The Reds believe their current roster can compete again in 2026, even without a splashy addition.
After sneaking into the playoffs as a Wild Card team in 2025, the Cincinnati Reds have taken a patient approach this offseason, choosing to stick with what worked rather than make any blockbuster moves.
The question lingering over Great American Ball Park is whether that will be enough to get back to October.
Running It Back
Cincinnati finished 83-79 last season and earned their first postseason berth since 2020, though the Los Angeles Dodgers swept them in the Wild Card Series on their way to winning the World Series.
Manager Terry Francona emphasized depth as a priority heading into 2026, and the front office has responded by re-signing key pieces while adding bullpen help instead of chasing a big bat.
The Reds brought back closer Emilio Pagán on a two-year, $20 million deal and added relievers Caleb Ferguson and Pierce Johnson to shore up the bullpen.
Beyond that, the starting lineup remains largely untouched, with Cincinnati signing eight players to arbitration deals to avoid hearings and keep the core together.
Trusting the Young Core
The Reds are betting heavily on internal improvement from their young hitters.
Shortstop Elly De La Cruz played all 162 games in 2025 and slashed .264/.336/.440 with 22 home runs, 86 RBIs, and 37 stolen bases, and at just 24 years old, he remains the centerpiece of the offense.
First baseman Spencer Steer hit .238/.312/.411 with 21 home runs while earning Gold Glove consideration, marking his third consecutive 20-homer season.
The wild cards are players like Matt McLain, who struggled to a .220/.300/.343 line in 2025 after missing all of 2024 with shoulder surgery, and reclamation projects JJ Bleday and Ke'Bryan Hayes, who come with upside but also risk.
If McLain can bounce back and the lineup gets more consistent production throughout, Cincinnati believes they have enough offense to compete in the NL Central.
Holding Onto Pitching Depth
Trade speculation has swirled around starter Brady Singer, who went 14-12 with a 4.03 ERA and led the team with 32 starts and 163 strikeouts in 169.2 innings last season.
The Reds signed him to a $12.75 million deal for 2026, and while rival executives believe Cincinnati is open to moving mid-tier starters, the front office has drawn a clear line around their top arms.
President of baseball operations Nick Krall has been adamant that Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott are off limits in any trade discussions.
Greene posted a stellar 2.76 ERA with a 0.94 WHIP and 132 strikeouts in 107.2 innings before injuries limited him to 19 starts, making him one of the most valuable arms in baseball when healthy.
The reluctance to deal from the rotation comes down to depth concerns.
The Reds have young arms like Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder waiting in the wings, but none have the proven track record that Singer provides, and with Greene and Lodolo both carrying injury histories, keeping a dependable innings-eater around makes sense even if it limits Cincinnati's ability to add offense.
Can It Be Enough?
The Reds are gambling that internal growth and a deep pitching staff will carry them back to the postseason, but there are legitimate questions about whether the lineup can produce enough runs to support that pitching.
Cincinnati ranked 21st in home runs last season with just 167, and the front office has yet to add a proven power bat to address that hole.
For now, the Reds are standing pat and trusting their process.
Whether that approach proves wise or leaves them on the outside looking in come October remains to be seen.