The Cincinnati Reds made the postseason last year, but they came into the MLB trade deadline this year knowing that was a pipe dream. They did move some pieces off the roster, trading Nathaniel Lowe and Caleb Ferguson before the deadline. While trading Elly De La Cruz may not have been the answer, the Reds needed to move more pieces, including Tyler Stephenson.
The Reds are not known to spend money in free agency or on retaining their own players. That makes the trade deadline an incredibly important day for Cincinnati, as they can set their organization up for the future with the right moves. Instead of loading up on prospects for the future, they will play out a lost season with veterans on the roster.
The catchers traded at the deadline went for a haul, namely Adley Rutschman and Liam Hicks. While Stephenson is not the offensive threat that either of those players is, he is still valuable. Teams like the New York Yankees and Texas Rangers could have used a catching boost and did not get it. The Reds could have come away with more prospects instead of a 29-year-old Stephenson in his final year of control.
The Reds not trading Stephenson is indefensible. They are unlikely to re-sign him after the season, he could have helped a contender, and the prospects would be valuable in Cincinnati. But there were other players that could have brought something back that they did not consider moving. Brady Singer, Eugenio Suarez, Brock Burke, Spencer Steer, and Emilio Pagan all could have been moved.
The Reds need an organizational reset after a brutal 2026 season. Even with five wins in their last six games, they are 4.5 games out of the final Wild Card spot. Instead, they are staying the course.
The Reds continue to settle for mediocrity
Last season was the first time the Reds made the postseason since 2020, when Cy Young winner Trevor Bauer led them to the expanded Wild Card Round. They did not win a game in that series or in the Wild Card round against the Los Angeles Dodgers last year. Cincy has not won a playoff game since 2012 and has not won a playoff series since 1995.
The Reds are one of the many teams that do not spend a lot of money in free agency. When they draft and develop great players, like De La Cruz, they are usually traded or walk in free agency. Johnny Cueto and Todd Frazier left, but even those who stayed could not push Cincy deep into the playoffs.
If the Reds do trade De La Cruz or ace pitcher Hunter Greene, it will likely be in the offseason. They still have some solid prospects waiting in the wings, like Alfredo Duno and Carlos Sanchez. If they try to match up De La Cruz’s tenure with the rise of those prospects, they risk losing their star shortstop for free.
Not selling off some more pieces to start the re-tool was not the right move for the Reds. Trading superstars like De La Cruz and Greene mid-season can prove difficult, so there is no shame there. But the NL Central is gone, and the Wild Card race is deep, so they are holding onto depth pieces for no reason. Even if the business of baseball changes wildly this winter, this was a mistake for Cincinnati.
For the Reds to make the playoffs this year, they have to have a blistering hot August and an even better September. If they don’t, they will live to regret their actions at the 2026 MLB trade deadline.
The Cincinnati Reds made the postseason last year, but they came into the MLB trade deadline this year knowing that was a pipe dream. They did move some pieces off the roster, trading Nathaniel Lowe and Caleb Ferguson before the deadline. While trading Elly De La Cruz may not have been the answer, the Reds needed to move more pieces, including Tyler Stephenson.