Cincinnati Reds star pitcher Hunter Greene has been mentioned in various trade rumors this offseason. Greene, 26, is one of the better pitchers in baseball and would help the Reds receive a massive trade haul if moved. He is also under team control through 2028 -- and has a club option for 2029 -- so possible suitors would have him for multiple years. With all of that being said, there is an argument to be made that trading Greene right now would be the Reds' biggest mistake of the offseason. 

The contract is enough of a reason to avoid a deal. Greene is under team control for multiple seasons, so there is no urgency to move on from him -- even for a small-market ball club like the Reds.

There is more to the situation than length of contract, though.

In 2025, the Reds made a postseason push. They displayed signs of emerging as a true contender. Moving on from Greene right now would signal a rebuild. Cincinnati has already rebuilt the team, so there's no reason to start fresh now. 

The Reds' starting rotation is their strength. They should be looking to construct a contending roster around their pitchers.

Greene leads a strong pitching rotation that includes Nick Lodolo and Brady Singer among others. Cincinnati's pitching staff could be among the best in the National League if the starters reach their full potential.

Greene pitched to a 2.76 ERA across 19 outings in 2025. He added 132 strikeouts in 107.2 innings pitched. In 2024, he earned his first All-Star appearance and ended up appearing in 26 games. That season, he struck out a career-best 169 hitters.

Hunter Greene could realistically be a National League Cy Young candidate if he makes 30 or more starts in 2026. He features that kind of a ceiling. 

Sure, the argument to trade Greene would be centered around the possible package Cincinnati would receive in return. Moving on from him now feels too early, though. The Reds do not have to give up on their current core of players. They have a Hall of Fame manager in Terry Francona and an All-Star shortstop in Elly De La Cruz. 

Cincinnati is just a few pieces away from contending with the better teams in the league. Trading Hunter Greene this offseason would indeed be a huge mistake.