"The Reds' immediate exit from the playoffs makes it easy to forget the successes of the regular season. Cincinnati snapped a four-year postseason drought in manager Terry Francona's first season. They won 83 games for just the second time since 2013. This team has something to build on heading into 2026, and now is the time to make a splash in free agency."
"FanGraphs' RosterResource tool has the Reds with an estimated payroll of around $94MM heading into next season. They were close to $120MM this past season, and have been above $130MM in each season from 2020 to 2022. The biggest current commitment for 2026 is the $13MM owed to Jeimer Candelario. While it stings to be shelling out that amount to a player no longer in the organization, Candelario is the only one on the books for eight figures right now."
Cincinnati snapped a four-year postseason drought in Terry Francona's first season and won 83 games, the club's second 83-win season since 2013. The roster features strong pitching that was excellent in 2025, but the offense lacked depth and high-end talent to compete with top National League teams. Payroll projections estimate around $94MM for next season, down from near $120MM this past season and above $130MM from 2020–2022. The only eight-figure 2026 commitment presently is Jeimer Candelario's $13MM, with Brady Singer projected for roughly $11.9MM arbitration salary. The team has flexibility to pursue major free-agent upgrades.
Read at MLB Trade Rumors
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