Jeff Passan and Jesse Rogers of ESPN both seemed to agree on Thursday that the Cincinnati Reds were the biggest losers at the 2025 MLB Winter Meetings. And both of them agreed on the reason why – they failed to bring in Kyle Schwarber.
Rogers noted that while Schwarber is very important to the Philadelphia Phillies (who were able to bring him back with a 5-year, $150,000,000 deal), that “his impact in Cincinnati could have been even more meaningful”. But Passan really laid it out as to why he believed the Reds were the biggest loser at the meetings:
“Free agents of Schwarber’s ilk rarely entertain the idea of going to small-market teams, but the Reds had a built-in advantage: He was from there. Considering the scarcity of such possibilities, the Reds– one big bat away from being a real threat to win the NL Central — needed to treat Schwarber’s potential arrival with urgency and embrace their inner spendthrift. They had the money to place the largest bid. They chose not to. And they missed, a true shame considering the strength of their rotation and the likelihood that similar opportunities won’t find them again anytime soon.”
There certainly could be some assumptions going on there. But it all reads pretty true. Cincinnati at least talked about the fact that they truly thought they could sign Kyle Schwarber. There are two different reports out there on exactly what it was that was offered by the Reds. Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and others reported that Cincinnati offered 5-years and $125,000,000 with a chance for there to be more. The assumption there is that there were performance bonuses tied in that could have pushed the deal higher. Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported on Wednesday that the Reds offered to match the Orioles on a 5-year, $150,000,000 deal but that Schwarber simply wanted to remain in Philadelphia. All three could be true if the Reds offer was $125,000,000 with another $25,000,000 possibly being there with the performance incentives.
For reasons we talked about here at Redleg Nation earlier this week, the Reds front office seemed willing to actually make a big commitment to Kyle Schwarber that they don’t seem to be willing to make to anyone else. He was the perfect fit for what the team desperately needs, they seemingly thought they could get it done in a way they almost never even think about trying, and still came up short. And not only did they come up short, but it seems that because they only seemed to carve out the idea for this one and only particular player, that whatever else they are willing to do this offseason will not compare, improve the team nearly as much, and be a bitter pill to swallow for the fans of the team.
One of the worst ownerships and front office in mlb so it’s not a surprise
It’s typical, they offered on the low end knowing that he probably wouldn’t take it because everyone was predicting he’d get the 30mil a year. Then turn around and say look we offered this and try to save face like they’re actually trying.
My hope is that they don’t panic because of the negative PR and sign or trade for someone that could end up hurting the team. Don’t make a move just to make a move is my point. It’s obvious they aren’t going to spend on a big FA so they have to be smart with their trades.
I don’t think you have to worry about Castellinis spending money because of bad PR. Phil C. made it very clear they don’t care what fans think.
No doubt there, Votto4Life. The Clown Prince and his arrogance made it quite clear what they feel about the fans.
Is it time for the league to contract? Why do the Reds, Pirates, Rockies etc even exist?
AAAA feeder teams for the big spender teams it appears, sadly.
Baseball is broken when rich get richer and poor get poorer. It’s an ugly cycle, and MLB shows its lack of concern by enabling the Dodgers, Yankees, Phillies and Mets to go Christmas shopping every year. Of course Boras won’t allow his clients to go to Cincinnati so Reds are doomed, trapped between mediocrity and the basement.
Ken,
That would violate his fiduciary responsibility.
The reds are too cheap is the issue.
Nick, is not a good GM, and the reds fans are stuck
They exist because those owners have a low risk investment that provides them a sizable return for doing next to nothing every year.
Lockout is coming after this season and they should stay locked out until there is an NFL style salary cap/floor/revenue sharing where the cap is tied to a collectively bargained percentage of league revenues. MLB is near death as far as i’m concerned. I’ll watch the minor leagues because I love baseball, but no real reason to watch MLB and the same teams duke it out every year.
And that salary floor has to be high and tight to keep the tankers from finding ways through it to the basement.
An idea that has intrigued me is a system of financial relegation. Drop the bottom three teams in each league every season to the back of the draft order for at least the first round. Also, cut their share of revenue sharing by 10-15% for the coming season, but require them to maintain the same floor.
Make it hurt to be bad.
Yeah, in the NFL that floor is something like 90% of the cap, and there are severe penalties for not reaching that floor.
@Duke>> The NHL calculates the midpoint of the total salary pool of the current season based on total Hockey Related Revenues across the league and sets the cap at 15% above the midpoint and the floor at 15% under the midpoint. Currently, the cap and floor are $88m and $65m (midpoint of 76.5).
I know it causes some gnashing of teeth when I use NHL for examples; but, the number of players an NHL team can have under direct contract and on their active NHL roster falls somewhat in line with MLB compared to other sports which makes comparisons a matter of scale.
A salary floor is the minimum spending threshold—no excuses, no exceptions. In the NBA, teams that payroll falls below the floor, has to pay bonuses to their players until the hit the floor. A cap model can’t work without an ironclad floor.
Haha cute idea. This is exactly why owners won’t be as united on a cap as ppl think. The chump owners like ours want a cap with no floor, otherwise, they’d have to spend more money. Another large impediment will be what the cap actually is. How do you bridge a gap when real teams want to spend $500m and the chump teams like the pirates are willing to spend $50m?
It’s hard to swallow but the real solution is to force out chump owners, get more real players like ballmer into baseball, or start contracting meaningless teams like ours.
Maybe we could either ban deferred contracts to penalize that money for each season of deferment at 150% or more each season.
Shohei 700 mil contract/680 deferred
Betts 365/115
Snell 182/60
Freeman 162/57
Will Smith 140/50
Hernandez 89.5/31.5
Edman 74/25
Scott 72/21
I would like to hold on talk about possibly contracting teams till after the new CBA finishes. As much as we need to force cheap/small pocket ownerships to at least be competitive with their team salaries we need to reel in the Dodgers, Mets, Blue Jays of the league from making it all but a certainty about who is favored or actually goes to the WS.
The only way that happens is the league taking control of all media contracts.
And MLB is talking expansion, so not going to happen.
I am sure the two cities that lose, will take the Reds with there ownership group. Can you say Nashville Reds?
They were a Eugen Ruehlmann (mayor of Cincinnati) away from becoming the San Diego Reds in mid 1960s. DeWitt was ready to go. Mayor Ruehlmann got Riverfront Stadium built to keep the Reds.
When the Giants and Dodgers left New York in 1958 for the West Coast, I saw many references in the three Cincinnati newspapers of the day mentioning the possibility of the Reds becoming the NL franchise in Manhattan. Red’s owner Powell Crosley put a stop to that along with a good front office led by Warren Giles and GM Gabe Paul (a New Yorker). Threats of a Red’s move are nothing new, but MLB’s oldest professional franchise, with a good long established fanbase, is moving nowhere from the place it was established in 1882, Cincinnati.
40 year Reds fan here. This ownership group has me so jaded that if they don’t make it past the first round of the playoffs this year that I’m just done with it.
There are so many alternatives out there to discover in my waning years.
It’s one thing if you feel an organization is making a legitimate effort, this isn’t that.
It may be because they don’t care, it may be because they operate to make a profit, it may be because they can’t afford it.
If you can’t afford to compete, GET RID OF IT!!!! Stop with the excuses. Do what it takes to compete or sell, don’t just continue to cry poor. It’s disgraceful.
“If you can’t afford to compete, GET RID OF IT!!!”
Exactly, if you are just hoping to break even every year why are you even in business?
They care, but more importantly they want to make a profit which is their right. This ownership group can clearly afford it. I wish MLB required them to be competitive but they don’t. We can support it or find something else which is our right.
It’s time the league takes all the broadcasting rights. A league of haves and have nots is a dying league.
If they cared, the first thing they would do is hire capable people in the front office. They would employ a bright GM who has a vision and direction he would like to take the organization in and have a plan to do so. They would invest in the scouting department. They wouldnt sit on their hands when they have a window open w the young salary-controlled pitching staff. They have a budding star in EDC who is making no money (relatively speaking). They would communicate clearly w the fanbase and be consistent w their message. They wouldnt let Krall embarrass himself every time he is in front of a microphone.
I think they care in the sense that noone likes losing all the time, but they are in this for the money. Sure they would PREFER to win, but not enough to take additional financial risks. It hasn’t always been this way, but now it is. I think owning a sports team is a public trust and its an appreciating asset regardless of their ineptitude.
Hey Brian 1. I got you beat. Reds fan here for 51 years. I passed jaded years ago, and yet, somehow, I am still here, for the moment. I am placing a lot of hope in the new CBA. If somehow the new CBA does not seriously address the financial situation in MLB, I currently live in California and I might switch my allegiance to the Giants. I admit it would be very difficult but it would be less so than sticking with a team like the Reds for another untold amount of years. I would however reserve the right to come back if the team if it was sold to an owner who at least had deep enough pockets to at least compete for more than .500 mediocrity or scraping into a wildcard every ten years or so.
Got you both beat. Reds fan for 62 years.
Fan for 70 years. Would like to see one more WS. We need a salary cap and floor. Otherwise, it isn’t likely.
69 years for me. The 1956 Reds first got my attention. First Reds game in 1958. Best W-L record (%) in NL from 1956 to 1981.
I’m in for 55 years. Refused to watch the WS this year due to the Dodgers buying a WS appearance.
Thanks for the reply. The league has to know that competitive balance would be the best thing for them. Stop worrying about the length of games and worry about fan bases that know they are out of it before the freakin season even starts. They water down the playoffs by expanding wildcard teams, that’s their brilliant answer. SMH.
Sell to who?
Anyone else, will move the team.
Says who? How many times in your lifetime has that happened? The Expos were playing in a tupperware bowl with a leaking roof and wouldn’t build a new stadium, they had to leave. Same with the A’s, they played in a rat infested stadium in front of 1200 fans. That ain’t the case in Cincinnati.
Its silly to think someone will come in and take the oldest team in baseball and move them in the middle of the night. Stop listening to Phil.
“Its silly to think someone will come in and take the oldest team in baseball and move them in the middle of the night. Stop listening to Phil.”
You’re most likely correct.
Not to mention that the State of Ohio government wouldn’t let that happen. Reds have a contract with Hamilton County, too. They can’t leave for many more years even if they wanted to.
You guys are right. I guess my main point is that they have to know that a large segment of their loyal fan base is now apathetic. I do blame the league too for allowing this. Wouldnt the league thrive more with competitive balance?
One would think so, but my guess is that the league is reluctant to annoy the huge market teams and their attendant national followings and TV revenue and extremely wealthy and influential owners.
The Schwarber sweepstakes was a question of teams finding that they would have been bidding against their own offers. If Schwarber hadn’t taken the 150, somebody else would have thrown another 10M onto the pile. Schwarber knew this. Saying the Reds failed is a touch over the top.
It’s possible you are right. Maybe the Reds would have gone higher but Schwarber just wanted to sign with the Phillies and they told him 150 was max.
But more concerning is the Reds apparent stance that it was Schwarber or bust, and it’s only because Schwarber would put a few more butts in the seats.
Other teams are getting their fans presents for Christmas. We got a rock.
Some sort of salary cap can’t come soon enough.
Honestly, if the Dodgers end up getting Skubal as well, I may just not watch a single MLB level game all year. I’ll stick with the minors. Their payroll will be more than our owner’s net worth.
And they want to trade Teoscar Hernandez most likely because they want Kyle Tucker.
Agreed jon and salary floor as well!
I’ve been a fan for around 40 years as well, Brian. I’m feeling the same way. The lack of trying to get a real winner is wearing on me. Something has to change soon or fans will eventually start to walk away.
I have been a fan since 1970 (a lot more fun), I now pay to watch the Avalanche on TV. Do not go to any games at Coors, has gotten too dangerous.
I went to game at Coors about 10 years ago and got my car broken into and stereo stolen. Great place.
Reds fans and the talking heads at MLB network need to understand that Schwarber could be Dave Kingman like three years into this deal. Guys like him do not age well.
Go get a younger stud outfielder with some upside and upgrade that bullpen. Small market teams cannot take misses on great big contracts like that. (See Homer Bailey, Moose, et all)
IS this young available stud outfielder in the room with us?
I mean, if Jackson Merrill is actually available, i’m at least making a call to the Padres and feeling them out.
Very well said! Reds front office has made some bad decisions in the past few years when it comes to free agent signings. It’s embarrassing to release guys like Moose and Candelario in the middle of their contracts. What a waste of money! The best strategy for small market teams like Cincinnati is to invest heavily in your minor league system and pay top dollar for the best coaches and scouts. There seems to be a pattern with some free agents after signing big contracts that they get comfortable and the work ethic deteriorates.
Yeah, but leave Nick Krall out this. He’s just an innocent by-stander.
Heh….. that is actually pretty funny, too.
I would argue that the Mets were clearly the biggest loser…..losing Alonso and Diaz.
Regarding Schwarber….
1) you can’t lose something you don’t have..
2) I suspect he would have gone back to the Phils even if the Reds matched their offer. Team familiarity and better chance of winning a World Series.
Just my opinion.
Agree, it’s the Mets. They lost a lot of WAR off their roster they need to replace just to maintain. The Reds simply didn’t add.
A greater chance the Mets will sign Kyle Tucker or some other top talent. Close to zero chance the Reds will.
Yeah, I really don’t think the Reds had much of a real chance to sign Schwarber. I think he always wanted to stay with the Phillies, as they are genuine “Contenders”.
The Reds are more of “Pretenders” (cue….My City Was Gone).
And yes, the Mets were the Big Losers. Ha, Ha, Ha. Their Daddy Warbucks owner who has “Billions!” to spend, couldn’t keep Alonso and Diaz, two pretty important players, on the team.
You can’t lose what you never had, and Schwarber was never a player for the Reds. And yes, he is a lot like Dave Kingman, except left handed. In the days of Kingman, there was no DH in the NL to hide him, because he was a pretty lousy fielder.
There has been enough grinding and knashing of teeth over this issue. It’s over, let’s relax and hope the Reds Front Office does a couple of moves that actually help the team in 2026.
“Middle of the Road”
“Hope is a dangerous thing my friend” said someone in a prison movie!
The Reds losers? It’s in their DNA. They are comfortable with it. Actually, they like it. It’s cheaper. Regarding Schwarber, I read somewhere that much of the Reds’ offer was going to be deferred. The fact that much a chunk of Marte’s contract is deferred may be one of the reasons to consider the rumor may be true. But at the end of the day, picking through the leftovers in February still seems the most likely outcome. A stingy and dysfunctional organization that values insiders over competence and you have a recipe for mediocrity.
“But at the end of the day, picking through the leftovers in February still seems the most likely outcome. A stingy and dysfunctional organization that values insiders over competence and you have a recipe for mediocrity.”
Pathetic
Didn’t Rosencrans report today that Krall stated the budget would have remained the same if Schwarber had signed? If so, the narrative that the Reds were only going to up the budget has proven overly speculative and ultimately false.
Just exactly how was the budget going to remain the same?
Maybe backload or deferrals
Trade players away
Yep. Article on the Athletic. I just wish Krall would shut his pie hole. I just can’t stand him and his bullcrap anymore.
Nothing but Baloney most of the time.
From Sheldon:
“Although president of baseball operations Nick Krall declined to detail the Reds’ offer, The Athletic reported it was in the range of five years for $125 million. There was a report that Cincinnati was willing to extend its budget to accommodate a Schwarber signing but not for other big-ticket free agents going forward.
Krall refuted that narrative. Deferred money was part of the effort to get Schwarber.
“I never said we were going to extend [payroll],” Krall said. “I’ve always told you guys that where our payroll was … we were trying to figure out how to be creative to get him to fit in. We were trying to be creative in year one to figure out how to continue to get him.”
If this is the truth, Krall losing control of the narrative is, again, as with Greene and EDLC, an issue.
Further, how did the public get wind of the idea the Reds would only go to this price for Schwarber and no one else? An idea like that is just so odd that it hardly seems a misinterpretation by a writer. I mean, that’s a bizarre idea that had not for one second been anywhere on the radar. NoIf anything, it seems more likely Krall misspoke, again, and is now cleaning things up. The “I’ve always told you guys” snip at the press shows he is testy. Maybe the reason these stories keep getting screwed up is that the guy communicating them is one doing the screwing up.
“Maybe the reason these stories keep getting screwed up is that the guy communicating them is one doing the screwing up”
Nothing against him personally just like with David Bell but he’s NOT A WINNER. He’s screwing things up in more ways than one.
You would be testy too if journalists spun their own narrative based on inferences. Krall has been available to the media daily. Communication is a two way process.
What’s interesting to me is that Krall has been pretty open about the Reds payroll. I’ve read complaints over the years about frustration with not understanding the Reds plans.
Krall is the current RLN scapegoat. It is zero fun watching your favorite franchise spi it’s wheels. I agree with everyone on that. However, many of you are simply in bash the person mode. That’s not constructive nor is it in accordance with the site’s posting guidelines.
BK, who is this comment directed at?
I agree with BK. As to whom his comment was intended for, simply read the comments that precede his.
Greenfield, BK suggests there were violations of posting terms of usage, which in my case is false.
I have been making the same critique of Nick Krall for years — he is a poor communicator.
I also give him credit where due, ie in evaluating talent.
My commentary is Krall lost control of the narrative, for the third time in as many months. I suggest that he has more responsibility in that rather than those reporting his statements
Nick Krall is not beyond reproach. And, when he does something well, I give him credit.
Hoby MIlner would have been nice. What are we doing?
I thought Milner was going to be a Red this offseason…They need a lefty in the bullpen with Milner’s profile…Reds FO making a bad job so far this offseason…
Shocking! NOT!!! As a Reds fan since 1961, nothing Reds management does or does not do shocks me anymore!
Good news, though! They are bringing back the TV show The Biggest Loser! Only this time it’s not starring fat people! It’s starring the Reds Front Office!
Reds were competitive in most of the 1960s, dominant in the 1970s, good (not great) in the 1980s, good in most of the 1990s, then not so much from 2000 on (except a few good years under Dusty).
Another sad and accurate read. Kudos to Doug for keeping up with all this while the rest of us in RLN are drowning our sorrows (or tilting at windmills).
Not nearly enough fuel in the Hot Stove and I don’t see a woodpile next to it at this point. 🙁
Maybe Krall will bring Andújar or Hays back in January…That’s all folks!
My long running prediction will be that we will sign Andujar and two relievers. Andujar will be the opening day LF.
I am curious. With all this talk of not being about to get a good power hitter, do any of us regret taking Burns #2 in the draft instead of taking maybe Nick Kurtz?
yes
If we didn’t take Burns, the Reds were in on Caglianone after that. Let’s not imagine we would have had Kurtz if not for Burns.
@Duke, if they didn’t take Burns it would have been Smith (SP) or Wetherholt (SS).
However that wasn’t his question. He was asking if anyone regrets the choice of Burns over Kurtz.
I did then and now. That being said I’m not mad that they are targeting SP’s, I just felt like they let a good opportunity pass them up by not selecting Kurtz. Burns could very well turn out to be the better player in the long run.
National writers at the time pretty much all said the Caglianone was going to be our pick if Burns happened to go first.
It would have been Caglianone or Condon, not Kurtz.
But, can’t judge a draft by half of the first ML season. Let’s see what they both do in their sophomore season.
Fair, and it’s pretty awesome that they both made it to the MLB so quickly.
Is it the scouting and ownership that is failing the fans. I realize pitching is important but you can’t win if you don’t score. I enjoy watching the A’s highlights, very good young team. Been a Reds fan since the 40’s but the last few years don’t really care what happens to them because they don’t care.
You can’t win if you can’t pitch, either.
I completely understand the disappointment here not signing Schwarber. But it remains to be seen if the Reds were “big losers” at the winter meetings.
If some signing(s) or trades come to fruition through conversations already started, and the Reds get a bat that significantly improves the lineup then mission accomplished. Made a run at the home state kid (well, 32) and it didn’t work out. I’m fairly confident that a significant move is coming. Always felt that a trade was the way to go anyhow.
The biggest losers? Quit holding back, Doug.
So, Schwarber wanted to stay in Philly, eh? That’s a big we told you so. All that blab about wanting to come to Cincinnati was manipulating the greed line.
Yep
Reds owners/execs (and a fair portion of the fanbase) do not seem to grasp that 99% of the fans dont care where players are from (Born: Local, DR, Texas, Cuba, Japan, Toronto, etc). We also dont care about ex-reds who have left (Needing them to ‘come back home’ etc). The only thing most of us care about is winning. Winning will drive attendance 3x more than having ‘Middletown’ or ‘Maderia’ on the back of the team program.
Go and read Rosencrans article in the Athletic. You will hate Krall even more.
Not possible
Seems if the Reds hadn’t just given Pagan $10M / year, they could have increased the offer to Schwarber from $25M to $30M.
Or already not traded for Hayes and his poor hitting bad back and his $30 Million. As I’ve said, Krall doesn’t know how to wisely spend the money that he does have.
Yeah that deal is still just absolutely mind boggling.
I think everyone’s hopes got up, possibly more so from Schwarber’s comments in the media about being interested in Cincy in previous months than the reality that they had a shot at really signing him. I always knew of Schwarber being from the area, but never really considered he may sign here until those previous comments.
I think he didn’t really plan to come here even if the money was exactly the same in my opinion. He’s a big City, big time player, won a World Series, played for Chicago, Boston, Philly, DC even briefly. Sadly, our Reds I think kind of are seen on a lower level even with all the great history, Big Red Machine, first team in baseball etc. I think the Reds lack of success for basically 30 years now was the biggest factor more so than than the money for Schwarber not coming here.
So in a way I don’t blame the Reds current management for not being able to sign him. Their own lack of success as a franchise for decades probably was the main cause for not being able to sign him, not just the money.
I will say though…it would have been fun to have him I think because he is a “money” player. He’d have brought instant credibility, a little like Francona did. He seems to show up bigger in the bigger moments. His game is not without flaws with all the strikeouts and age, but for maybe 2 years at least I think he could have been really impactful.
That being said…I’m currently interested in can the Reds somehow create a better Offensive team in 2025 whether via trades, free agent signings, Sal Stewart blossoming, etc.?
This should be Krall’s last year in my opinion to try and create an 85 win team or better. I don’t discount that them making the playoffs as an 83 win team was a good experience for the young players, and gives them a little bit of momentum going into 2026. But I think most of us and most of the players and management, know that was mostly a fluke because of the Mets collapse. They should be making a few bold moves as if they didn’t make the playoffs last year in my opinion.
I will also say, for all the negativity…which I can also be a part of! I think 2 things.
First, if they kind of just make a few Austin Hays type of signings (nothing against Hays solid player overall), it will lead possibly to frustration, apathy from many fans going into 2026 Spring Training.
But also, there is enough talent that most fans will probably still be excited going into 2026 as well. There are franchises in worst positions than the Reds. They still have Greene, Burns, Abbott, Elly De La Cruz, the potential of Marte, Stewart, Lowder hopefully healthy. I’m excited to see Williamson, Aguilar come back at least to Triple A. Maybe CES and Hinds are really good in Triple A and build back prospect value as well so they could be traded for MLB help come mid 2026 as well.
Hinds was really good in AAA last season!
Hinds is young (just turned 25) possibly five tool player right under there noses if only they would be smart enough to give him an extended chance. He was voted Bats MVP of 2025 with 24 HR in 391 official ABs.
.302/.359/.922
a young *
their noses *
Ok. So if we’re in on Ketel Marte, that means they are willing to move on from Matt McLain (which could be a mistake). If that is indeed the case, you would think they are more than willing to move on from Spencer Steer then too (and replace him at 1B with Sal Stewart).
That means we still need a LF and arguably a CF. I think they should trade Friedl. If they really mean what they say – that Blake Dunn will get a shot at CF – then I’m guessing Friedl is getting dealt. Guessing they want more power at LF, but otherwise Friedl slides over to LF.
I would compliment Dunn in CF with someone like Jake Myers. He seems to get injured enough Dunn to get his shot.
Signing Miguel Andujar gives us our DH. Guessing Ryan O’Hearn costs more than Andujar.
If we deal Friedl, dare I say we go after Steven Kwan to play LF? Or Jaren Duran? Or we sign Max Kepler and play the Austin Hays type game again?
So if we lose Steer, McCain, Friedl, and Hays (and prospects to get Marte), and replace them with Marte, Myers, Kepler, and a LHRP, are we a better team?
If the Reds trade for Ketel Marte and sign Andujar they will truly start to become the pride of the Dominican Republic in MLB!
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/kyle-schwarber-says-reds-were-232524085.html
This just kills some narratives but …… reds gave a credible offer from the best truest source
Its a results driven business and they didnt do enough. In fact they offered him less and were going to cut salary or “get creative” to “fit him in” per the Reds. Kyle is a stand up guy and wouldnt rip on his hometown team.
To posters in general, What’s with all the negative waves, Moriarty?
I’m late to this party, but I’m surprised no one has suggested offering Schwarber a higher AAV for a shorter contract. The concern is that when he’s 36 or 37 someone may be paying him a lot to be bad. But the total cost is the total cost. I can’t imagine that 3 years / $120M wouldn’t have been tempting to Schwarber. And yes, that means the Reds payroll creeps up for next year, but not so much as to break the whole bank. Moot now, but that’s how I’d have approached it. Now let’s hope the Reds don’t pivot to a pile of Hays / Moustakas / Castellanos wannabes and almost were’s. Bolster the bullpen and roll with EDLC, Marte, Stewart, Friedl, McLain, Stephenson, Hinds / Benson and anyone with a bat who isn’t named Hayes at 3rd base.
I wish the lock out was for 2026 instead of 2027. No sense waiting and watching another season of futile mediocrity.
VegasRed. VERY good point. Agreed 100%
I think you just nailed something. Maybe the Reds are not raising payroll because they are worried about 2027 and the CBA.
I wouldn’t mind seeing Andujar back, if I’m being honest. If he’s healthy enough to play left at least some days, and hits like he did when he was here last year, that would be an enormous upgrade. I never really expected KS to want to sign here, so my disappointment is minimal there, but I’m still hoping to see the Reds swing a smart trade for some value, even if it means taking a chance. Can’t be prospect hoarding forever.
The Reds are “losers” because Schwarber was always going to stay with Philly, no matter what.
The real losers are the idiots who wrote that column
I’m going to put this out there. Yes, Hunter Greene has a problem staying healthy. So does Nick Lodolo. So did Eric Davis. So did Barry Larkin. So did Ken Griffey, Jr.
Having stated that, Hunter Greene wears #21 for a reason. Roberto Clemente. Humanitariansim. I’m sure he’d certainly love to wear #42 too. Everyone gets to wear that number once a year with pride.
Greene has consistently communicated that he holds himself to a high standard. That he wants to be a leader. He says all of the right things to make him a great clubhouse person. Only Tito Francona and other players know if he walks the walk. It sure appears to be the case.
So why in the world would you trade him? Does none of that appeal to an organization? And when you finally extend the guy with a value that is a bargain now – you entertain trade rumors for him?
If they trade him, then all of what they say sure looks like lip service. They do not want to build from within. They want to have cheap players before they reach arbitration or free agency and once they reach that point of their careers, they have zero loyalty.
I’m really hoping I’m 100% wrong on this concern. I still believe in the organization. I’ve been a Reds fan ever since Davis and Larkin came up. If they jettison this home grown star, it may tell me all I need to know.
All good points. I will be super shocked to see HG moved this offseason or anytime soon. Rumors of him being traded are like so many offseason stories, baseless speculation.
I’m not disappointed that they didn’t get Schwarber at the level of his contract at all. It might have been alright for a year or two. It’s more that the Reds can’t afford to swing and miss on a FA contract. They could afford that contract on a 100% sure thing but it doesn’t work that way. There is risk and reward and the risk outweighs the reward. I’m still optimistic as I think their rotation is likely to be even better next year. Their bullpen of Pagan, Santillan, Ashcraft, Phillips and others should be effective. The lineup will be better with Stewart at 3B and Hayes covering the last inning or two. Stephenson should be able to catch 50 more games than last year. McLain had a 3.6 WAR in 89 2023 games and 0.0 in 147 games last year. I’m expecting he manages at least 50% of his 2023 WAR in 2026. I expect EDLC to exceed his 3.6 WAR of last year. Friedl should continue his consistency and Marte should still be improving. A healthier Steer should man 1B or LF. The three wild cards are Hinds, Rodriguez or Encarnacion.
Easiest job in the world = GM for the Dodgers.
I mean, can you imagine? You get to operate that team with basically a blank checkbook. You want the top 3 free agents? Just go sign ’em, cost is no object.
Being able to be a GM with no payroll restrictions has to be as easy as it gets.
Could you imagine what the Reds would look like if they spent 150 million or even 175 million in payroll. That is still under the top 10 spenders in baseball. Keep using their player development strategy but supplement it with some key signings or trades.
Apparently, the other team I follow has decided to explode payroll for the team. They are sitting at around 268 million and are planning to spend more. (Blue Jays) I guess when you have an entire country to support you it makes it easier to spend that kind of money.
I did not get my hopes up on Schwarber. I agree he is the type of player the Reds needed. I just knew the Reds probably were not going to spend enough. I think they wanted to look like they were trying; this was to help their public relations. At this point, I think they should spend on relief pitching and get a good hitter who can play left field. How far they go will depend on how much improvement they get this year from their young players. What if McClain hit over .300 this year and scored a 100 runs? I do not expect it, but it would mean someone is also hitting better in the lineup below him. What if De La Cruz had 110 RBI’s and 40 home runs and 40 steals? What if Steer hit .280 and had 30 home runs and 90 RBI’s? What if the Reds signed a left fielder who has a career year and hits over 30 home runs, 100 RBI’s, and a high on base percentage? What if the starting pitching leads the league this year in earned run average and the bullpen turned out to be one of the top five in baseball? They are going to need some luck. I will be watching them. Win or lose.
Reds fans aren’t stupid:
https://www.yardbarker.com/mlb/articles/nick_krall_makes_ridiculous_claim_as_reds_fail_to_address_biggest_need/s1_17327_43196396?utm_source=mb&utm_medium=email&mb_edition=20251213&mb_loc=right_h
You are all missing the point. With all the money not spent just think of how many ,210 ba sluggers and 6.73 era pitchers that the Reds can sign now!
The signing of Edwin Diaz by the Dodgers and lack of any brakes on their spending, it is proof that the Reds are going to only compete for a Division Championship with little chance of winning a World Series. The regular season will be our championship and I’m not sure there is a need to spend huge money for that. Catellinis are not big spenders for sure but they might be realistic businessmen. The problem is with the baseball establishment, both players and owners, not the Reds.