By prioritizing extensions over fire sales, Cincinnati signaled a long-term commitment to its core stars, laying the groundwork for a championship-caliber roster anchored through the 2027 season.
The Cincinnati Reds did virtually nothing at the trade deadline.
Well, almost nothing. President of baseball operations Nick Krall traded the two players on the roster who likely would have generated the smallest returns: Nate Lowe and Caleb Ferguson. In return, the Reds received two prospects and international bonus pool money.
However, many fans did not expect the Reds' roster to look the way it does today. It seemed like a foregone conclusion that Cincinnati would trade both Brady Singer and Tyler Stephenson at the deadline because they are on expiring contracts. Furthermore, Hunter Greene, J.J. Bleday, Dane Myers and Spencer Steer all remained on the roster, with Steer likely staying because he is currently on the injured list.
The decision not to move some of those players says a lot about what the roster could look like in 2027.
First, I'd expect the Reds to pursue a contract extension with catcher Tyler Stephenson. He clearly wants to be in Cincinnati, given the emotion he showed after playing what he and many others assumed would be his final game in a Reds uniform. He hit better than .340 in July, posting one of the best offensive months of his career. Alfredo Duno is still at least a couple of seasons away, or at least one season away, from being ready for the major leagues, and Stephenson remains a valuable option because of both his bat and his ability with the automated ball-strike challenge system.
Second, there were reports that Cincinnati was planning to extend a qualifying offer worth more than $21 million to Brady Singer, which was reportedly a major reason the Reds were not motivated to trade him. That says a lot about what the front office thinks of Rhett Lowder, who would become the odd man out in a rotation featuring Hunter Greene, Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo and Singer. Lodolo could also emerge as a trade candidate this offseason if he remains healthy through the second half, so that is something to monitor.
Finally, J.J. Bleday appears to have found a home in the Reds' outfield. If Cincinnati wanted to sell high on him, it could have dealt him to a team such as the Houston Astros and received a solid return. However, his .805 OPS and 19 home runs were apparently enough for Krall to determine that acquiring him was a successful move. Bleday is arbitration-eligible for the next two seasons and made just $1.4 million this year. I don't blame the Reds for wanting to keep him. The former first-round pick has many of the traits of an impact hitter, and if his batting average climbs while maintaining his power production, it would provide a significant boost to Cincinnati's offense.
