Would Colton Cowser be a good fit for the Cincinnati Reds’ outfield?

The Cincinnati Reds may need to add to their outfield this offseason. They don’t have many surefire outfielders for the Opening Day roster, though I think Dane Myers could be one of them. As a utility player, Spencer Steer definitely has a case to be an outfield starter.

Blake Dunn, JJ Bleday and Hector Rodriguez have all had their bright spots, but slumps and injuries have raised questions about their long-term impact on the roster. The addition of another outfielder, whether through free agency or a trade, is highly likely.

Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Randy Arozarena have been floated as possible fits for Cincinnati, but Clay Snowden of Just Baseball thinks Orioles center fielder Colton Cowser could be a really good fit for the Reds in 2027.

Cowser, 26, finished second in American League Rookie of the Year voting in 2024 after hitting .242 with a .768 OPS and 24 home runs. He has since been far less productive at the plate. After a 92-game 2025 season in which he hit .196 with 16 home runs, Cowser posted a .226 average and a .687 OPS with 13 home runs in 142 games in 2026.

Cowser is a plus defender who played 94 games in center field and finished with 10 outs above average. He clearly has power potential, as shown by his 24-home-run rookie season, but he has a high swing-and-miss rate and struggles against left-handers. He posted a .734 OPS against right-handers.

The good thing for the Reds is that the standard isn’t very high, so bringing Cowser in as a possible change-of-scenery addition could be sensible. However, I don’t know if he should be brought in as an everyday player from day one. I’d much rather give Myers the center field job than Cowser after Myers played great defense and hit over .250 in his first full season with the Reds.

Also, I expect Steer to be healthy and take up one of the corner outfield spots pretty consistently. If you can add a premier bat like Happ, Suzuki, or Arozarena, I think you should spend the resources that way. The outfield is your best chance to add a really good offensive player. The options at second base are rather sparse, and the market at third base or first base has a lower ceiling than the outfield market.

This could be an exciting offseason for the Reds. Let's see what they do.