Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s move to Baltimore has become the kind of result that stings even more when you look back at what Cincinnati gave up on.
The Reds cut ties with the slugging infielder on April 8, then sent him to the Orioles five days later for cash considerations. At the time, Encarnacion-Strand had yet to get a real runway with Cincinnati in 2026.
Baltimore, though, had other ideas. The Orioles kept him in Triple-A Norfolk before bringing him back up on July 16, and he’s been right in the middle of their lineup ever since.
In 31 games with Baltimore, Encarnacion-Strand is hitting .264/.301/.519 with seven home runs, 27 RBI and a 124 wRC+. The strikeouts are still part of the package - his 26.3% strikeout rate in the majors and the 35% mark he posted at Triple-A Louisville help explain why the Reds were uneasy - but the power has shown up loud and clear.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand puts the @Orioles ahead in the 9th! pic.twitter.com/dd4QI84O5u
- MLB (@MLB) August 27, 2026
For Cincinnati, the timing makes the decision look worse by the day. The Reds’ rough 2026 season has put every move from Nick Krall under a harsher spotlight, and letting Encarnacion-Strand go is now another one the front office has to answer for. Krall, the club’s president of baseball operations, has already taken heat for moves like signing Jeimer Candelario in 2023 and trading for Ke’Bryan Hayes at the 2025 deadline, and this one belongs near the top of the list too.
The frustration around the organization goes beyond one player. Cincinnati stood pat at the trade deadline, the losses kept piling up, and fans are staring at another offseason that could bring major change. Krall and his group have been running the show since 2020, and the return so far has been thin.
Meanwhile, Encarnacion-Strand has helped give Baltimore a real shot in the American League race. Entering Thursday, the Orioles were within 2½ games of the final wild-card spot with just over a month left. Cincinnati, by contrast, is nine games back in the National League wild-card picture and facing a brutal September stretch.
The Reds head to Chicago on Friday to face the Cubs, then move into series against the Dodgers, Brewers and Braves - all division leaders.
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Edwin Arroyo is back in the big leagues with another opening to make a case for himself, and this one comes at an important moment for the Reds infield. Cincinnati recalled the infielder from Triple-A Louisville after KeBryan Hayes landed on the injured list, giving the club a fresh option to help cover third base and possibly reset a position that has been in flux.
Arroyo has played well at Louisville, but his first major league look did not go smoothly, with struggles on both sides of the ball. Even so, Terry Francona sounded interested in seeing what the young infielder can do with a more defined opportunity this time around, and the Reds are expected to give him a look at third base as they sort through the next stretch without Hayes. [Read more 🡒]
Joey Votto Just Gave Reds Fans A Reason To Show Up At Wrigley
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Votto has been a compelling voice in his post-playing appearances, using previous NBC broadcasts to talk about everything from his career to never having visited the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He also addressed questions about whether he might eventually work for the Reds on MLB Networks MLB Now, which only adds another layer to what should be a notable night for Cincinnati fans watching from the ballpark. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Made A Telling Kien Vu Decision After His Bat Cooled Off
The Reds moved Kien Vu from Double-A Chattanooga back to High-A Dayton after an injury to outfielder Kyle Henley opened up a spot, a reset that says plenty about where the organization thinks Vu stands right now. He had earned his way up with a strong run in Dayton earlier this season, but the bat never fully carried over in Chattanooga, and the return trip gives him a chance to get back to the level where he looked far more comfortable.
It also fits into a broader player-development picture for Cincinnati, with the club still sorting through the next wave in its Dominican Summer League and keeping an eye on prospects who could be headed stateside soon. For Vu, the assignment is less about a setback than a chance to rediscover the approach and production that pushed him forward in the first place, even if the road back to Double-A now looks a little longer. [Read more 🡒]