Cincinnati Reds
- Thread starter m4CatKY
- Start date
If you actually followed the Reds or at the very least paid attention (other than ridiculous EDLC takes), you would know that most of the talking heads had 2026 as a potential breakout year for the Reds based on who they had drafted and their expected progression.
They have the makings of a great pitching staff, especially adding in Burns. But I'm gonna have to see the offensive improvement first to believe it. They have a lot of holes on the hitting side.
McClain and Stephenson were never themselves this year both coming off surgery and Elly and Steer should've taken some time off to deal with injuries but played through them. Resigning Andujar and getting a platoon bat for1B like Naylor or O'Hearn would go a long way with me.
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Mcclain, especially has got to be better than he showed this year. I think one of the t v announcers stated Mcclain stands way too far away from the plate with an open stance, which makes him easy pickings for a pitcher throwing to the outside of the plate.Surely that's something they can work on in the off season
K'ybryan Hayes is another guy that has to learn to hit better. He's a phenomenal fielder, but as a corner infielder, you've got to do more than hit .230 with no power.
Mcclain, especially has got to be better than he showed this year. I think one of the t v announcers stated Mcclain stands way too far away from the plate with an open stance, which makes him easy pickings for a pitcher throwing to the outside of the plate.Surely that's something they can work on in the off season
K'ybryan Hayes is another guy that has to learn to hit better. He's a phenomenal fielder, but as a corner infielder, you've got to do more than hit .230 with no power.
CES is better than he showed this year but injuries didn’t help. Sal Stewart has the makings of a big time hitter. Marte started coming on strong towards the end of the season. I think the offense is much stronger than this year showed.
HG: NRFPTP. Moment too big for him. Sign was his second pitch way in the dirt.
Reds just don't have enough quality bats in the everyday lineup. I think the starting pitching is pretty good. Of all the position players that played in 50+ games this season, not a single one hit over .269 for the season. That's just not going to get it done.
CES if healthy, deserves a look in the spring to see if he can contribute on a regular basis. His potential is still to be determined.
Stewart has more holes than a Vegas brothel, not to mention he is slow as molasses. Needs to get in better shape and show he can hit the curve in ST.
Marte hit .191 in September. A lot of talent w/ him, but they need to determine if he is going to be the everyday RF.
I like Friedl in CF....best glove in the OF, but needs to bump his avg/OBP. Steer, Hays, Hayes, Benson, Elly, Lux.....all need to be on the trade block.
I agree with most of what you said. Stewart has only been in Majors for a little over a month so your criticism of him is unfair at this point in such a small sample size. Marte was in a slump but everyone goes through that. As far as your list, Austin Hays, Benson, and Lux are the only ones that need to be traded. Kebryan Hayes is a defensive specialist who brings things to this team that they need. Steer is a locker room guy who has shown he can produce and Elly is one of if not THE best young talent in the game who you in no way should trade unless you get a ridiculous return. I am surprised you didn't have McClain on that list. I would have agreed that he should probably be included in trade talks.
If you were to say they need to move or at least try him in another position than SS, I would agree with that as well. I know he and most in the Reds organization think that SS is his best position but I think he could be a menace in CF with the amount of ground he can cover with his speed and athleticism.
The fact that Francona got this group to the post season this year is a good indicator of what the future may hold. They need to get and stay healthy. They need to add a good bat whether through free agency, a trade, or maybe CES can be that. The future is bright based on what we saw this past season.
I'd hate to be the kinda a-hole to say I told ya so, but I gotsta be that a-hole....
Being a reds fan is rough, but predictable....
Being a reds fan is rough, but predictable....
Nick Krall and Brad Meador set the stage for the Reds’ offseason
The Reds' front office discussed the state of the roster heading into the winter
www.fox19.com
Running it back with the entire coaching staff. Valaika should have been handed his pink slip. Finished with a .391 slugging percentage (22nd overall), and 23.4% strikeout rate (24th overall). Dropped from 3rd overall in stolen bases with 207 in 2024, down to 20th overall stealing 105. Nearly every player regressed at the plate this past season. Marte was one of the few bright spots who bounced back this year.
Cincinnati was fortunate Lodolo and Abbott took a step forward. Pagan (FA), Santillan, and Phillips were the only dependable relievers by years' end. Greene needs to get in better shape and did not pitch like the ace of the staff in Game 1. The Reds’ hopes will hinge on how much young players improve, with Burns, Stewart, and Lowder next year. McLain needs to put in some serious work this offseason. They can’t cater to him for another full season after he returned from a year off if he continues to struggle at the plate again.
I figured as much from the remarks in the article. By making the postseason this would give the organization a false sense that they don’t need to improve, believing players will just 'get better.' FO is already trying to get out in front with the budget excuses now as usual, when trading prospects for offense is always an option.
One thing Meador said I agree with, the core of this team they have chosen to build around isn’t young anymore. It’s time to start playing like the veterans they are. EDLC, Benson, Abbott—3 seasons in CIN. Lodolo, Greene, Steer, and Ashcraft all came up in 2022. Friedl, Santillan—5 years. Stephenson been here since 2020. Veterans include Lux, Espinal, Austin Hays, Trevino, Andujar, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Suter, Martinez, Singer, Pagan, Littell, Barlow, and Moll. Don’t buy the garbage that this team shouldn’t have been expected to be in a position to do anything until next year. 2 of the last 3 seasons, 4 out of 6, have been winning seasons here. Wasting this current window before the next inevitable fire sale.
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I've long thought ELDC would be a better fit in CF. I think a lot of his errors fielding are due to his height and lankiness. He has to get way down on balls. I think he could be a gold glove CF, though. You'd have to park the corner outfielders on the foul lines though because he will think any ball between the poles is his. cole@854 has just had an enormous and bizarre axe to grind with ELDC since he got called up, hence his trade reference.
As for Stewart, he's built like a 1B. I know he's got some work to do there, but I don't even think he's 21 yet, so he has some growing and improving to do. He has potential to be a monster at the plate.
Marte was the Reds best and most consistent hitter for a stretch after the All-Star break. He proved this year he's worth keeping and will adapt to the OF well. Glad the Reds didn't give up on him after last years suspension and awful season.
I'd like to think CES gets the same benefit of the doubt as Marte and gets a last chance to prove himself, but he may be logjammed in the infield now with the emergence of Stewart and with Hayes being brought in.
No, he wouldn't. CF is an art, just like SS. Those who think you can just move to the OF have never played the game at a reasonably high level.
Ripken, Jeter, ARod, Seager, to name a few.....are all 6'3 / 6'4 and have been excellent fielding SS. His height has zero to do w/ his gaffes.
pete rose went from third base to left field and won a gold glove there
Marte to RF mid-season transition this year. Billy Hamilton made the seamless transition from SS to CF about a year before he got called up. Some more players within the organization will need to do some shifting around if they want routine playing time in Cincinnati with the logjam of SS prospects they have coming through the pipeline. I like the Tyson Lewis kid the most of the shortstops coming up. It is common to see players these days take the field at multiple positions. Tatis was a good example from SS to RF too. Mookie from the outfield to SS this year.
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I sort of agree with this.I think EDLC just needs to work on his fielding and throwing. He has incredible range at shortstop
Besides, Friedl is an excellent center fielder in his own right.I guess he could move to left field if necessary