What's next for the Cincinnati Reds?
The Cincinnati Reds have questions to answer during the upcoming 2026 season. Cincinnati may have what it takes to compete, but that does not mean the team isn't currently dealing with uncertainty.
Here are three questions facing the Reds heading into the new campaign.
How will the Reds' Offense Perform?
The Reds' lineup has serious question marks.
Elly De La Cruz is a star. Sal Stewart is one of baseball's most exciting prospects. Overall, though, there aren't many reliable offensive presences in the lineup.
In an ideal scenario, the Reds would add at least two more bats before the 2026 regular season. It remains to be seen if that will occur, though. The Reds' pitching could be quite good in 2026, but the team needs to score some runs as well.
Is Brady Singer a Trade Candidate?
Singer is a pitcher to keep an eye on. The right-handed hurler is in a contract year. At 29 years old, Singer is a guy who could land elsewhere in a trade.
Cincinnati currently needs offense and moving on from a starter such as Singer may emerge as an option. However, Singer is also someone who could be traded before the mid-season deadline -- even if Cincinnati is competitive.
Trading Singer would likely allow the Reds to address their offensive concerns. Unless a contract extension comes to fruition, Singer should be a trade candidate.
His 2025 season wasn't great -- 4.03 ERA in 32 starts -- but he's not a bad veteran and Singer has found success in the past. One has to imagine he will draw interest if made available for a potential deal.
How Close are the Reds to Becoming a Legitimate Contender?
The 2025 MLB season saw the Reds make a postseason push with an 83-79 record. Was the '25 campaign the beginning of the Terry Francona-led squad becoming a consistent contender, or was it simply a fairly respectable season for an otherwise mediocre overall squad?
The Reds are looking to improve upon their '25 performance. In order to attract free agents, making back-to-back playoff runs will be important. Adding a few more wins onto that 83 mark would not hurt either.
If the 2026 season does not go according to plan and the ball club struggles, Cincinnati may end up having to return to a rebuild. The players don't want that to happen, so there will be pressure to win this year. Sure, they don't need to bring home a World Series in 2026, but at least reaching 85 or so victories should be the goal.