The Reds made the postseason in 2025. Did you notice? They were dispatched quickly by the Dodgers. And, they had the worst record of any of the postseason teams at 83-79.
Still, that’s something to build on, and the Reds are indeed building.
Key departures: Zack Littell, Nick Martinez, Austin Hays, Brent Suter, Yosver Zululeta, Gavin Lux
Key arrivals: Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suárez, JJ Bleday, Ben Rortvedt, Pierce Johnson, Brock Burke,
Eugenio Suárez is the active MLB leader in home runs against the Cubs
with 36. So it made me very happy when he was traded to the Mariners last summer — had he stayed there, the Cubs would have had to face him only one series a year.
Now Suárez will come back and torture Cubs pitching again. As you’ll recall, he had a four-homer series against the Cubs last April in Arizona, then hit another in that wacky 13-11 Cubs comeback win at Wrigley.
Granted, Suárez is now 34, but I do not look forward to seeing him play 13 games against the Cubs this year. He’ll be mostly a DH with Ke’Bryan Hayes now a Reds fixture at third base.
Otherwise the Reds return most of their 83-win team from last year. Former Cub Pierce Johnson joins a strong bullpen, and Hunter Greene has become one of the better pitchers in the league. Another starter to watch is Chase Burns, who was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2024 Draft out of Wake Forest. He struggled at times in his debut season, but can throw 100-plus just as Greene can.
The Reds might be tougher competition for the Cubs in the NL Central than the Brewers in 2026.
At Wrigley Field: May 4-5-6-7 and Aug. 28-29-30
At Cincinnati: July 10-11-12 and Sept. 18-19-20
SB Nation team site: Red Reporter
