Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene addressed his name being involved in trade rumors this past offseason.
The Cincinnati Reds enter the 2026 season with heightened expectations after returning to postseason relevance, but much of the offseason conversation centered on one surprising topic: trade speculation involving ace Hunter Greene.
Greene’s name surfaced in rumors largely because of roster construction concerns. Cincinnati’s lineup struggled with consistency in 2025, and some around the league speculated the club could explore dealing from its strength, starting pitching, to improve its offense.
Given the organization’s history of being cautious with long‑term spending, there is also the looming reality that Greene could command a massive contract in free agency down the line.
That combination made him a theoretical trade candidate, even if the idea never gained real traction internally. Greene addressed the outside noise directly, making it clear that it never impacted his mindset.
“I addressed this early on. I think people got confused with trade rumors. To me, I never cared about trade rumors. That’s part of the game. I can’t control it. Everybody believes they have a platform and everybody wants to listen to them. Everyone has got opinions," Greene said (h/t Jeremy Rauch of Fox 19).
His response reflects the poise the Reds have come to rely on from their staff ace. More importantly, it reinforces why moving him would be such a difficult decision. Greene has developed into a true frontline pitcher and one of the most electric arms in baseball.
In 2024, he delivered a dominant season, posting a 2.75 ERA across 26 starts with 169 strikeouts over 150 1/3 innings, firmly establishing himself as a Cy Young‑caliber arm. He followed that up in 2025 with a 2.76 ERA in 19 starts, adding 132 strikeouts across 107 2/3 innings despite a shorter workload due to injury. The consistency across both seasons highlights his growth into one of the league’s most reliable and overpowering starters.
A former second overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, Greene has spent his entire career with Cincinnati and has steadily grown into the role the organization envisioned. Now a one‑time All‑Star, he was instrumental in helping lead the Reds back to the postseason last year.
That is what makes the trade discussion so significant. While dealing Greene could have potentially addressed offensive weaknesses and maximized long‑term value, it would also mean parting with a franchise player just barely entering his prime.
For a team looking to take the next step from playoff contender to World Series threat, keeping Greene at the top of the rotation may ultimately be the most important decision of all.