Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz is congratulated after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Milwaukee Brewers Sunday, Sept. 28, 2025, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)
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By the time the World Series comes around, we’ll have a hard time remembering the Cincinnati Reds were in the MLB playoffs. No one can take away the fact that they made it to October, but they failed to make an impact after getting swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League Wild Card.
The Reds had a frenzied finish to the regular season, winning 83 games and supplanting the New York Mets in the final playoff spot, clinching on the final day of the season. However, the franchise is still searching for its first playoff game victory since 2012, and they haven’t won a postseason series since 1995.
Even though they were a playoff team, their 83-79 record is an accurate reflection of their status as a mid-tier ballclub. They ranked 14th in MLB with 716 runs scored and 11th with 681 runs allowed. If they want to climb above their current station as a speedbump for a team with a better roster like the Dodgers, they’ve got work to do this offseason.
While their offense was middle-of-the-pack, they don’t have any impact hitters. Shortstop Elly De La Cruz has MVP-caliber tools, but hasn’t put them all together yet. He hit .264/.336/.440 with 22 home runs and 37 stolen bases, but his 109 OPS+ indicates his offense was just 9% above the league average. His numbers fell off precipitously when he only hit four homers from June 24 through the end of the year.
Only four position players for the Reds accumulated at least 1.0 WAR (Baseball-Reference version). De La Cruz led the way with 3.6, followed by TJ Friedl’s 2.3, Noelvi Marte’s 1.4, and Miguel Andujar’s 1.3. Andujar caught fire after he was acquired from the A’s at the trade deadline, hitting .359/.400/.544 in 26 games, but he is a free agent this winter.
With Friedl and Marte covering center field and right field, in addition to De La Cruz and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes in the infield, Cincinnati has four lineup spots covered next year. Left fielder Austin Hays has a $12 million mutual option, and depending on how that plays out, they could have a need at that position. It’s unlikely they make changes to the Jose Trevino/Tyler Stephenson tandem at catcher, which means they have an opportunity to upgrade first base, second base, and designated hitter this winter.
Cincinnati’s pitching outlook is much rosier, especially in the starting rotation. Left-hander Andrew Abbott was an All-Star this season with a 2.87 ERA. Hunter Greene dealt with some injuries, but he posted a 2.76 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 107 2/3 innings. Nick Lodolo contributed a 3.33 ERA and 1.08 WHIP, and Brady Singer gave them 32 solid starts with a 4.03 ERA.
They also have a lot of pitching talent on the cusp of the majors. Chase Burns, the second overall pick in the 2024 draft, compiled a 1.77 ERA in the minors and struck out 67 hitters in 43 1/3 major-league innings. Rhett Lowder was injured for most of 2025 in the minor leagues, but will be ready to make an impact next year.
The Reds had a luxury tax payroll of about $142 million this season, but they only have $60 million on the books next year, not including arbitration costs. They should have room to bolster their batting order so this playoff appearance isn’t a blip on the radar. With some smart acquisitions, maybe next year they can win a playoff game or even advance to the second round.