Juan Brito didn’t arrive in Cincinnati with much noise, but he’s already forcing the Reds to pay attention.
Picked up off waivers from the Cleveland Guardians in August, Brito was brought back to the big leagues when rosters expanded in September. Two weeks into his latest run, the infielder has turned a quiet addition into a real development. In eight games with the Reds, he’s hitting .348/.385/.696 with two home runs, eight RBI, and a 183 wRC+.
That kind of line over 26 plate appearances obviously doesn’t lock anyone into a future job, but it has been enough to earn praise from Terry Francona.
"We're seeing a kid who seems to be a baseball player. We put him at second.
We put him at third. He took some balls in the outfield today.
He knows how to play," Terry Francona said recently. "Sometimes kids get a chance, and maybe they make the most of it."
Brito’s emergence matters because of what it could mean for Edwin Arroyo.
Arroyo, once the Reds’ top prospect, has now had two separate chances to stick with Francona and the staff, and neither one has gone well. His first big-league look came in June after Elly De La Cruz landed on the injured list.
That stretch gave him 142 plate appearances, but he hit only .244/.286/.282 with a 57 wRC+. Cincinnati sent him back down in late July.
When Ke'Bryan Hayes went on the IL, Arroyo got another shot. This time the results were even rougher. In his second stint, the 23-year-old managed just .059/.111/.118 with a -42 wRC+.
None of that means Arroyo is suddenly a bust, especially with only 50 Major League games on his résumé. But Brito’s arrival gives the Reds another option at the position, and that could matter when the front office starts weighing offseason moves.
A trade of Arroyo could make sense if Cincinnati wants to bring back a Major League-caliber pitcher, especially with the rotation needing help. The Reds have a shortage of arms in their farm system, Hunter Greene is out following Tommy John surgery, and Brady Singer is headed for free agency. Moving Arroyo to a club that needs middle infield help could be one way to patch that hole.
There’s also the Matt McLain factor. He remains under team control through 2029, and while his bat has still not taken off, his defense has been excellent this season. Brito being a switch-hitter gives Cincinnati the chance to platoon him with McLain at second base in 2027, and that at least keeps the position from feeling unsettled.
The Reds also have enough middle infield depth in the minors that dealing Arroyo wouldn’t wipe out the pipeline. If Cincinnati is serious about improving for next season, a move like that could fit the bill. Whether Nick Krall and the front office actually go there is another question.
In Other News...
Terry Franconas Reds Future Suddenly Feels Bigger Than This Season
Terry Franconas arrival in Cincinnati was always going to be about more than one season, but the discussion around his future is already stretching beyond the immediate push on the field. He has a guaranteed year left on his contract, along with a club option for 2028, and team president Nick Krall made it clear the Reds expect to keep talking with him about where this goes next.
Francona has also given the front office every reason to treat him like a long-term fit. He recently picked up his 2,103rd managerial win, and his relationship with the Reds brass has been described as strong, which matters in a job where trust can shape everything from roster planning to clubhouse tone. For now, Francona is focused on continuing to manage, but the fact that his future is already part of the conversation says plenty about how the organization views him. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Fans Just Got A Clearer Picture Of Who Controls 2027
Nick Krall gave Reds fans a little more clarity about the clubs long-term direction, saying he expects himself, the front office staff and the manager to be back for the 2027 season. For a team still sorting through its identity, that matters because it suggests continuity at the top even as the roster has lagged behind the rest of the division and the organization keeps trying to build around a small core of young players.
Krall also took responsibility for the clubs poor performance, a notable admission for a franchise that has spent much of this stretch looking for traction. Cincinnati has some financial flexibility to work with, but any plan to use it will have to account for a thin roster and the possibility of an offseason lockout, which could complicate how aggressively the Reds can reshape things before 2027 arrives. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers And Rays Just Exposed The Reds Biggest Front Office Problem
The Reds keep finding themselves in the same conversation with the Brewers and Rays, two smaller-market clubs that have again shown how much can be done with sharp player development, disciplined roster building and a clear plan. Cincinnati has talent worth paying attention to, with names like Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart and Chase Burns giving the organization a real foundation, but the broader question is whether the people steering the ship are matching that upside with enough urgency and creativity.
For now, the expectation is that the current decision-makers will remain in place, even after another playoff outcome that leaves plenty of room for second-guessing. That matters because the critique around this front office is not about one move or one bad week, but about how the club uses its resources, how it chooses to spend and trade, and whether it can build a roster with the same kind of efficiency that keeps Milwaukee and Tampa Bay in the postseason picture. [Read more 🡒]