In manager Terry Francona’s first season in Cincinnati, the Reds made the postseason at 83-79. Cincinnati clinched on the last day of the 2025 regular season after the Marlins defeated the Mets 4-0. The Mets also finished 83-79, but the Reds won the head-to-head tiebreaker, going 4-2 against them in 2025. The Dodgers quickly ended Cincinnati’s season after sweeping them 2-0 in the Wild Card series.

An intra-division trade occurred prior to the deadline as the Pittsburgh Pirates sent third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes to the Reds in exchange for Taylor Rogers, Sammy Statura and cash considerations.

Shortstop Elly De La Cruz led the offense in hits (166), home runs (22) and RBIs (86). Gavin Lux led in batting average, hitting .269. In 169.2 innings, Brady Singer recorded a 4.03 ERA and struck out 163 batters, while Andrew Abbott owned the team’s best ERA at 2.87. As a whole, the Reds batted .245, recorded 1,333 hits and hit 167 home runs. Cincinnati’s pitching staff recorded a 3.86 ERA and struck out 1,380 batters. These stats placed Cincinnati around the middle of the league in these respective categories.

A familiar face returned to Cincinnati this offseason as Eugenio Suárez signed for the season on February 1. Suárez spent seven seasons with the Reds before being traded to the Mariners on March 14th, 2022. Left-handed pitcher Caleb Ferguson signed a one-year contract on December 18th, 2025. Emilio Pagán resigned for another year before Ferguson’s deal. On December 27th, Ex-Athletics outfielder JJ Bleday was signed from free agency, and Dane Myers was acquired from the Marlins.

2026 can see the Reds as a “sneaky” team in the National League. The pitching staff and offense have the potential to make a playoff push, and Francona’s expertise will help the roster unleash its potential. De La Cruz is known as a speedster and power hitter, while other players, including TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer, can help with their contact hitting. Pagán has proven himself as a reliable reliever and pitchers Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo have tremendous upside. Of course, the pieces need to click in order for things to pan out.

Cincinnati Reds schedule:

One of the last major dominoes of the MLB offseason has fallen.

On February 1, the Cincinnati Reds signed Eugenio Suarez to a one-year, $15 million contract. 

Suarez started the 2025 season with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He hit 36 home runs with them and made his second career All-Star appearance. At the trade deadline, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners. Although his play wasn’t as good with them, he still provided important veteran experience that helped them make the American League Championship Series. 

Suarez was one of the most coveted players both at the trade deadline and during the offseason. Other teams interested in Suarez include the New York Yankees, Detroit Tigers, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Red Sox.

Suarez played with the Reds from 2015 to 2021. He made the All-Star team in 2018 when he hit 34 home runs. 

The Reds were a surprise playoff team last season, posting an 83-79 record. Although they benefited from an all-time collapse from the New York Mets, they also played better than anyone could’ve expected.

The Reds were a bottom-10 team in home runs in 2025. Signing Suarez is a perfect move to boost their power numbers. During the trade deadline, they traded for Ke’Bryan Hayes from the Pittsburgh Pirates. This will allow Suarez to play DH, maximizing his value by keeping him off the defensive side of the ball. 

Having the DH spot filled means the Reds will likely not bring back Miguel Andujar. Andujar had a .359 batting average with the Reds in 34 games.  

Spring training will begin on February 20. Although the Reds’ lineup is pretty much set, they will need to figure out the bullpen hierarchy. They added Brock Burke, Pierce Johnson and Caleb Ferguson during the offseason. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers are through to the NLDS after overcoming early struggles in Game 2 against the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday, winning 8-4 and setting up the five-game series with the Philadelphia Phillies.

After thrashing the Reds 10-5 in Game 1, the visitors responded the following day after a two-run RBI by infielder Sal Stewart in the first inning. However, eight unanswered runs from the Dodgers put the team too far ahead for Cincinnati to recover.

“It was a great test, and we didn’t waver,” manager Dave Roberts said after the game. “Even after that first inning, the guys stayed positive, stayed within themselves, kept taking good at-bats.”

Outfielder Mookie Betts cut the lead in half for the Dodgers in the third inning after a single, which allowed catcher Ben Rortvedt to score. In the following inning, the hosts continued racking up hits until utility Enrique Hernandez‘s RBI double leveled the game. Moments later, shortstop Miguel Rojas recorded a single to send Hernandez to home plate, giving the defending World Series champions the lead.

Following the early stumbles, right-handed pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto notched nine strikeouts and did not allow a single run after the first inning. The Japanese pitcher also allowed only four hits in the 6.2 innings he played.

Shohei Ohtani, Teoscar Hernandez and Betts all recorded RBI’s in the sixth to extend the Dodgers’ lead, before another RBI double by Betts put them into an 8-2 lead.

“We have gone through a lot, had a lot of struggles really all year,” Betts said in his postgame interview. “But I think we all view that as just a test to see how we would respond. Now we’re starting to use those tests that we went through earlier to respond now and be ready now.”

The Dodgers were the only team in the Wild Card round to sweep an opponent. Game 1 of the NLDS against the Phillies is scheduled for Saturday at 6:38 p.m. EST at Citizens Bank Park, where Betts and the Dodgers continue to defend their World Series crown.

“Anything that kind of comes our way, it can’t be worse than what we’ve already went through,” Betts said. “Just keep a positive mindset and keep going.”

The Cincinnati Reds have a record over .500, but sit in fourth place in the NL Central due to their struggles to win close games.

Cincinnati finished the 2024 season with a record of 77-85, missing out on the postseason. The Reds recognized the need to make improvements to their roster in order to compete during the 2025 season, and as a result, they were very active in the trade market and free agency.

The Reds made trades for utility player Gavin Lux, relief pitcher Taylor Rogers and catcher Jose Trevino. Cincinnati signed outfielder Austin Hays, relief pitcher Scott Barlow, and re-signed starting pitcher Nick Martinez.

Cincinnati’s offense is led by superstar shortstop Elly De La Cruz, centerfielder TJ Friedl, and utility men Spencer Steer and Lux.

On paper, the Reds’ offense appears strong, but it has been inconsistent throughout the 2025 season. Cincinnati ranks inside the top 10 for RBIs and runs scored, and it also ranks just outside the top 10 in slugging percentage.

Cincinnati ranks in the top half of the league for hits and home runs, and its batting average is in the middle of the pack. The Reds also rank in the bottom 10 of the MLB when it comes to striking out.

One area where the Reds struggle is in exit velocity, ranking in the bottom five at 88.7 mph.

Similarly to its offense, the Reds’ pitching is strong on paper, but it’s top-heavy. Cincinnati’s pitching staff is led by Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott, who have both had a strong start to the season.

The Reds are in the top 10 for batting average allowed, walks and hits per inning pitched (WHIP), and hits allowed. It’s just outside of the top 10 for ERA, and it’s in the middle of the league for strikeouts.

Cincinnati recently called up its top pitching prospect, Chase Burns, to the big leagues, so they’re hoping he can provide an impact in the starting rotation.

A significant reason for Cincinnati’s struggles is its inability to hit effectively during close games. The Reds have a record of 9-11 in one-run games, and it’s 0-24 when losing after six innings.

Cincinnati is also dealing with injuries to some of its top players. Third baseman Noelvi Marte and Hays are currently on the 10-day injured list, and Hunter Greene is on the 15-day injured list.

Starting pitcher Rhett Lowder is also on the 60-day injured list after getting called up in August of 2024, where he had an ERA of 1.17. He has yet to make his 2025 debut.

If Cincinnati wants to play baseball this October, it will have to perform better in close games and score runs when it’s down after the sixth inning.

Cincinnati Reds Schedule & Tickets

• July 18: at New York Mets
• July 19: at New York Mets
• July 20: at New York Mets
• July 21: at Washington Nationals
• July 22: at Washington Nationals
• July 23: at Washington Nationals
• July 25: vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• July 26: vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• July 27: vs. Tampa Bay Rays
• July 28: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
• July 29: vs Los Angeles Dodgers
• July 30: vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
• July 31: vs. Atlanta Braves
• August 1: vs. Atlanta Braves
• August 2: vs. Atlanta Braves
• August 4: at Chicago Cubs
• August 5: at Chicago Cubs
• August 6: at Chicago Cubs
• August 7: at Pittsburgh Pirates
• August 8: at Pittsburgh Pirates
• August 9: at Pittsburgh Pirates
• August 10: at Pittsburgh Pirates
• August 11: vs. Philadelphia Phillies
• August 12: vs. Philadelphia Phillies
• August 13: vs. Philadelphia Phillies
• August 15: vs. Milwaukee Brewers
• August 16: vs. Milwaukee Brewers
• August 17: vs. Milwaukee Brewers
• August 18: at Los Angeles Angels
• August 19: at Los Angeles Angels
• August 20: at Los Angeles Angels
• August 22: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• August 23: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• August 24: at Arizona Diamondbacks
• August 25: at Los Angeles Dodgers
• August 26: at Los Angeles Dodgers
• August 27: at Los Angeles Dodgers
• August 29: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
• August 30: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
• August 31: vs. St. Louis Cardinals
• September 1: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• September 2: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• September 3: vs. Toronto Blue Jays
• September 5: vs. New York Mets
• September 6: vs. New York Mets
• September 7: vs. New York Mets
• September 8: at San Diego Padres
• September 9: at San Diego Padres
• September 10: at San Diego Padres
• September 12: at Athletics
• September 13: at Athletics
• September 14: at Athletics
• September 15: at St. Louis Cardinals
• September 16: at St. Louis Cardinals
• September 17: at St. Louis Cardinals
• September 18: vs. Chicago Cubs
• September 19: vs. Chicago Cubs
• September 20: vs. Chicago Cubs
• September 21: vs. Chicago Cubs
• September 23: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• September 24: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• September 25: vs. Pittsburgh Pirates
• September 26: at Milwaukee Brewers
• September 27: at Milwaukee Brewers
• September 28: at Milwaukee Brewers

Cincinnati Reds Odds

The Reds’ odds of making noise in the postseason are stacked against them. Cincinnati has +525 odds to make the postseason, +6000 odds to make it to the World Series, and +12000 odds to win the World Series.

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Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz’s sister, Genelis De La Cruz, passed away after a prolonged battle with unspecified health problems, according to media reports in the Dominican Republic.

De La Cruz could have not played after hearing the news of his sister’s death, but he not only played against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, but he also honored her memory both on his gear and with his play on the field.

De La Cruz wrote “RIP” on his cleats and hat to honor his sister’s memory. Before his first at-bat, he took a timeout to compose himself for what would be the first game he played without his sister living to watch. He then singled off Cubs starter Jameson Taillon.

Later in the game, De La Cruz hit a bomb as he hit his 12th home run of the season. As he rounded the bases, he pointed to the sky and then made a heart gesture with his two hands as he crossed home plate.

The 23-year-old star shortstop did not speak to the media before the game, but manager Terry Francona told reporters that De La Cruz insisted on playing.

“We just told him we will support whatever he needs to do,” Francona said. “He wants to play today, and then we’ll go from there.”

In Major League Baseball’s Collective Bargaining Agreement, it stipulates that players are allowed to be placed on the bereavement list for a minimum of three days and a maximum period of a week. It’s unclear if De La Cruz will be assigned that designation.

De La Cruz entered Sunday hitting .252/ .324/ .439 (104 OPS+) with 11 home runs, 40 runs batted in and 17 stolen bases on 22 attempts. Last year, he finished eighth in National League Most Valuable Player Award voting after recording 25 home runs and 67 stolen bases.

The Reds lost Sunday’s game 7-3 to the Cubs, but he honored his sister with his on-field play.

Former Milwaukee Brewers outfielder/first baseman Darin Ruf is suing the Cincinnati Reds for damages after he suffered a career-ending injury while crashing into an uncovered tarp roller two years ago at the Great American Ball Park.

Ruf was playing first base when he was injured during the Brewers’ win against the Reds in extra innings. Ruf was chasing a foul pop when he hit his knee on the end of the tarp roller. Ruf went on the 60-day injured list and never played in the majors again.

Ruf’s complaint stated that the end of the tarp roller was made of sharp metal and had no protective cushioning on it.

“This was an obvious and avoidable risk,” Tad Thomas, Ruf’s attorney, said in a release announcing the lawsuit. “There are basic safety protocols every MLB team should follow. Leaving an unpadded metal roller on the edge of the field is inexcusable.”

The lawsuit filed on Thursday in the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas charged the Reds with negligence in failing to maintain safe field conditions and specifically cites the presence of the unpadded metal tarp roller.

“This didn’t need to happen,” Ruf said in a statement. “I wish it didn’t happen. Players shouldn’t have to worry about hidden hazards like that on a major league field.”

Ruf is seeking punitive and compensatory damages due to him suffering “permanent and substantial deformities to his knee,” according to the complaint.

Ruff played in the majors for 11 years with teams like the Philadelphia Phillies, San Francisco Giants, New York Mets and ended his career with the Brewers due to injury.

In 582 games, Ruf recorded 67 home runs and 205 RBIs while batting .239 with a .329 on-base percentage.

The Reds had no immediate response to a message seeking a comment on the situation.

One of baseball’s top young talents will have to wait a longer time than expected to showcase his talents in the regular season.

Cincinnati Reds third baseman and top prospect Noelvi Marte was suspended by the MLB for 80 games last Friday. Marte tested positive for the performance-enhancing substance Boldenone. While he can participate in all spring training activities, he is barred from regular season action until the middle of the 2024 campaign.

This is a blow to the Reds’ early-season hopes. Cincinnati was widely predicted to rise in the NL Central standings this year with the young core of Marte, Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain. The team was looking to build off a surprising 82-win last season – now they will start 2024 without their top prospect who was expected to break out.

Reds general manager David Bell seemed to have hope that when Marte eventually plays in the regular season he will have fully moved on from the suspension. “When he does come back, he’s going to be welcomed back with open arms, and it’s going to be over,” he told MLB.com.

Former Cincinnati Reds star Joey Votto commented on Saturday about Marte’s suspension during his physical with the Blue Jays in Dunedin, Florida. He expressed that he was close with the young prospect and stressed the significance of Marte missing valuable playing time.

“During that window of time, they must get games, at-bats, plate appearances, time, defense, base running, reps, reps, reps,” Votto said, referring to the importance of Marte to get playing time at the start of his career.

Marte hit .279/.358/.454 alongside 11 homers and 18 steals in 92 games during his time with the Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville teams. Then when called up to the Reds last season, he continued to play strong, posting 316/.366/.456 with three homers and six steals in 35 games.

Former Red’s Hall of Fame catcher Johnny Bench apologized publicly for the antisemitic joke he made at the Hall of Fame Induction for the team this last Saturday.

In the WCPO video, after Paul’s induction, former Reds All-Star and manager Pete Rose said the former GM signed him for $400 per month out of high school, to which former Reds general manager Gabe Paul’s daughter, Jennie Paul, responded: “That’s cheap.”

This led to Bench saying, “He was Jewish,” in response to Jennie during Rose’s speech.

Jennie talked with reporters after, including Enquirer reporter Charlie Goldsmith, and said she hadn’t heard Bench’s remark. Reds reporter C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic told her what Bench said, and Jennie responded with this:

“I didn’t even hear him say that,” Paul said. “Johnny came up and said ‘Were you offended?’ and I said for what? I didn’t even hear him say that. I suppose if I would’ve heard him say that, I would’ve said something, but I didn’t even hear him say that.”

All-Star Bench said in a statement:  “I recognize my comment was insensitive.”

“I apologized to Jennie for taking away from her father the full attention he deserves. Gabe Paul earned his place in the Reds Hall of Fame, same as the others who stood on that stage, I am sorry that some of the focus is on my inappropriate remark instead of solely on Gabe’s achievement.”

On Wednesday, Cincinnati denounced his bigoted remark, stating it was “insensitive” and saying the team does not “condone this type of language for humor or any other intent.”

The team addressed this incident, as Bench made this comment at a news conference to honor the trio of the late Gabe Paul, who was Jewish, and former pitchers Danny Graves and Bronson Arroyo.

“The Reds have spoken to Johnny who expressed sincere regret over what he said,” the team said in its statement. “His comments do not reflect the values of the Reds organization.”

The Cincinnati team followed up and said they “denounce antisemitism” and are “committed to promoting positive change and inclusivity by bringing people together around the game of baseball and making sure our ballpark welcomes everyone.”

Jennie represented her father for the induction ceremony, as Gabe passed away in 1998. He was the GM of the Reds from 1951 to 1960, overseeing the Reds’ integration of black and Latino American players in the 1950s. Gabe made some great acquisitions, like Rose and Hall of Famers Frank Robinson, who passed away in February 2019, and Tony Perez.

She was asked after the event if she was also Jewish, and she said this in response:

“No, no,” Jennie said. “My mother was Episcopal. When they got married in 1939, on Opening Day, April 17, he made a pact with my mother to not interfere, and he did not interfere. I never saw him walk into a temple. I never heard him talk about his faith. But, you know, his parents were from Ukraine.”

Jennie went into further detail about Gabe, saying he most practiced Judaism and had a strong faith in general. He had 12 children but her mother was left to raise her as Episcopalian.

According to Gabe’s daughter, being Jewish also cost him the commissionership.

“It did follow him his whole baseball career because a lot of people didn’t know he was Jewish,” Jennie said. “They turned down the commissionership because he was Jewish. A lot of people don’t know that either. They wanted him to run for the commissioner when (General William D.) Eckert was elected. And he didn’t want to because he didn’t think he’d get the vote because he was Jewish. And then he thought if he did get the vote, he’d be discriminated against because he was Jewish.”

As the Red’s GM, Gabe also signed the first African-American player for Cincinnati in 1954, Chuck Harmon. He was honored on April 20, 2004, as Chuck Harmon Recognition Night at Great American Ball Park, Ohio. That night marked the 50th anniversary of his debut. Harmon sadly passed away on March 19, 2019.

Jennie also felt like her father was kind towards other minorities especially due to his personal experiences.

Elly De La Cruz has sent shockwaves through baseball in his first month with the Cincinnati Reds, and spectacles like that which occurred Wednesday will ensure that the fanfare continues. After the Nationals protested De La Cruz’s bat earlier in the game, the rookie shortstop belted an emphatic 455-foot home run.

Before De La Cruz began his trot, he pointed at a plastic sensor on the knob of his bat, the controversial attachment that Washington manager Dave Martinez’s protested earlier on. Umpires forced De La Cruz to remove it for his first at-bat but he was later allowed to re-apply it. By pointing at the bat at home plate, he said after the game that he was trying to send a message.

“Just to tell everybody that the knob is not the reason why I am doing a good job,” De La Cruz said. “It’s because of all the work I’m putting out there.”

In his first 26 games in MLB, De La Cruz has hit .318 with four home runs and 14 RBIs. He hit for the cycle last month against the Braves, becoming just the second 21-year-old player to accomplish the feat after Mike Trout. Despite his earlier protest, Martinez insisted that he respected De La Cruz as a young player, though he did disapprove of his celebration.

“I am not trying to penalize this kid. I’m not. I love the way he plays the game,” Martinez said. “I didn’t like his antics after he hit the home run. We can do without that. He’s only got two weeks in the big leagues, but he’s going to be a good player.”

While the Nationals languish at the bottom of the NL East, De La Cruz has propelled the Reds to the top of the NL Central, as the team is currently 48-39 and holds a two-game lead over the Brewers. As the Reds continue working toward what would be their first division title since 2012, De La Cruz could continue to be a difference-maker as one of baseball’s most exciting young stars.

Former MLB star Pete Rose repeatedly dismissed reporters’ questions regarding a case of statutory rape at a press event at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia on Sunday. Before a ceremony celebrating the 1980 Phillies’ World Series victory, his first appearance on the field since the case became public, Rose repeatedly declined to address the issue and made demeaning remarks to Alex Coffey, a female reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer.

Following a defamation lawsuit filed in 2016 by Rose against attorney John M. Dowd, court documents released in 2017 included testimony and a signed statement establishing that Rose engaged in a sexual relationship with a minor in the 1970s. At the time, the Phillies were planning to honor Rose by putting him on their Wall of Fame but scrapped those plans following the development.

Many of Rose’s comments on Sunday about the case have since been criticized, but the honoree’s response to Coffey has received the most attention. The reporter asked Rose if his presence at the ceremony sent “a negative message to women” due to the allegations.

“No, I’m not here to talk about that,” Rose said. “Sorry about that. It was 55 years ago, babe.”

After the ceremony, Rose met again with Coffey, asking if he had offended her and joking that he would “sign 1,000 baseballs” for her forgiveness. He eventually apologized, but Rose’s comments toward Coffey were merely part of a larger effort by the former Cincinnati Reds and Phillies star to dismiss allegations of rape.

“Who cares what happened 50 years ago?” Rose said to an Associated Press reporter. “You weren’t even born. So you shouldn’t be talking about it, because you weren’t born. If you don’t know a damn thing about it, don’t talk about it.”

Rose is obviously familiar with controversy, as his illegal gambling habits as the Reds’ manager from 1985 to 1987 famously led to his lifetime ban from baseball and the Hall of Fame in 1991. Rose has spent his life since on the outskirts of MLB culture, making most of his money through book deals and autograph events, one of which notoriously occurs annually in Cooperstown, New York, on induction weekend.

When Rose walked on to the field at Citizens Bank Park on Sunday, the crowd gave him a standing ovation. In 24 seasons from 1963 to 1986, Rose earned 4,256 hits, the most by any player. He appeared in the All Star Game 17 times and won three World Series, two with the Reds as part of “the Big Red Machine” and one in Philadelphia.

Luis Castillo has been traded days ahead of the deadline and Yankees fans aren’t too happy about it. 

The Seattle Mariners pulled the trigger on a deal that is sending two MLB-ranked top 100 prospects Edwin Arroyo (93) and Noelvi Marte (18) to the Cincinnati Reds.

Additionally, the Reds are getting pitching prospects Levi Stoudt and Andrew Moore.

While the Mariners certainly paid a price to obtain Castillo, he isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until 2024.

So, the team will have another year plus before deciding whether it wants to keep him around long-term or not.

The 29-year-old is making $7.35 million this year and is commanding a 2.86 ERA this year with 90 strikeouts in 14 games.

And you can see why fans of other teams aren’t too happy that their front offices couldn’t make a trade for the Red’s ace.

New York Yankees fans in particular were furious about it.

“Yankees not getting Luis Castillo is such a disgrace,” said one fan.

“They have the capital to get him and beat any offer. Best chance at a World Series since 2009 don’t let this season go to waste, [GM Brian] Cashman.” 

Another weighed in and stated: “I don’t care if this is an overreaction. “You are the New York f**cking Yankees, you clearly are a player or two from cementing yourself as the best team in baseball.”

And one fan took his frustrations out on the Yankee’s general manager: “Good morning coffee is ready, today’s a great day to make a trade or fire Brian Cashman.”

Instead, Castillo will join a Mariners club that is 54-47 and look to bolster a starting rotation that headlines reigning American League Cy Young winner Robbie Ray. 

Next up all eyes will be on superstars Juan Soto and Shohei Ohtani and see if they will be traded in the coming days. 

The MLB trade deadline is Tuesday, August 2. 

With a projected 2022 record of 77-85 and 16.9% playoff odds, the Cincinnati Reds have their work cut out for them this season.

> GET DEALS ON CINCINNATI REDS TICKETS!

Cool-name-haver Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo, Tyler Mahle and Luis Castillo give Cincy four solid starters. While the lovable Joey Votto and Mike Moustakas will look to mash, and the speedy Nick Senzel will patrol center field. And catcher Tyler Stephenson will look to build on his rookie line of .286/.366/.431, and Tommy Pham will hope to bounce back after a down year in San Diego.

Two outfielders left the team, Jesse Winker and Nick Castellanos, but as we’ve seen there’s always addition by subtraction.

The Reds open the season on April 7 in Atlanta for four games. They’ll open their home schedule on April 12 with two games against the Cleveland Guardians, then close out the first half with three in New York against the Yankees and three in St. Louis vs. the Cardinals.

Their second half begins against the Cards as well and concludes with six games against the Chicago Cubs—three on the road then three at home.

Whatever way the chips may fall this season for the Reds, at least they got some headphones out of the deal.

Cincinnati Reds’ schedule

You never pick a fight with the fans because there’s simply no way to win. Cincinnati Reds President and COO Phil Castellini learned that the hard way Tuesday.

After basically telling his team’s loyal fans to take the club or leave it, he backtracked a few hours later, apologized, and was left with egg on his face.

“Well, where are you going to go?” said the team’s COO and son of Reds CEO Bob Castellini, the team’s main owner since January 2006. “Let’s start there. I mean, sell the team to who? That’s the other thing—you want to have this debate? If you want to look at what would you do with this team to have it be more profitable, make more money, compete more in the current economic system that this game exists? It would be to pick it up and move it somewhere else.

“And so be careful what you ask for. I think we’re doing the best we can do with the resources that we have. We’re no more pleased with the results than the fans. I’m not sitting here saying anybody should be happy. I’m not polishing trophies in the office right now, and that’s what we’re here to do. But the bottom line is—and I do think we’ve had to shift the discipline. We’ve tried a lot of things that didn’t work. And they came this close to working and didn’t. Nobody’s got to tell me it didn’t work. So I think we’ve learned from those things. And trust me, [general manager] Nick [Krall], he is a guy on a mission. And he is a bull in a china shop that has his way to do it and that way’s to grow your own and he’s doing just that.”

Yikes.

What makes it yikes-ier is that since 2006 Cincy has made the playoffs four times (NLDS losses in 2010, 2012; Wild Card losses 2013, 2020) and recorded a winning season on just five occasions.

Not even 24 hours later came the about face.

“I apologize to Reds fans and regret the comments that I made earlier today,” he said. “We love this city, we love this team, and we love our fans. I understand how our fans feel and I am sorry.”

It’s not just a cool color—Hunter Greene was also the second pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, is set to be a piece of the Cincinnati Reds’ rotation for the 2022 season, and can touch 104 mph with his fastball.

Indeed. The right-hander made the Reds’ 2022 Opening Day roster and will debut on April 10 in Atlanta against the defending World Series champion Braves; it’ll be the Reds’ fourth game of the season.

Greene put together a 10-8 record and 3.30 ERA in 21 starts at Double-A and Triple-A last year to go with 139 Ks to 39 BBs in 106 1/3 innings.

A star pitcher and shortstop at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks, Calif., Greene was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated the year he was drafted. The Twins took SS/3B Royce Lewis ahead of Greene, who received the largest signing bonus of the draft class ($7.23 million) for eschewing a college career at UCLA.

Greene pitched in the 2018 All-Star Futures Game but needed Tommy John surgery after the season and missed all of 2019. The 2020 minor league season was canceled due to COVID, but Greene stayed in Cincinnati to train.

An injury and COVID-19 delayed his MLB debut, but come April 10 we’ll get to see what he can do.

Veteran pitcher Nate Jones is retiring from baseball, agent Joe Speed of Sterling Sports Management announced on Twitter.

“It is bittersweet to announce that long-time client and great friend Nate Jones is retiring from baseball,” Speed wrote. “Nate spent 9 plus years in the major leagues, mostly as a Chicago White Sox. Nate finishes his career w a 22-16 record and a 3.45 ERA. My best to Nate and Lacy and the kids!”

Jones was selected as a fifth-round pick by the Chicago White Sox in 2007. He was never considered one of their best prospects, only topping out at No. 22 on Baseball America’s rankings in the 2011-12 offseason. Still, he became one of the team’s most talented relievers for several years.

Jones made his debut as a 26-year-old in 2012 and immediately cemented himself as a fixture in the bullpen when he pitched 71 2/3 innings of 2.39 ERA ball as a rookie. In his second season, he pitched in 78 innings with a 4.15 ERA ball but had some hip and back soreness along the way.

In 2014, the veteran pitcher suffered from continued back troubles that sidelined him, and he eventually suffered a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his elbow. He only appeared in two games and missed much of the 2015 season while recovering from Tommy John’s surgery.

In 2015, Jones returned to baseball in early August and was re-signed by Chicago on a three-year deal. The following year, he had a career season. Jones pitched a 2.29 ERA with a 29.2 percent strikeout rate and a 5.5 percent walk rate.

Jones was traded to the Texas Rangers at the end of the 2019 season and was subsequently bought out. The veteran then signed with the Cincinnati Reds but only appeared in 21 games with the team.

Trevor Bauer is currently on administrative leave, but he won’t be welcomed back if he is permitted to return to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The league placed Bauer on paid administrative leave as the MLB investigates sexual assault allegations under the league’s collectively bargained domestic violence, sexual assault and child abuse policy. Pasadena police are also investigating Bauer for felony assault separately from the league’s investigation.

The alleged incidents took place earlier this year. A woman alleges that Bauer assaulted her in two separate encounters. The woman has since obtained an ex parte temporary restraining order against Bauer in Los Angeles County Superior Court.

Last week, Bauer appeared in court to fight an extension of the protective order sought by the woman who alleges the assault. Attorneys for both sides intend to call witnesses and the hearing has been scheduled for August 2. The judge ruled Bauer must take the stand at that time, which is standard in such civil proceedings.

It is currently unknown when the right-handed pitcher could return to the club. However, a possible return would be met with opposition. According to two people with knowledge of Dodgers clubhouse dynamics, who are unauthorized to speak publicly about the situation, most players do not want Bauer back under any circumstances.

Bauer signed a three-year, $102 million contract with multiple opt-outs this past offseason. Under the league’s domestic violence policy, the Dodgers cannot release Bauer until the investigation is complete. If the team does release him then, they will still owe him the balance of his contract.

Bauer, 30, went 8-5 with a 2.59 ERA in 17 starts before being placed on administrative leave. Last year, the right-handed flamethrower won the CY Young award with the Cincinnati Reds.

Opening Day for Major League Baseball is rapidly approaching. With this in mind, it is the perfect time to look at each team’s predictions for the 2021 season, following 2020’s 60-game shortened campaign.

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The Cincinnati Reds took advantage of the COVID-19 shortened season and made the playoffs after six straight losing seasons. The Reds have a total of five World Series titles across the team’s 139-year history. The team’s success can be attributed to having the league’s seventh-best ERA in 2020 with a 3.84 ERA and the seventh-most home runs with a total of 90 homers. With how things stand, the Reds would have to get lucky to make the postseason again in 2021.

Here are Cincinnati’s projected starters.

Cincinnati Reds Projected Batting Order:

1. OF Nick Senzel
2. 1B Joey Votto
3. OF Nick Castellanos 
4. 2B Mike Moustakas
5. 3B Eugenio Suarez
6. OF Jesse Winker 
7. C Tyler Stephenson 
8. OF Shogo Akiyama
9. Pitcher

Cincinnati Reds Projected Pitching Staff:

• SP1 Luis Castillo
• SP2 Sonny Gray
• SP3 Tyler Mahle
• SP4 Wade Miley
• SP5 Michael Lorenzen
• CL Amir Garrett 

Cincinnati Reds Team Outlook:

During the offseason, the Reds lost starter Trevor Bauer and failed to re-sign Freddy Galvis, reliever Archie Bradley, and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani. Despite the losses, Cincy did make some additions and picked up relievers Sean Doolittle, Noe Ramirez, and starting pitcher Jeff Hoffman. Regarding the starting rotation, Sonny Gray, Luis Castillo, and Tyler Mahle are solid and offer upside, but the backend of the rotation isn’t as promising.

Considering the team’s offense, the Reds have three power bats in outfielder Nick Castellanos, third baseman Eugenio Suarez and second baseman Mike Moustakas. For the Reds to make the playoffs, everything would have to go right. Odds are, they will reach .500 if their offense plays well. But at the end of the day, the Reds need to acquire one more starter to finish higher in the National League Central division.

Cincinnati Reds Schedule:

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On Sunday, Cincinnati Reds pitcher Trevor Bauer set up a giveaway after ESPN accidentally leaked his phone number during a broadcast of the Korean Baseball Organization.

While Bauer was live on FaceTime with ESPN for an interview, his number was visible at the top of the screen for just a couple of seconds, but that was all that fans and spectators needed. 

Fortunately for ESPN, the pitcher decided to have some fun in light of the sticky situation. Bauer posted a screenshot of the interview to Twitter and said he would be giving away a pair of signed cleats and baseball over the next 48 hours. “The rules are in my voicemail!” the pitcher said. 

After a few hours, Bauer posted an update, saying that his voicemail was full from fans attempting to win the two-day giveaway prizes. He then decided to take FaceTime requests from fans and allowed them to ask one question each. 

The giveaway will end around 2:30 a.m. on Wednesday. 

A former MLB prospect is suing the Cincinnati Reds, saying they won’t try him out because of his age. Garrison Lassiter, 30, and his lawsuit claim that according to the Reds’ tryout schedule, potential players are required to be between the ages of 16 to 22, something the lawsuit claims is “clearly age preferential.”

This lawsuit comes after a first one where Lassiter sought damages against the New York Yankees claiming they derailed his career in favor of superstar Derek Jeter. Lassiter claims the team conspired against him to “protect the career of Derek Jeter” and called it “obvious” that Jeter had control over the “entire organization.”

He requested $34 million from the Yankees “for the interference and lost years” of his professional career.

The requested amount was not random. In a wild claim, Lassiter compared himself to a mix of Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Cory Seager and former NFL quarterback and Yankees pitching prospect Brandon Weeden. The request for the $34 million came as a “guesstimate” of the salaries earned by Seager and Weeden, as well as another $5.6 million for a basketball career he never had.

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The lawsuit was dismissed in May 2019 by Chief District Judge Thomas D. Schroeder who said, “lacking any federal questions raised in the complaint and having already determined that diversity jurisdiction does not exist, the court is unable to further adjudicate Lassiter’s claims.”

Lassiter, who attended law school after falling out of baseball, wrote, “Many nights I’ve slept in my Car and I’m put in a situation that I do not like. Without a Home and no Money to pay my bills, up to this point I have Educated myself by attended Law School, Earning a Masters Degree and an undergraduate specialization in Sports Administration.”

The Yankees and the Reds declined to comment on their respective suits.

The Cincinnati Reds have been looking for infield help and a new bat and are said to be in talks with the Cleveland Indians regarding All-Star Francisco Lindor.

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Lindor enjoyed another stellar year in 2019 batting .284 with 32 home runs, 101 runs and 22 stolen bases. He’s been an All-Star every year since he’s been in the league, and a two-time Gold Glover. The Indians are in the market for outfield help and apparently are willing to part with one of their stars.

The Reds finished in fourth place last year, missing the playoffs by 15 games. Fifty-seven one-run games, the most in the Major Leagues, with a record on  24-33. It would help them to add a plus hitter and a stop gap in the infield in those close games. The math works, as Lindor could potentially add at least 15 more wins, that could potentially put them in the playoffs (they were 75-87. 15 games would put them in playoff contention).

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Besides getting injured at the beginning of the year, Lindor had led the league in at bats the past two years, runs scored once, and sacrifice hits once.

The Indians are said to be interested in Center Fielder Nick Senzel after a solid rookie campaign.

The Reds scored the fourth fewest runs in MLB last year. Joey Votto and Matt Kemp are entering their 13th and 14th seasons and have been slowed by injury throughout their careers, but the Reds are not thinking rebuild anytime soon. They want to compete in the foreseeable future.

“I’ve said this before, I hate the word competitive,” said General Manager Nick Krall. “The goal is to win. It’s always to win, no matter what the circumstances. The goal is to go out, win and compete for the highest honor you can possibly compete. It’s always that goal. I feel we changed some of that mindset last year, and even though we only won 75 games.”

They have backed that up by spending $68 million on Mike Moustakas how hit 35 home runs last year and has averaged around 31 HRs the last three.

We’ll keep you posted on the latest news regarding Lindor and the Reds