Imagine a baseball team with a pitching rotation so dominant, it single-handedly propelled them back into playoff contention. That’s the story of the Cincinnati Reds in 2025, and now, rival teams are knocking on their door, eyeing their prized starters. But here’s where it gets controversial: should the Reds cash in on this talent, or hold tight to their greatest strength? The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal reveals that Cincinnati is still fielding trade offers for their starters, but the price tag is steep—perhaps too steep for most suitors. The Reds insist they’re only open to deals that improve their present and future, leaving many to wonder if any team can meet their demands.
And this is the part most people miss: despite the buzz, not much has changed since October, when Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall hinted at the complexity of trading pitchers. ‘You’ve got to backfill them somehow,’ Krall explained, pointing out the inevitable injuries and innings shortages that plague every season. A few weeks later, both Krall and manager Terry Francona poured cold water on rumors about trading Hunter Greene, the potential ace of their staff. ‘That’s a hard one to actually say,’ Krall admitted, emphasizing that Greene isn’t on the table—at least not yet.
Rosenthal echoes this sentiment, noting that rival clubs doubt Cincinnati’s top arms—Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott—are truly available. Greene is locked in through 2028, Lodolo has two years of arbitration control, and Abbott is under team control until 2029. Brady Singer, a free agent next offseason, has been more frequently mentioned as a trade chip, but the Reds’ asking price—an MLB-ready starter and a bat—seems like a long shot.
Here’s the catch: the Reds’ rotation has already lost Nick Martinez and Zack Littell to free agency, and while top prospects like Chase Burns and Chase Petty are waiting in the wings, the team’s pitching depth is riddled with injury question marks. Rhett Lowder, Julian Aguiar, and Brandon Williamson all missed significant time in 2025 due to injuries, leaving the Reds in a precarious position. As Krall hinted, the old adage ‘you can never have enough pitching’ might keep Cincinnati from parting with any of their starters.
But here’s the controversial question: would trading a top starter for a premium return be worth it? On one hand, it could address multiple roster holes, especially in the Reds’ underwhelming offense. On the other hand, it risks weakening their most dominant asset. Cincinnati’s offseason moves—adding JJ Bleday and Dane Myers while trading Gavin Lux—haven’t significantly upgraded their lineup. Their pursuit of local hero Kyle Schwarber was an exception, but with a limited payroll, major additions seem unlikely unless they shed salary, like Brady Singer’s $12.75MM.
For now, the Reds are banking on internal improvements to boost their lineup, a risky strategy in an increasingly competitive NL Central. So, what do you think? Should the Reds trade one of their top starters for a premium return, or hold onto their pitching depth? Let us know in the comments—this debate is far from over.
