Internal dysfunction and meddling ownership have paralyzed Cincinnati’s front office, preventing the strategic rebuilding needed to replicate the Brewers' and Rays' small-market success.
The Cincinnati Reds have had a dumpster fire season in 2026. A year when they were a trendy pick to win the NL Central, they came in with a young core and great pitching, then added a power-hitting free agent in Eugenio Suarez.
What has it led to? A 73-85 record, which will likely end in a last-place finish in the NL Central.
Despite missing the playoffs in five of the last six seasons and a long track record of failing to build a team truly capable of competing with the top of the major leagues, Cincinnati’s front office and coaching staff are expected to remain intact for the 2027 season.
However, insider Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic wrote Thursday morning that much of the blame for the Reds' failures belongs on ownership and the front office, while Nick Krall and Brad Meador still deserve a good chunk of it.
Bob Castellini, owner of the Cincinnati Reds who is still in charge of all baseball operations and oversees Nick Krall and Meador, has reportedly consistently asked why the Cincinnati Reds can’t be like the Milwaukee Brewers or Tampa Bay Rays, small market teams who have been able to find consistent success.
According to the article, Krall and the front office have consistently relayed to Castellini the roadmap to be like the Rays and Brewers: Invest in major league talent sparingly and strategically while building an indestructible base of young talent on the major league roster and in the minor leagues.
The Rays and Brewers have been criticized for trades of guys like Randy Arozarena, Tyler Glasnow, Corbin Burnes, Josh Hader, and Freddy Peralta. The deals seemed like teams with their backs against the wall and no choice, but each team had a specific plan for the future.
Big-time free-agent deals and extensions have been few and far between for those clubs, as they've cycled through young talent in names like Jackson Chourio, Brice Turang, Junior Caminero, and Yandy Diaz.
The Reds, according to Rosenthal, have been unable to make those types of trades, shipping off major league talent for prospects, because they have been vetoed by ownership, which leans on a win-now, year-to-year framework instead of strategically rebuilding.
This has led to trades that saw the Reds acquire Gavin Lux and Ke’Bryan Hayes. Ownership signed free-agent deals with Jeimer Candelario and Eugenio Suarez, while Krall and the front office wanted to pursue starting pitcher Nick Martinez instead of a power hitter. As I mentioned before, Krall had a hand in those deals, specifically the Hayes and Candelario ones, and deserves a lot of blame.
Rosenthal has made it clear. The dysfunction between ownership and the front office is deep, and unless sweeping changes happen that lead to more alignment, you shouldn't expect the Reds to field a competitive team.
