The Reds’ search for pitching help can move on, because one of the names tied to the job is no longer in play.
Earlier this week, there was buzz that Cleveland Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis might be a fit for Cincinnati’s opening. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer spoke with Willis about it, and Willis pointed to his relationship with Reds manager Terry Francona as the only reason he would even think about leaving Cleveland.
That possibility now appears to be fading fast. Zach Meisel of The Athletic reported that Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, who had been mentioned as a candidate for the Seattle Mariners’ manager job, is staying in Cleveland. Meisel also reported that Willis is expected to return with Vogt as the Guardians’ pitching coach.
For the Reds, the focus remains on filling two separate jobs for the 2027 season: Director of Pitching and major league pitching coach. Derek Johnson held that role for the past several years, but he took a leave of absence in the middle of the 2026 season, and team president Nick Krall said after the season that Johnson would not be back.
Krall also made it clear the organization is not looking for one person to handle everything. Cincinnati wants two hires for two distinct roles.
So far, bullpen coach Osacr Marin and assistant pitching coach Matt Tracy are the only known candidates to have interviewed. Marin brings plenty of major league pitching coach experience from his previous stops with the Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates, and he would seem to have an edge over Tracy if the Reds stick with an internal option.
With Willis now off the table, the Reds could also look outside the organization. Matt Blake of the New York Yankees and Connor McGuiness of the Los Angeles Dodgers are among the names that could be under consideration.
It’s an important decision for Cincinnati after the rotation slipped in 2026. Chase Burns delivered an All-Star season, but Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and Brady Singer all struggled.
The Reds also went without their expected Opening Day starter, Hunter Greene, for nearly the entire season. Greene is set to miss all of 2027 after Tommy John surgery in August.
In Other News...
Reds Face One Big Offseason Decision On A Familiar Arm
Nick Martinez is back in the conversation for Cincinnati, and it makes sense why. The former Reds right-hander spent this season with the Rays, stayed durable enough to make 31 starts, and kept his earned run average at 3.10 while showing the kind of steadiness that tends to stand out when a club is staring at rotation uncertainty. For a Reds team that has spent a lot of time trying to stabilize the pitching staff, a familiar arm who already knows the organization is going to look awfully relevant once the offseason market opens.
The bigger issue is timing, because the Reds are headed toward a 2027 rotation picture that already looks thin, and the front office will have to balance that need against its budget realities. With the club also facing other departures and Hunter Greene unavailable after Tommy John surgery, adding dependable innings is not a luxury item. Martinez fits the profile of a pitcher Cincinnati could circle back to, but whether the Reds can make that fit work financially is the question hanging over the winter. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Suddenly Have A Real Dane Myers Question In 2027
Dane Myers gave the Reds something useful in his first season in Cincinnati, appearing in a career-high 117 games and batting .257 with eight home runs while giving the lineup a right-handed option who could hurt lefties and come off the bench in key spots. Acquired from the Marlins in December 2025, he settled into a role that made the trade look sensible almost immediately, especially with the way he handled pinch-hitting duties and gave the club another layer in center field.
Now the Reds have a health issue to monitor heading into 2027 after Myers had to deal with a bruised left shoulder and follow-up surgery on the AC joint. The expectation is that hell be back around Spring Training, but for a player whose value is tied as much to matchup flexibility as everyday availability, even a short interruption can create a real question for how the Reds want to shape their outfield mix. [Read more 🡒]
Former Reds In The World Series Could Affect Cincinnati's Offseason
A World Series run by either Tampa Bay or Milwaukee would put an unexpected Reds wrinkle on the championship stage, because both clubs are carrying former Cincinnati players whose performances have helped shape the postseason picture. Joe Boyle, Gavin Lux, Casey Legumina, Jake Bauers, Ryan Vilade and Nick Martinez all have ties back to Cincinnati, giving the Reds another reminder of how much roster churn can matter when October arrives and the market for pitching and depth pieces starts taking shape.
For the Reds, the more interesting part may come after the confetti falls, when those familiar names and their roles this fall feed into offseason planning. Martinez in particular stands out as a possible free-agent fit if Cincinnati looks for rotation help, while the rest of the group underscores how players moved out of the organization can still circle back into the clubs thinking when its time to build the next roster. [Read more 🡒]