2024 Record: 77-85
General Manager: Nick Krall (entering year 5)
Manager: Terry Francona (entering year 1)
Notable Offseason Acquisitions: SP Nick Martinez (1 year, 21 million), OF Austin Hays (1 year, 5 million), RP Scott Barlow (1 year, 1.5 million), SP Brady Singer (trade acquisition from KC), 2B Gavin Lux (trade acquisition from LAD), C Jose Trevino (trade acquisition from NYY), RP Taylor Rogers (trade acquisition from SF)
The Cincinnati Reds were in a weird spot as they exited the 2024 season. The team was clearly disappointing last season, winning only 77 games and missing the playoffs for the 4th consecutive season. Their overall offense struggled and had a lot of notable regressions from the year prior. On the contrary, however, they had multiple big-time breakouts from their young talent which put their trajectory in the upward motion.
Starting pitcher Hunter Greene always had the high-level stuff to become a star. With a blazing 100 mph fastball and athletic delivery, he always showed flashes but lacked consistency in the past. 2024 was a different story as he put up a 2.75 ERA and struck out 169 batters in 150 innings, making his first all-star game and placing 8th in NL Cy Young balloting. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz also emerged as a young star of his own, dazzling fans with power (25 home runs), speed (MLB leading 67 stolen bases), and an energetic and infectious personality which led to him placing 8th in the NL MVP voting.
Even with these successes, the Reds needed to do more for this group to take a step forward. General manager Nick Krall got to work quickly, with starting pitcher Nick Martinez accepting the 21 million dollar qualifying offer and locking down a solid starter for another season. He also acquired more starting pitching help by getting Brady Singer from the Kansas City Royals in exchange for a package headlined by starting second baseman Jonathan India. A new starting five of Greene, Martinez, Singer, Andrew Abbott, and Rhett Lowder is a very intriguing and dependable pitching staff that easily could be one of MLB’s best in 2025.
Krall also improved the offense by giving up a compensation draft pick to the Los Angeles Dodgers and received Gavin Lux to play second base. Cincinnati needed a hitter and Lux can provide them with positional versatility, a gap-to-gap hitting approach, and postseason experience coming from the reigning World Series champions. I also thought getting reliever Taylor Rogers from the San Francisco Giants was a smart move to boost the bullpen as well. Rogers has been remarkably consistent over his 9-year big league career and provides another veteran presence from the left side of the rubber that won’t be rattled by big moments.
The final piece to this offseason which made major headlines was their surprise managerial hire. With the departure of David Bell at the end of the season, the Reds shocked everyone by bringing on long-time manager Terry Francona from retirement. Rejuvenated after dealing with some health issues, Francona should bring accountability to this group with a winning mindset that has worked at his previous stops in Boston and Cleveland.
With all of these positive improvements made to the roster and the organization itself, the Reds look to take the next step and compete in the NL Central. Unfortunately, I do worry about their offense as a whole still. Besides De La Cruz, Lux, and Spencer Steer, there is a lot of volatility present. They need a bounce back from the likes of outfielder Will Benson, center fielder TJ Friedl, or even INF Matt McLain coming off season-ending shoulder surgery to make the lineup good enough to win games throughout a grueling 162-game season.
Even so, the Cincinnati Reds will be fun to watch at Great American Ball Park this year, with their high-end pitching staff leading the way.
