pressure Cincinnati faces when a player this dynamic starts drawing that level of attention. [Read more 🡒]
Emilio Pagan Just Put The Reds In A Tough Offseason Spot
Emilio Pagan gave the Reds exactly what they needed down the stretch, settling into the late innings and stabilizing a bullpen that had to lean on him heavily in the second half. His run was a strong one by any measure, with a 1.71 ERA, 18 saves and 29 strikeouts in 26 1/3 innings, the kind of finish that can change how a front office views the back end of a staff.
Now the question is whether Cincinnati gets to keep that version of Pagan around. He has declined his $10 million player option for the 2027 season and will become a free agent, leaving the Reds with a familiar offseason dilemma: try to bring back a reliever who looked like a fit in the ninth inning, or start mapping out a search for a new closer if he lands elsewhere. [Read more 🡒]