Michael Toglia’s arrival gave the Reds one less name to juggle, but it didn’t empty out the September conversation.
Cincinnati brought the former Colorado Rockies slugger up to the active roster earlier this week after he spent the entire season at Triple-A Louisville. Toglia blasted 22 home runs in the minors, and the Reds decided it was time to see what that power looks like in the big leagues. With rosters expanding from 26 to 28 players on September 1, the move also changes the math for the final month, when clubs often start looking hard at who might be next.
Most of the candidates already have some major league time with Cincinnati this season. One of them could even surprise people a little.
Zach Maxwell is one of the more obvious possibilities. The hard-throwing right-hander has been up a couple of times already this year, but he has spent most of the summer back in Triple-A since the end of June.
The arm is there - since returning to Louisville in June, he has struck out 21 batters in 20⅓ innings - but command keeps getting in the way. He has also walked 15 in that span, and that issue has followed him all season.
Edwin Arroyo also fits the profile of a player who could be back in the mix soon. He already got his first taste of the majors this year, though the production was modest: 44 games, a .244/.286/.257 line and no home runs.
Back in the minors, he’s shown a little more pop with three homers, and he has played exclusively at second base. A return next month looks very possible.
Connor Phillips is another arm Cincinnati could consider again, though the control problems haven’t gone away. Earlier this season, he posted a 21.1% walk rate in 25 relief outings for the Reds.
Since going back to the minors, the number has stayed almost the same at 20.2%. The Reds could still give him another shot in September, but the odds are not exactly friendly.
Will Banfield hasn’t reached the big leagues yet this season, but he’s already on the 40-man roster, which keeps him in the picture. If Cincinnati heads into September with no realistic path back to the postseason, Banfield could get the nod to help ease the workload for Tyler Stephenson and Jose Trevino behind the plate.
Chase Petty may not even make it to September before getting another look. If he is still in Triple-A when the month turns, that would come as something of a surprise.
His year has had its ups and downs, but he has looked far more comfortable than he did in 2025. Working as a starter in the minors, he could offer Cincinnati some length down the stretch.
Michael Chavis is another name to keep close tabs on. Other than Toglia, he has put together the strongest numbers among the veteran major leaguers at Louisville this season.
In 92 games, he has hit .249/.325/.480 with 21 home runs, 68 RBI and a 104 wRC+. He was plucked off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays in early-August and could add some length to the Reds' bullpen in September.
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