The World Series isn’t over yet, but the Cincinnati Reds have already made the first roster move of their offseason. The club has activated right-handed pitcher Ian Gibaut from the 60-daay injured list and outrighted him off of the 40-man roster to Triple-A Louisville.
While being outrighted off of the 40-man roster doesn’t always mean that a player has the option to elect free agency, it does mean that for players who have been outrighted before and that applies here for Ian Gibaut. He could accept the assignment and remain in the minor league with Cincinnati if he chooses. But that wouldn’t make much sense for him as he can choose to become a free agent and test the waters and see what else is out there. And what is out there could still be returning to the Reds if the team and he decide that is the best option.
Back in February the team signed Gibaut to a minor league deal with an invitation to big league spring training. The right-handed reliever made the team and pitched for the first month before landing on the injured list at the end of April. He missed two weeks before heading off on a rehab assignment for his right shoulder impingement. After 10 days with Louisville he returned to the Reds. Five weeks later he headed back to the injured list with the same injury – right shoulder impingement.
This time around he spent five weeks on the shelf before heading off to start a rehab assignment in Louisville. After just two outings with the Bats in Triple-A he returned to the Reds where he remained on the injured list for the rest of the season. During the 2025 season the 31-year-old posted a 4.62 ERA with 25.1 innings with three home runs allowed, eight walks, and 15 strikeouts.
This is the first step to Tito-proofing the roster. Step 2 should be to non-tender Espinal, Moll and Connor Joe, followed by declining Suter’s option.
It’s a start.
I still like Moll. I think he’ll bounce back.
Yeah, maybe. Like everything else, it depends on what the number is.
I like him as well, but doubt he is on team next year
If Moll still has options, it would be silly for the Reds to dump him IMO. Bullpen pitchers are a fickle group, and most aren’t consistent year to year. Moll has had success in the past. Let him prove himself in Louisville and bring him up when needed.
Joe is already gone.
I’m good with not bringing back Espinal.
With Hayes here Espinal serves no purpose.
Moll is in his 2nd year of arbitration. That probably points to a salary increase from his $1M salary. He is out of options. Non-tendering makes sense. CIN can always sign him to a minor league deal with an invite to spring training. His 2025 stats warrants this as he did less than nothing to prove his worth as a trusted arm out of the pen. Still, relievers tend to bounce back.
Connor Joe has been off the roster since 8/31.
I wouldn’’t be surprised if Suter has his option picked up with our shortage of LH in the bullpen. Likewise, if Moll is healthy, I’d expect he’d be held on to until spring training to see how he’s looking.
I could go either way with Moll. His velocity continued a downward trend, and his walk rate continued an upward trend — a bad combination. That said, he was very good in 2023 and solid in 2024. He’s in a group of relievers that will remain vulnerable this offseason, and being arbitration-eligible doesn’t help his case.
Undersized pitchers are rarely effective deep into their 30s. I think being 5’9″ and going into his age 34 season may be finally catching up to Sam Moll.
@ATH, good point.
Speaking of potential lefty options what is the status of Rievet San’Martin?
Sorry, typing from my phone and I’m sure I butchered his name
Reiver Sanmartin ended the year on the Reds 40 man roster. He spent most of the season at AAA where he had a 2.67 ERA in 67.1 IP allowing 65 H and 18 BB with 55 K. He then tossed 1.2 IP without allowing a run for the Reds. He should be in spring training competing for a roster spot as well.
Sanmartin picked up a little velo this year too.
Sanmartin is pitching in the Dominican Winter League. Last night he made his second appearance with Licey. Both outings have been 1-inning of shutout baseball.
Well, I am brimming with optimism about Reiver San Martin!
Actually, I think he is potentially a valuable guy, more valuable than Sam Moll or Mr. Suter (I will not call him Bruce!). Not exactly a power arm, but one of two lefties the Reds will need in 2026.
Maybe.
Could be a solid middle reliever. The Reds need to add two high leverage guys and hope that Phillips can be a 4th high leverage guy.
Phillips may have the arm for that, but it is still too soon to count on him too much. Maybe he will work out alright.
Yes, they do need another high leverage guy, and somebody else besides Tony Santillan who can close. Tony can’t close every night. I think the Reds only had one or two complete games in 2025, also. And not every (win) night needs the closer. But you realistically need two guys.
Hopefully this is a sign they have some upgrade targets in mind. Shoring up the bullpen is almost as important as finding that missing power bat.
Josh Naylor might be a Reds power bat possibility this offseason. I’d like to see a lefthanded first baseman. There’s not too many of those around these days.
I remember when it was almost a REQUIREMENT to be left-handed if you wanted to play 1st base.
Reds 40-man roster needs a house cleaning…Gibaut is one of the expendables…
There is plenty of chaff that can be expunged from the 40 man roster.
I think Moll is a non tender. Sign him January to a minor league and an invite. Possibly Williamson a bullpen lefty?
Agree with letting Gibaut go. He just hasn’t been healthy enough to keep on the 40-man, especially without options.
The roster is going to have some trimming. Free agents Littel, Pagan, Miley, Martinez and Andujar will be off the roster soon as free agents. Some merits to exploring bringing some of these guys back, but much more important offseason work to do first.
I don’t pick up the option on Barlow, Suter, or Hays. But I would explore bringing Barlow back on a lesser deal than his team option.
Espinal is a non-tender. I would consider non-tendering Moll, but if he has options I’d bring him back, but I can’t recall off the top of my head. I’d consider non-tendering Lux as well but ultimately probably bring him back as a lefty bench bat.
At this point, if my math is correct the roster is at 37 keeping Moll and Lux. Definitely need to add Arroyo, HRod, and Balcazar this offseason. Probably would consider adding Franco and Kuncl too but they’re further down the priority list. Plus you have to make some room for free agent additions.
Benschoter, Zulueta, Banfield are first in line for cuts if room is needed for additions. Callihan, Villade, CES, Benson, Lux, Moll, Spiers, are probably in the next group but are probably safe for now.
As always, should be an interesting offseason.
Callihan if healthy seems to be Lux Jr. I never thought about non tender for Lux before ready this. Same with Moll. I would have thought both would be part of 2026, but now we need some needle movers. HRod fits that in my mind. As does Rece Hinds vs Villade, CES and Benson.
Room to take some fliers on guys as we open roster spots. Year 2 on the Conforto bandwagon for me.
Spiers is interesting to me. He competes. I like that.
$5m (Arb projection )starts to creep toward too high for a league average bat without a discernible defensive position, in my opinion. Could that money be better spent on a reliever? Possibly. All that said he probably sticks around and that’s fine.
Lux will probably stick around because they don’t want to admit the trade was a mistake.
First, the Reds have let go of prominent acquisitions that didn’t work out (e.g., Moustakis, Akiyama, Candelario).
Second, I would remake the Lux trade again today. He lengthened the Reds lineup; that is what he was brought in to do. He can still do that and provide defensive versatility. Both will be needed, and his projected arbitration price tag of $5M is quite reasonable for his level of production.
I am torn with Hays. He needs to be healthy, but when he is, he is the type of impact bat we need. He carried the team early. We don’t have many of those.
I really expected more from Tyler Stephenson this year. Still bullish on him, but expect 30-40 more points on his BA this year.
Hitting is contagious. I hope Sal keeps up his professional at bats and his approach rubs off
Bummer! Who will be the closer of OD now?
I think Alexis Diaz is available.
It seems like Krall has consistenty talked about bringing in players who can help both offensively and defensively. But, that kind of flies in the face of the trades for Lux and KHayes, each pretty one dimensional. I like Lux, but I think they would be better off using his salary on a stronger “single use” player (LH/DH/Bullpen), even if that is Austin Hayes.
I think Lux was an insurance policy for MM injury, but I think if MM doesn’t rebound in 2026, then I would prefer Steer there.
I think it was predictable that Gibaut’s nerves would destruct his opening day ill-thought selection as closer. When the small explosion of 9th inning runs was completed, we dove into a valley of subsequent losses that was a challenge to overcome.
Opening Day was just 1 game. Maybe Francona saw something in Gibaut’s attitude and make-up that made him think he could be the closer. And maybe Francona had a couple of guys in mind, and used Gibaut first.
Pagan actually did a really good job for the Reds in 2025, as the closer. But I don’t know if I would bet the ranch on him repeating that in 2026, for more money. He’s a year older, and I think 35 nest year (May). Could fall of the cliff, could be great, could be mediocre. Crapshoot!
Reliever and closers tend to be on and off, unless they are of the highest order and have proven consistency. And those guys ain’t cheap.
https://links.mlb.mlbemail.com/s/vb/5nFmhbVHAUVvsYj0Ipp5cOMdYIklgmuy2SEsQWnQV2pdNP5yZuJnnYJ6Kml_9_0MihnxWdywMjgzkvA3YcnRv91SIvxSXpHEEfoddF9OEUWWk7ZdHmQhCinmurSsu7NHPhAGFxuNomejXNwLLYFv4dKQhk5yS0YCMH630w/bhKFrybV843uism4LMJI9J5vhxhGpA4D/14 Mark Sheldon opines.
Thanks for sharing the link!
Good to see Reiver Sanmartin getting some work this winter with Licey in the Dominican Winter League. He will probably be a big part of 2026 bullpen.