The Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday declined choices on three gamers: OF Austin Hays ($12M) and pitchers Scott Barlow ($6.5M) and Brent Suter ($3M). Might this sign the crew’s curiosity in signing slugger Kyle Schwarber, one of many prime free brokers available on the market this offseason?
Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall not too long ago instructed C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic that the crew “can be across the identical as our payroll from 2025.” In keeping with Spotrac, it was $119.036M in 2025. Declining these choices saves the Reds $21.5M.
By stretching the payroll a bit, the Reds may have one shot at signing a big-name free agent equivalent to Schwarber, who made $20 million with the Philadelphia Phillies final season. Schwarber has ties to Cincinnati, having grown up in Middletown, roughly an hour north of the town. MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand linked the Reds as a attainable suitor to signal Schwarber.
The Reds should spend these financial savings and all different funds properly
By limiting spending, the Reds may hamper their probabilities for remaining competive in 2026. The specter of the looming labor strike subsequent offseason may very well be the explanation for his or her hesitation to up payroll.
Coming off a profession yr during which he is more likely to end because the runner-up within the MVP voting to Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani, Schwarber led the Nationwide League in dwelling runs (56, a profession excessive), led MLB in RBI (132, one other profession excessive) and performed in all 162 video games. The outfielder/DH was one in all simply 5 gamers to take action in 2025.
By declining the choices of Hays, Barlow and Suter, the Reds may make room to signal Schwarber, an 11-year veteran who gained a World Collection with the Cubs in 2016.
Pairing Schwarber with their younger core may very well be what will get Cincinnati over the hump subsequent season. The Reds (83-79) completed third within the NL Central final season and had been eradicated within the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
