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Matt McLain Matt McLain Adds 12 pounds over offseason
Fri, Jan 16, 2026, 3:34 PM
McLain has added 12 pounds of muscle over the offseason, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.
Analysis: After rehabbing injuries each of the last two offseasons, McLain has been able to focus on training this winter and said he feels like he's getting a "fresh start" heading into the 2026 season. The second baseman slashed a disappointing .220/.300/.343 over 147 regular-season contests in 2025, but he has some bounce-back potential heading into his age-26 campaign. |
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Brock Burke Brock Burke Bolsters Reds' bullpen
Thu, Jan 15, 2026, 9:34 PM
Burke was traded from the Angels to the Reds in a three-team deal on Thursday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: The Reds traded away Gavin Lux in the deal, though Burke is the latest in a series of moves the team has made to bolster its bullpen. Burke had a solid 3.36 ERA and 1.23 WHIP across 61.2 innings in 2025, and he has served in high-leverage roles for most of the last four seasons. |
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Yosver Zulueta Yosver Zulueta DFA'd by Cincinnati
Thu, Jan 15, 2026, 1:07 PM
The Reds designated Zulueta for assignment Thursday.
Analysis: The move frees up a 40-man roster spot for the addition of Pierce Johnson, whose signing was made official Thursday. Zulueta has made 19 relief appearances over the last two seasons with the Reds, collecting a 5.32 ERA and 25:11 K:BB across 23.2 frames. The righty will turn 28 next week and stands a good chance of passing through waivers unclaimed. |
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P.J. Higgins P.J. Higgins Stays in Reds organization
Tue, Jan 13, 2026, 1:45 PM
The Reds re-signed Higgins to a minor-league contract Dec. 17.
Analysis: Higgins slashed .240/.300/.345 with seven homers in 111 games with Triple-A Louisville in 2025 and is likely headed back there to start the 2026 season. The catcher last reached the majors in 2022. |
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Brandon Leibrandt Brandon Leibrandt Lands with Reds on MiLB pact
Tue, Jan 13, 2026, 1:42 PM
The Reds signed Leibrandt to a minor-league contract Dec. 27.
Analysis: Leibrandt got into two games with the Reds in 2024 before splitting the 2025 season between Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization and the CTBC Brothers Baseball Club of the Chinese Professional Baseball League. The southpaw is likely ticketed for the Triple-A Louisville rotation to begin the 2026 season. |
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Josh Staumont Josh Staumont Back with Reds on MiLB pact
Tue, Jan 13, 2026, 1:32 PM
The Reds re-signed Staumont (undisclosed) to a minor-league contract Dec. 30.
Analysis: Staumont signed a minor-league deal with the Reds last offseason but wound up missing the entire season with an undisclosed injury. It's unclear what his current health status is. Staumont posted a 3.70 ERA but an ugly 18:14 K:BB over 24.1 innings for the Twins in 2024. |
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Hagen Danner Hagen Danner Nets minors deal from Reds
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 8:30 AM
The Reds signed Danner to a minor-league contract Jan. 7.
Analysis: Danner spent the entirety of the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Tacoma in the Mariners organization, collecting a 5.59 ERA and 54:21 K:BB over 56.1 frames. The 27-year-old made one major-league appearance for the Blue Jays in 2023. He'll give the Reds some relief depth at Triple-A Louisville. |
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Pierce Johnson Pierce Johnson Lands with Cincinnati
Sun, Jan 11, 2026, 2:31 PM
Johnson agreed to a contract with the Reds on Sunday, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: The term of the deal isn't clear, but it's likely to be less than Pierce's $7 million club option that was declined by Atlanta in November. Johnson recorded one save and 16 holds with a 3.05 ERA, 1.20 WHIP and 59:19 K:BB across 65 innings for Atlanta last year. |
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Michael Toglia Michael Toglia Lands with Reds on MiLB deal
Sat, Jan 10, 2026, 8:22 PM
Cincinnati signed Toglia to a minor-league contract Wednesday, per the MLB transactions page.
Analysis: Toglia looked to be a key part of Colorado's future when he posted a .767 OPS with 25 home runs, 55 RBI and 10 stolen bases over 457 plate appearances for the big-league club in 2024, but the 2019 first-round draft pick dropped off dramatically last year, slashing just .190/.258/.353 with 11 long balls, 32 RBI and three steals across 337 plate appearances. He's always demonstrated plenty of power and went deep 11 times over 42 contests for Triple-A Albuquerque last year, but Toglia has also struggled making a contact, and he posted an awful 39.2 percent strikeout rate with the Rockies in 2025. That was a large part of the reason why Colorado DFA'd and subsequently non-tendered him in November. However, the Reds will give him a chance to make an impression, though Toglia will likely open the season in the minors. |
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Garrett Hampson Garrett Hampson Inks minors deal with Cincinnati
Fri, Jan 9, 2026, 11:18 AM
The Reds signed Hampson to a minor-league contract Dec. 29.
Analysis: The Reds were one of three major-league teams that Hampson spent time with in 2025, though he managed just a .419 OPS over 62 games between the three stops. The 31-year-old will likely begin the 2026 season at Triple-A Louisville, where he will give the Reds utility depth. |
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Matt McLain Matt McLain Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 7:12 PM
McLain agreed to a one-year, $2.3 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Analysis: McLain missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from shoulder and rib injuries, but he was healthy for the start of the season. He started strong with three home runs and five RBI through the first four games, though that momentum was halted after he landed on the IL due to a hamstring strain. That turned out to be his only stint on the IL in 2025, and he finished the regular season with a .643 OPS with 15 home runs, 50 RBI, 18 stolen bases and 73 runs over 577 plate appearances while appearing in 147 games. With a full season under his belt, McLain will enter the 2026 campaign as the projected everday second baseman for the Reds. |
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Nick Lodolo Nick Lodolo Avoids arbitration with Cincinnati
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 6:01 PM
Lodolo signed a one-year, $4.725 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: The deal also includes up to an additional $450,000 in incentives, per Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Lodolo spent the majority of 2025 in the Reds' rotation before being moved to the bullpen late in the the regular season and during Cincinnati's brief NL playoff run. He ended the regular season with a 9-8 record (over a career-high 28 starts) while posting a 3.33 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 156:31 K:BB across 156.2 innings. Lodolo has seen his ERA and WHIP numbers steadily improve over the past three seasons, and his 4.8 percent walk rate was among the best in the majors in 2025. |
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Tony Santillan Tony Santillan Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 6:00 PM
Santillan agreed to a one-year, $1.8 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Santillan set a new career high by pitching 73.2 innings in 2025 and did so while remaining as effective as ever, finishing the regular season with a 2.44 ERA and 1.11 WHIP to go with seven saves and 33 holds. Emilio Pagan isn't likely to let go of his grip on the closer role anytime soon, so Santillan will continue to work as Cincinnati's premier setup man in 2026. |
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Brady Singer Brady Singer Secures $12.75 million from Reds
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 5:53 PM
Singer agreed to a one-year, $12.75 million contract with the Reds on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: Singer finished his first year in Cincinnati with a 4.03 ERA and 1.24 WHIP alongside a 163:60 K:BB across 169.2 regular-season innings, and he'll now be rewarded in the form of a $4 million salary increase. He'll presumably claim a spot in the back end of the Reds' rotation to begin 2026 and is slated to become a free agent after the end of the season. |
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Will Benson Will Benson Settles with Reds
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 1:48 PM
The Reds and Benson avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $1.725 million contract Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Analysis: Benson had been arbitration-eligible for the first time. The 27-year-old slashed .226/.273/.435 with 12 long balls over 90 contests for the Reds in 2025. He could open the 2026 season as the Reds' left fielder against right-handed pitching, though he will have competition for playing time. |
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TJ Friedl TJ Friedl Gets $3.8 million from Reds
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 1:44 PM
The Reds and Friedl avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $3.8 million contract Thursday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Analysis: Friedl receives a nice pay bump in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The 30-year-old slashed .261/.364/.378 with 14 home runs and 12 stolen bases in 2025 and is slated again to open up the 2026 campaign as the Reds' primary center fielder. |
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Gavin Lux Gavin Lux Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 12:52 PM
The Reds and Lux avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $5.525 million contract Thursday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports.
Analysis: Lux had been eligible for salary arbitration for the final time, as he's slated to reach free agency next winter. The 28-year-old hit .269/.350/.374 with five home runs over 140 regular-season games in his first season with the Reds. The left-handed-hitting Lux should play regularly against right-handed pitching in 2026, though he's unlikely to be locked into one position defensively. |
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Spencer Steer Spencer Steer Gets $4 million from Cincinnati
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 12:35 PM
The Reds and Steer avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year, $4 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
Analysis: It's a substantial raise for Steer, who had been in his first year of arbitration eligibility. Steer produced a .238/.312/.411batting line with 21 home runs over 146 regular-season contests in 2025. He will be an everyday player for the Reds in 2026, though his position isn't locked down. |
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Lyon Richardson Lyon Richardson Outrighted to Triple-A
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 1:02 PM
The Reds outrighted Richardson to Triple-A Louisville on Wednesday.
Analysis: Richardson is no longer on the 40-man roster but will remain in the organization after passing through waivers unclaimed. The right-hander finished 2025 with a 4.54 ERA, 1.54 WHIP and 30:21 K:BB across 37.2 regular-season innings for Cincinnati. |
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Yunior Marte Yunior Marte Signs with Reds
Tue, Dec 30, 2025, 9:00 PM
Marte signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Tuesday and received an invitation to spring training, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
Analysis: After turning in a 6.92 ERA and 1.88 WHIP across 26 innings with the Phillies in 2024, Marte left the U.S. and signed with the Chunichi Dragons of Japan's Nippon Professional Baseball. The 30-year-old reliever succeeded in reviving his career by ending the 2025 NPB season with a 1.95 ERA over 32.1 frames, and he'll now get another chance to prove himself worthy of an MLB roster spot during spring camp. |
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