Supervisor Terry Francona is the newest member of the Cincinnati Reds group to downplay the potential of buying and selling beginning pitching. Francona mentioned on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast that he wasn’t anticipating a Hunter Greene commerce. “I don’t assume these issues are gonna (occur)…pitching is simply too arduous for us to accumulate by means of free company…we gotta hold Hunter on the mound,” Francona mentioned in a clip relayed by Chatterbox Sports activities.
President of baseball operations Nick Krall supplied an identical sentiment final month, downplaying the concept that the Reds would transfer gamers on the pitching facet. Led by Greene, Cincinnati’s starters ranked sixth within the Nationwide League in ERA and third in strikeouts. Solely the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Braves bought extra innings from their beginning pitchers.
Greene battled a groin harm a number of instances final season, however he was dominant when wholesome. He set career-best marks in xFIP (3.27) and SIERA (3.06) whereas throwing tougher than ever earlier than. Greene’s heater averaged 99.5 mph in 2025, a 1.9 mph leap from 2024. Amongst pitchers who threw no less than 100 innings, Greene ranked fourth in swinging-strike charge and sixth in Okay-BB%.
Hunter Greene helped by improved command
Probably the most notable growth for Greene final season was how typically he was within the strike zone. He posted a powerful 68.6% strike charge and a career-low 6.2% stroll charge. Greene had by no means recorded a season with a strike charge above 65% or a stroll charge under 9%. The improved command helped him preserve a decrease pitch rely and work deeper into video games. He notched high quality begins in 11 of 19 outings. Greene had 13 high quality begins in 2024, nevertheless it took him 26 appearances to get there.
If the Reds have been to place Greene in the marketplace, he would definitely fetch a good-looking return. The 27-year-old signed a six-year, $53M extension in 2023. The deal features a $21M workforce choice for 2029. Greene’s annual wage will rise in every of the subsequent three seasons, nevertheless it’ll nonetheless be a lot inexpensive within the ultimate 12 months of the deal, even when the Reds (or one other membership) decline the workforce choice.
Cincinnati has a secure of controllable starters past Greene. Andrew Abbott and Chase Burns have but to succeed in arbitration. Nick Lodolo gained’t hit free company till 2028. Kids Rhett Lowder and Julian Aguiar solely have a 12 months of MLB service time apiece. Brady Singer is the one mainstay nearing free company, as he’s in his ultimate 12 months of arbitration. The Reds can hold nearly all of this group collectively for the foreseeable future in the event that they wish to.
