The Cincinnati Reds are on the rise, as they made the playoffs this past season after missing them for four straight years. Starting pitcher Hunter Greene is one of the main reasons why.

The 26-year-old went 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA over 19 starts in 2025, one year after going 9-5 with a 2.75 ERA in 26 starts. He's improved since his first two seasons, in which he recorded a 4.44 ERA and 4.82 ERA, respectively.

That improvement is why there is "widespread interest" across MLB in Greene, per The Athletic's Brendan Kuty. Kuty mentioned that in his piece about the New York Yankees, who he said "need front-end rotation security."

Cincinnati could hold on to Greene this winter, as he is under contract until his club option in 2029, per Spotrac. However, the right-hander could be a sell-high candidate, especially if the Yankees are involved.

"The Yankees have highly regarded pitching talent that could be used in a potential trade to acquire established high-end arms who have been speculated to be on the trading block," Kuty wrote.

Who are possible examples of "highly regarded" pitchers that the Reds could pry off of New York in exchange for Greene?

Reds Could Turn Hunter Greene Into Cam Schlittler, Prospects

Cincinnati could take a calculated risk by trading Greene to the Bronx for a package centered around right-hander Cam Schlittler. The latter player went 4-3 with a 2.96 ERA over 14 starts before going 1-1 with a 1.26 ERA over two playoff starts as a rookie this past season.

Schlittler showed promise and was dominant at times in 2025, highlighted by his eight-inning shutout performance against the Boston Red Sox during the AL Wild Card Round. But Greene has a more extensive track record, which might be more attractive to the Yankees given their current predicament. 

New York needs to win a championship while superstars Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole are still in their prime years. Both are now over 30 years old, and Cole is coming off of Tommy John surgery. Young players like Schlittler sometimes have sophomore slumps, and the Yankees don't have time for that.

Meanwhile, the Reds have time to develop players, as franchise cornerstone Elly De La Cruz is only 26. 

Therefore, Cincinnati could offer Greene to New York in exchange for Schlittler and pitching prospects such as Carlos Lagrange, Elmer Rodriguez, or Bryce Cunningham. That would add depth to the Reds' staff for the long haul while giving the Yankees a win-now player.