Why the Reds Should Prioritize Re-Signing This Impending Free Agent

Starting Thursday, the clock will begin ticking for the Cincinnati Reds to sign some of their impending free agents after the Milwaukee Brewers beat the Tampa Bay Rays in five games in the 2026 World Series.

Players like Brady Singer, Tyler Stephenson, and Brock Burke will soon officially be on the free-agent market. Here's why the Reds should prioritize signing Burke.

Burke, a left-handed reliever, was third in the MLB with 77 appearances, pitching 74 1/3 innings. He posted a strong 2.30 ERA and a 1.26 WHIP. Burke had 23 holds and converted two of three save opportunities. He added 74 strikeouts against 40 walks, and opposing hitters batted .202 against him. Burke also allowed just five home runs in 77 appearances.

Cincinnati is seriously considering left-handed pitchers for its bullpen. The Reds acquired Sam Moll at the trade deadline in 2023, and he never found his best stuff in either season. In 2025, he made 23 appearances with a 6.38 ERA and a 22-to-10 strikeout-to-walk ratio. In 2026, he had a 4.79 ERA in 65 appearances with a 56-to-30 strikeout-to-walk ratio before being designated for assignment late in the season.

Burke isn't just a desperation signing. He's 30 and has a lot of good baseball ahead of him. Cincinnati didn't trade him at the deadline, and you can bet teams reached out to the Reds about a left-handed rental who had a great season up to that point.

The Reds didn't deal him, which suggests they envisioned signing him to a contract this offseason. Spotrac projects his market value at more than $4 million next season. The Reds should be very aggressive in re-signing Burke and offer him more than the $4 million he's expected to make.

Cincinnati has no other left-handed reliever on the roster, and there are few left-handers the Reds can afford this offseason. A.J. Minter and Gregory Soto are likely out of their price range, especially since the Reds could add two players to the major league roster ahead of the 2027 season.

The Reds could also lose Emilio Pagan, who has a 2027 player option. Brandon Williamson could become a full-time bullpen arm, but uncertainty in Cincinnati's starting rotation, with Singer possibly becoming a free agent and Hunter Greene dealing with an injury, could push Williamson into a starting role.

At the end of the day, Burke would be a big-time retention signing for Cincinnati.