With the offseason approaching fast, the Reds are staring at a roster that needs some real sorting out. Two of the biggest decisions are on the mound, and both point toward uncertainty. Burke and Brady Singer both look like long shots to be back in Cincinnati in 2027.
Burke came over in the offseason as part of the Gavin Lux trade and wasted no time becoming one of the most dependable arms in the Cincinnati bullpen. He led the league with 77 appearances, logged a 2.30 ERA, and worked 74 1/3 innings while allowing only five home runs and striking out 74 hitters.
The numbers behind that success were built on two pitches that gave opponents fits. Batters managed just .193 against his four-seam fastball and .167 against his slider. That was a major turnaround from 2025, when opponents hit .274 against his fastball.
Cincinnati would surely like to keep him, but the feeling is that the Reds probably won’t match what he can get on the open market. If Burke leaves, it would make the choice to hang onto him at the trade deadline look even tougher in hindsight.
Singer’s case is different, but the conclusion feels similar. He, too, is headed for free agency, and he did give the Reds exactly what teams value in a starter: reliability. In 2026, he made 31 starts.
But the results never really held up. Over 89 2/3 innings in the first half, Singer put up a 4.72 ERA with 76 strikeouts.
That wasn’t overpowering, but it was workable. The second half was another story entirely, as his ERA ballooned to 7.35.
Hitters started squaring him up in a way that left little room for optimism. His average exit velocity against ranked in the bottom 1% of Major League Baseball, and his expected batting average, expected slugging, and expected ERA were all among the worst in the sport.
He also never found a pitch that consistently carried the staff. His best weapon, the sweeper, still allowed a .253 average. Opponents hit .289 against his sinker, .278 against his slider, .361 against his cutter, and .381 against his four-seam fastball.
The Reds need pitching, and Singer’s ability to take the ball every fifth day has value. But durability by itself doesn’t solve the problem. If Cincinnati is going to invest in this rotation, the money needs to go toward better production.
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