Cincinnati Reds News

CENTRAL

Emilio Pagán • RP • Reds

Reds Bring Back Closer Emilio Pagan on Two-Year Deal

The Cincinnati Reds re-signed closer Emilio Pagan on a two-year, $20 million deal on Wednesday, according to Ken Rosenthal and C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic. Pagan, 34, took over the closer role for a struggling Alexis Diaz early last season and never looked back. Pagan finished the year with 32 saves while pitching to a 2.88 ERA (3.18 SIERA) and a 30% strikeout rate. The veteran right-hander is expected to open 2026 as the Reds' primary closer again, with Tony Santillan and Graham Ashcraft also contributing in the back end of the bullpen. Hats off to those fantasy managers who drafted him at his current 185.09 ADP, because he is quickly going to move up draft boards now that he's officially back in Cincy to close games. UPDATE: Pagan signed a one-year, $10 million deal that includes a $10 million player option for the 2027 season.

Yesterday

Elly De La Cruz • SS • Reds

Elly De La Cruz Played Through Partially Torn Quad to End 2025

In a media appearance on Wednesday night, Cincinnati Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said that shortstop Elly De La Cruz (quad) played through a"partial torn quad" from late July onwards, per Doug Gray of Redleg Nation. Krall later attempted to clarify his statements by calling the injury "more nagging than serious," but Krall also said that De La Cruz has been "rehabbing this whole offseason." It certainly sounds as though De La Cruz was playing through a significant leg injury for the final two-plus months of the 2025 season. Overall, De La Cruz slashed .264/.336/.440 with 22 home runs, 86 RBI, 102 runs scored, and 38 stolen bases across 699 plate appearances. However, the 23-year-old hit just .221 with three home runs and eight stolen bases from August onwards. If De La Cruz can get fully healthy heading into the 2026 season, he could push closer towards the 67 stolen bases he racked up in 2024 than the 38 he collected in 2025. The health of De La Cruz's quad is something for fantasy managers to monitor over the course of the winter.

Nov 21

Hunter Greene • SP • Reds

Reds to Listen to Offers on Hunter Greene

The Cincinnati Reds have publicly denied any efforts to trade right-hander Hunter Greene, but "they still plan to listen to offers" for Greene, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today Sports. However, unless the Reds are completely overwhelmed by a trade offer and receive a return that will help them now and in the future, Cincinnati "will keep him." Greene is owed just $39 million over the next three seasons and has a 421 million team option for 2029. At the price and with his ability, Nightengale writes that the Reds "aren't going to find a better pitcher at a bigger discount rate." The 26-year-old hard-throwing starter missed two-plus months with a groin injury in 2025, but when healthy, he was a high-end fantasy starter, going 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA (3.27 FIP) and 0.94 WHIP with 132 K's and 26 walks in 107 2/3 frames over 19 starts. Greene is no stranger to injuries, but a career 30% strikeout rate makes him a No. 1 starter in fantasy.

Nov 11

Keegan Thompson • RP • Reds

Keegan Thompson Signs Split Contract With Reds

Former Chicago Cubs right-hander Keegan Thompson signed a one-year split contract with the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer. The split contract will pay Thompson $1.3 million on the big-league half (with $100,000 in performance incentives). Thompson will stay in the National League Central after playing the first four years of his big-league career in Chicago, where he posted a 3.64 ERA (4.51 FIP), 1.32 WHIP, and 225:111 K:BB over 104 appearances (23 starts) covering 227 1/3 frames. The 30-year-old pitched at Triple-A Iowa for half of the 2025 season while appearing out of the Cubs' bullpen 24 times, recording a career-best 2.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 36 strikeouts, 18 walks, and a career-high two saves. Thompson has mostly been a reliever the last three years, but it's possible Cincy will consider using him in a swing role in 2026.

Nov 4

Santiago Espinal • 3B • Reds

Santiago Espinal Removed From Reds 40-Man Roster

The Cincinnati Reds outrighted infielder Santiago Espinal off their 40-man roster and to Triple-A Louisville on Friday, according to Charlie Goldsmith. Espinal will now have the option to elect free agency this offseason and sign with any team. The 30-year-old Dominican played in 114 games in 2025 in his second year with the Reds and went 73-for-301 (.243) with no home runs, 16 RBI, 25 runs scored, and two stolen bases in 328 plate appearances. It was a pretty disappointing showing for Espinal, who was an All-Star with the Toronto Blue Jays back in 2022, when he hit .267/.322/.370 with seven homers and 51 RBI in a career-high 135 games played. For fantasy purposes, Espinal isn't much to look at as a utility infielder without much power. It remains to be seen where he'll be hanging his hat in 2026, but at best, Espinal will be a utility bench option in deeper fantasy leagues.

Oct 31

Rhett Lowder • SP • Reds

Rhett Lowder Pitching in Arizona Fall League

Cincinnati Reds right-handed pitching prospect Rhett Lowder (forearm, oblique) missed the entire 2025 big-league season due to a right-forearm strain and a left-oblique strain, but he has been pitching for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League and has a 3.00 ERA with no walks and six strikeouts through six innings, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. The former first-round pick in 2023 gave up an earned run on two hits over two innings in his outing last Saturday. Lowder made his major-league debut at the end of the 2024 season and looked great, posting a tidy 1.17 ERA over his first six MLB starts. If he is fully healthy for spring training in 2026, the Reds will be hoping to put him in their Opening Day starting rotation. Lowder has four adequate pitches in his arsenal, but it wouldn't be a surprise if they take their time with him and start him in the minors to begin 2026, either.

Oct 30

Elly De La Cruz • SS • Reds

Elly De La Cruz to Stay at Shortstop

Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz won't be moving positions for the upcoming 2026 season. There was speculation that the Reds would shift De La Cruz elsewhere after leading the league in errors. The thought was that the Reds would move De La Cruz into the outfield much like the Pittsburgh Pirates did with Oneil Cruz due to his defensive skills. The Reds also have shortstop prospect Edwin Arroyo waiting in the wings, so moving De La Cruz does make sense on paper. For now, the Reds are keeping De La Cruz at shortstop, but they might have to make a tough decision once Arroyo is ready for the big league level.

Oct 19

Sal Stewart • 3B • Reds

Sal Stewart Finishes Season with Two Hits and Three RBI in Reds' Loss

Cincinnati Reds first baseman/third baseman Sal Stewart went 2-for-4 with three RBI and a stolen base in his team's 8-4 loss to the Dodgers. While the loss ended the Reds' season, fans have to be excited about what they saw from Stewart, who made a great first impression in the majors after his September call-up. He hit .255 in his 18 games in the regular season with five homers, a .355 wOBA, and a 52.5% hard-hit rate. The 21-year-old lefty came off the bench and walked as a pinch-hitter in Game 1 of the series before his big game Wednesday night. He'll be a key part of the Reds' future plans and has a good shot of filling an everyday role out of Spring Training next year.

Oct 2

Austin Hays • LF • Reds

Austin Hays Returning for Game 1

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (back) is returning to the starting lineup ahead of Tuesday's Game 1 of the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Before this, Hays was held out of the final seven games of the regular season due to back spasms. It doesn't appear the issue was ever serious enough to place him on the injured list. Hays will cover left field and bat cleanup against left-hander Blake Snell. This will be his first start since September 20, so there could be some rust.

Sep 30

Zack Littell • SP • Reds

Zack Littell Lined Up to Start Game 2

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Zack Littell will make the start for the Reds in Game 2 on Wednesday, according to manager Terry Francona. Littell came to the Reds in a trade from the Rays at the trade deadline and went 2-0 in 10 starts for the Reds, posting a 4.39 ERA, 4.77 FIP, and a 1.07 WHIP. He went 10-8 in his 32 starts overall this season with a 3.81 ERA, but he struggled with a tendency to give up home runs, allowing 36 homers, which was the second most in the majors behind only Jake Irvin of the Nationals. Littell starting Game 2 and Andrew Abbott in Game 3 (if necessary) allows the Reds to use lefty Nick Lodolo out of the bullpen. It will be interesting to see how Francona mixes and matches his pitchers as he and the upstart Reds try to take down the mighty Dodgers.

Sep 30

Hunter Greene • SP • Reds

Hunter Greene to Face Dodgers in Game 1 of Wild-Card Series

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Hunter Greene will take the hill at Dodger Stadium on Tuesday night to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in Game 1 of the wild-card series. Greene will have a tough task on his hands against the defending World Series champions on the road, but they could be without All-Star catcher Will Smith (hand). The 26-year-old former first-rounder missed some time with an injury this year, which limited him to 19 starts in his fourth big-league season. The hard-throwing hurler was sharp when he was active for the Reds, though, going 7-4 with a 2.76 ERA (3.28 FIP) and 0.94 WHIP with 132 strikeouts and 26 walks in 107 2/3 innings pitched. Greene took a loss in his only meeting against LA in 2025 back on Aug. 25, when he allowed five runs (three earned) on six hits (two homers) while walking two and striking out only three in five innings. In his five September starts, Greene allowed over two earned runs just once.

Sep 30

Nick Lodolo • SP • Reds

Nick Lodolo Cleared to Throw a Bullpen This Weekend

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (groin) has been cleared to throw his bullpen session this weekend, according to Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer. After being pulled from his start on Thursday as a precaution against the Pittsburgh Pirates with a groin injury, Lodolo didn't feel the need to get any further evaluation, and doesn't think it's a serious injury. It's great news for the Reds, as it looks like Lodolo would be ready for a potential wild-card series next week if they can overtake the New York Mets for the final wild-card spot in the National League this weekend. The 27-year-old southpaw was downright dominant in Thursday's win over the Pirates, striking out a season-high 12 batters and allowing only two hits in 6 1/3 shutout innings. Injuries are nothing new for Lodolo, but he's one of the nastier lefty arms in the game when he's healthy.

Sep 26

Austin Hays • LF • Reds

Austin Hays Making Progress, but Not Ready to Return

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (back) is feeling better after dealing with back spasms the last few days, but he's not ready to return for Friday's series opener of a crucial season-ending divisional series in Milwaukee against the Brewers, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon. Hays has not played since leaving last Saturday's game against the Chicago Cubs, but the Reds aren't close to putting him on the injured list. If the Reds put him on the IL and make the postseason, they would lose him for the playoffs. It makes things tougher for Cincy, who entered Friday one game back of the New York Mets for the final wild-card spot in the National League, since Hays has hit .301/.323/.505 with five homers and 15 RBI in 25 games since Aug. 23. He has dealt with multiple injuries in 2025 but has hit 15 home runs and 64 RBI in 102 games in his first year with the team. With Hays out this past week, the Reds have mostly been using Will Benson in left field.

Sep 26

Nick Lodolo • SP • Reds

Nick Lodolo has Career Day, Leaves Early With Groin Injury

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (groin) was downright dominant in a 2-1 win over the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates in Thursday's series finale at Great American Ballpark, but it ended on a sour note after he was pulled early as a precaution with a right-groin injury, according to the team. Lodolo picked up his ninth win of the year by tossing 6 1/3 shutout innings with 12 strikeouts and only one walk. He gave up just two hits. The Reds think it's a minor injury for the 27-year-old southpaw, so hopefully he'll be available next week for the playoffs if Cincy can capture the final wild-card spot in the National League. With their win over the Bucs on Thursday, they're half a game behind the New York Mets for the final playoff spot in the NL. Lodolo continues to be injury-prone, but he finishes his 2025 season with a 3.30 ERA, 156 strikeouts, and only 29 walks in 28 starts.

Sep 25

Sal Stewart • 3B • Reds

Sal Stewart Named Southern League Player of the Year

Cincinnati Reds corner infield prospect Sal Stewart was named the Double-A Southern League Player of the Year. The Reds' top-ranked prospect played 80 games for Double-A Chattanooga, where he slashed .306/.377/.473 with 10 home runs and 13 steals before getting a promotion to Triple-A Louisville. The 21-year-old also impressed there, slashing .315/.394/.629 with 10 home runs in just 38 games. The right-handed slugger posted better-than-average strikeout rates at every stop in the minors, and now finds himself in the majors, hitting .255 (.320 xBA) with an .832 OPS, .353 wOBA, and a 122 wRC+. Stewart should begin 2026 with the Reds, and redraft managers should get familiar, as he's got plenty of pop and bat-to-ball skills to make him very fantasy relevant, not to mention he'll call hitter-friendly Great American Ball Park home.

Sep 24

Austin Hays • LF • Reds

Austin Hays Doesn't Feel Great After Testing his Injured Back

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Austin Hays (back) tested his injured back by running on the field on Tuesday and said it was "not great," according to MLB.com. The Reds will proceed with caution, which means there's a chance that Hays won't rejoin the lineup before the end of the regular season this Sunday. He left the game early on Sept. 20 in the fifth inning due to spasms after his back locked up on a swing. If the 30-year-old continues to sit out, the lefty-hitting Will Benson should continue to start in left field for Cincy against right-handed pitchers. Hays has been on the injured list multiple times in 2025 with various injuries in his first year with the team and has hit .266/.316/.454 with 15 home runs, 64 RBI, 60 runs scored, and a career-high seven stolen bases in 102 games played. He's been solid in September, going 18-for-65 (.277) with three homers, eight RBI, and a steal in 17 games.

Sep 24

Rhett Lowder • SP • Reds

Rhett Lowder Scratched from Latest Rehab Start

Cincinnati Reds pitching prospect Rhett Lowder (oblique) was scratched from his second scheduled rehab start on Friday after the hurler's shoulder recovery from his first rehab start hadn't progressed to the point where he felt comfortable going back out there. The Reds' second-ranked prospect underwent an MRI, which showed no structural damage to the shoulder, so the team is just going to take it slow. With the Triple-A regular season ending on Sunday, it's not clear what the plan is from here, but as of now, the 23-year-old is not expected to pitch in the Arizona Fall League. With an offseason to recover and prepare, look for the right-hander to be back in the big leagues next year. He posted a 1.17 ERA, 1.27 WHIP, and a 6.3 percent K-BB% in six starts for the Reds in 2024.

Sep 21

Ke'Bryan Hayes • 3B • Reds

Ke'Bryan Hayes Back in Reds Lineup on Friday

Cincinnati Red third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (back) is returning to the starting nine for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Chicago Cubs and left-hander Shota Imanaga, playing third base and batting seventh in the order. A back injury kept Hayes out of action for the last two games, but he'll be available on Friday as the Reds continue their push for the final wild-card spot in the National League. Fantasy managers probably should keep the 28-year-old on their benches since he's gone hitless in his last five games. He's also hitless in two career at-bats against Imanaga. Hayes has one of the best gloves in the league at third base, but he's pretty mediocre offensively. He's been better at the plate since being acquired at the deadline in a trade from the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he's still hitting only .254 (34-for-134) with three homers and 12 RBI in 43 games with Cincy.

Sep 19

Alfredo Duno • C • Reds

Alfredo Duno Named Florida State League MVP

Cincinnati Reds catching prospect Alfredo Duno has been named the Single-A Florida State League (FSL) Most Valuable Player for 2025. The Reds' third-ranked prospect led the FSL in most statistical categories, including home runs (18), doubles (18), RBI (81), runs scored (78), walks (95), OBP (.430), and SLG (.518). The 19-year-old's 95 walks were more than his 91 strikeouts, showing an advanced approach for such a young player. The 6-foot-2 Venezuelan was not on MLB.com's preseason Top 100 list, nor was he there when the list was refreshed in May, but he finally cracked it in July, coming in at No. 93 overall. He's vaulted all the way to No. 70 now, and he could be much higher next year. The right-handed slugger is quickly becoming a stash candidate in dynasty leagues, and his progress from here on out should be monitored.

Sep 18

Spencer Steer • 1B • Reds

Spencer Steer Scratched Monday Against the Cardinals

Cincinnati Reds first baseman/outfielder Spencer Steer (neck) was originally part of the team's lineup for Monday's game, but he had to be scratched due to neck spasms. Steer's playing time has been limited over the last couple of weeks since the arrival of top prospect Sal Stewart, who moved from third base to first base in Monday's lineup adjustment. Steer is hitting only .208 since the All-Star break, but does have six home runs in those 46 games. On the season, he has 17 homers, a .237 batting average, and a .309 wOBA. Steer could be back in the lineup soon as the Reds chase the NL Wild Card, but for now, he's considered day-to-day.

Sep 16

Cincinnati Reds News

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