The Cincinnati Reds' offseason strategy feels more like a calculated PR campaign than a genuine effort to build a championship-caliber roster. And this is the part most people miss: while the front office touts hopeful narratives, the team’s actions suggest a reluctance to address glaring weaknesses. With pitchers and catchers reporting in just over two weeks, the 2026 lineup eerily mirrors its 2025 predecessor—a lineup that, let’s be honest, didn’t exactly set the league on fire.
Here’s the harsh reality: Last season, the Reds ranked a middling 14th in MLB for runs scored, tallying 716—just four below the league average. But dig deeper, and the numbers tell a more troubling story. They scored four runs or fewer in 90 games, three runs or fewer in 72, and two runs or fewer in 54. Their overall run total was artificially inflated by a handful of offensive outbursts—nine games where they scored 11 or more runs accounted for roughly 15% of their season total. In the remaining 153 games? They averaged a paltry 3.9 runs per game. But here’s where it gets controversial: despite this offensive inconsistency, the Reds’ pitching staff was good enough to carry them to an 83-79 record and a postseason berth that felt more like a lucky break than a dominant arrival.
This season, the pitching could be even stronger. Rhett Lowder is returning healthy, Hunter Greene is expected to make more than 19 starts, and the bullpen has been bolstered by additions like left-handers Brock Burke and Caleb Ferguson, along with right-hander Pierce Johnson. The arms are there—no question. What’s glaringly absent? A legitimate power bat.
Management seems to be banking on hope rather than strategy. They’re counting on Elly De La Cruz to bounce back from a quad injury and regain his power numbers, Matt McLain to return to his 2023 form after missing all of 2024, and Sal Stewart to develop into a middle-of-the-order threat after hitting just five home runs in 58 plate appearances. While these are reasonable aspirations, hope isn’t a plan.
The Reds entered the offseason needing a game-changing hitter. Instead, they added outfielders JJ Bleday (.698 OPS last season) and Dane Myers (.617 OPS)—moves that barely move the needle. They reportedly pursued Kyle Schwarber, only to watch him re-sign with Philadelphia for $150 million over five years. Reports claim the Reds offered $130 million, but if that figure was genuine, why wasn’t that money invested elsewhere? At this point, the Schwarber pursuit feels less like a serious effort and more like a PR stunt to placate fans: ‘See, we tried.’
The same goes for the rumored record-breaking contract offer to De La Cruz. No specifics were released, and even if it was a franchise-record deal, the front office knows his agent, Scott Boras, will likely take him to free agency in 2030. It’s a move that screams ‘look at us trying’ rather than ‘look at us winning’.
Reds ownership isn’t blind to the fan base’s frustration, even after a 2025 playoff appearance. The franchise hasn’t won a playoff series since 1995, and running back a nearly identical offense in 2026 feels like a risky gamble. That’s why the team is leaning so heavily on PR—but fans aren’t fooled.
Once again, the Reds seem content to sit back, cross their fingers, and hope for the best instead of taking bold, decisive action. Here’s the question for you: Is this a smart, calculated approach, or a recipe for continued mediocrity? Let us know in the comments—we want to hear your take.
