Reds Eyeing Kyle Schwarber in Potential Power Move to Challenge Brewers in NL Central
As the dust settles on the 2025 MLB season and teams start reshaping their rosters for 2026, the Cincinnati Reds are quietly positioning themselves as a serious contender in the National League Central. While the Milwaukee Brewers remain the team to beat, and the Chicago Cubs are still trying to figure out how to replace Kyle Tucker-possibly leaning on young outfielder Owen Caissie-the Reds have emerged as the division’s most intriguing threat.
Fresh off their first full-season playoff appearance since 2013, the Reds fell short in the NL Wild Card series against the Dodgers. But even in defeat, they showed flashes of a team on the rise. And now, with most of their core intact and only a handful of players departing via free agency, Cincinnati is entering the offseason with momentum-and ambition.
Minimal Departures, Maximum Opportunity
Cincinnati's offseason began with a manageable list of free agents: pitchers Zack Littell, Nick Martinez, Emilio Pagán, and midseason pickup Miguel Andujar. Of those, Pagán was the most impactful, taking over as the team’s closer late in the year. But even with his departure, the Reds aren’t facing a full-scale rebuild of their bullpen or lineup.
At the non-tender deadline, the Reds added three more names to their list of departures-pitchers Carson Spiers and Roddery Muñoz, along with catcher Will Banfield. None of those exits drastically alter the team’s outlook for 2026.
In fact, the Reds are in a position where they can afford to think bigger. And it sounds like they’re doing just that.
Schwarber Watch: Cincinnati Gets Serious
Enter Kyle Schwarber. The Ohio native and slugging designated hitter has been one of the most talked-about bats on the free-agent market this winter. And now, according to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the Reds are “serious about signing” him.
This isn’t your typical hometown rumor. Schwarber, born in Middletown-just a short drive from Great American Ball Park-has long been linked to Cincinnati in theory.
But the financials never seemed to line up. The Reds had initially indicated they wanted to keep spending in line with their 2025 payroll, which left them with around $20 million to work with this offseason.
That’s a tight fit for a player like Schwarber, who’s expected to command more than that annually.
But Rosenthal’s report suggests the Reds may be willing to stretch their budget to land one of the most dangerous power bats in baseball. If that’s the case, this isn’t just a feel-good hometown story-it’s a legitimate attempt to reshape the middle of the Reds’ lineup and shift the balance of power in the NL Central.
What Schwarber Would Bring to Cincinnati
Schwarber isn’t a complete player-he’s not going to steal bases or win Gold Gloves-but what he does, he does exceptionally well: hit bombs and get on base. His left-handed power would fit perfectly in Cincinnati’s hitter-friendly ballpark, and he’d give the Reds a proven postseason performer with a knack for the big moment.
Pair him with the Reds’ young, electric rotation and a lineup already brimming with emerging talent, and you start to see a team capable of making real noise in 2026. It wouldn’t necessarily knock the Brewers off their perch, but it would close the gap-and maybe even make the division a two-team race down the stretch.
A Wild Card in the Schwarber Sweepstakes?
Of course, the Reds aren’t the only team keeping tabs on Schwarber. The Pittsburgh Pirates, who’ve surprised many with their interest in the free-agent slugger, could still make a push. But Cincinnati has the hometown angle, the competitive window, and now, apparently, the willingness to spend.
If the Reds do land Schwarber, it would be more than just a flashy signing-it would be a statement. A signal that they’re done waiting for the future and ready to win now. And for a franchise that’s spent the better part of the last decade on the outside looking in, that’s a shift worth watching closely.
The NL Central might not have the glitz of the East or West, but with moves like this on the table, it’s shaping up to be one of the most compelling divisions in baseball heading into 2026.