The Reds' new control person spoke for the first time since taking over, and he had firm answers about the front office and the team's ownership.
Phil Castellini had not spoken with reporters since becoming the team's control person, and he picked Thursday to change that.
Castellini, the president and CEO of the Cincinnati Reds, held a press conference at Great American Ball Park, and he sat next to president of baseball operations Nick Krall and general manager Brad Meador while doing it.
Castellini, the son of owner Bob Castellini, took over as the club's control person in February, which means he represents the Reds at MLB owners' meetings.
His first press conference came after a season that ended with the Reds at 75-87 and last in the National League Central, 28 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers.
Castellini Backs the Front Office
Backing Krall and Meador was the whole reason Castellini showed up.
"My coming here today is really 100 percent about showing that we are 100 percent behind these guys on taking this thing to the next level and solving the challenges that we have to do that and sticking with our strategy," Castellini said, via MLB.com.
He did not pretend the season went well.
Castellini said the results were not good enough for the fans, the sponsors, the partners or the owners, and he said the front office knows it fell short of its own expectations.
He also said the baseball people need to make the baseball decisions, and that his job is to give them as many resources as possible.
Fans already knew Krall and Meador were expected back in 2027, so this was not a surprise.
Hearing the CEO say it in person still ends any guessing before a big offseason.
No Plans to Sell
When Castellini was asked if the ownership group had any intention of selling, he said there were no plans.
He said the group has not done what it set out to do, that the fans deserve better and that ownership wants to keep going until it gets there.
That is a direct answer to the talk of a possible sale that followed the team last month.
My problem is the results, because the Bob Castellini group took over before the 2006 season, and in those 21 years the Reds have made the postseason five times, most recently with a Wild Card berth in 2025.
They have not won a playoff round since 1995 and have not won a World Series since 1990.
Castellini pointed to shortstop Elly De La Cruz, first baseman Sal Stewart and right-hander Chase Burns as reasons for hope, and he said the plan of drafting and developing homegrown talent is still the right one.
That young core is the best thing this team has going for it, but after a 75-87 season, fans will want to see real help added around it this winter.
What Comes Next
The lease at Great American Ball Park runs through 2037, and Castellini said there are no plans to change the field's dimensions.
The plan is also for MLB to keep producing and distributing Reds television broadcasts.
On the field, the Reds now have a long winter to show that the support from ownership leads to a better team in 2027.
