The Cincinnati Reds are sitting at 41-49, dead last in the NL Central, and things don’t look like they’re about to flip. The trade deadline is a month out, and the question is whether the front office will make real moves or just hold tight. Former MLB general manager Jim Bowden has a clear answer: sell.
Bowden went on Foul Territory TV and laid out why the Reds need to pivot hard. He said the offense isn’t good enough and the defense is shaky. The rotation has potential with Chase Burns and Hunter Greene as two No. 1 types, but that’s about it for bright spots. In Bowden’s words, even if Cincinnati gets hot, they aren’t a contending team. He wants them planning for 2027 and beyond.
“Let’s quickly try to pivot and plan for 2027 and beyond,” Bowden said.
His argument is that this is a sellers’ market with not many teams unloading pieces. The Reds have assets. Bowden specifically mentioned flipping Spencer Steer for multiple players, finding a trade for Brady Singer, and fielding calls for left-handed starters Andrew Abbott or Nick Lodolo. He thinks teams might overpay for lefty pitching at the deadline.
The Reds Have Pieces. The Question Is Whether They’ll Use Them.
Cincinnati has some interesting trade chips beyond the obvious names. Steer can play multiple positions and is a versatile bat. Singer is a solid arm on a team that isn’t competing right now. Abbott and Lodolo both profile as guys a contender might talk themselves into for a playoff push.
The front office hasn’t tipped its hand yet, but the record says enough. This team is seven games under .500 and trending the wrong way. A big run could change the narrative, but it would have to start immediately and last weeks. That’s a tall order for a club that has looked average at its best.
The roster construction feels incomplete. They need more hitting and defensive stability before you can even talk about winning a division. The Brewers and Cubs aren’t world-beaters, but they’re still ahead of Cincinnati by a decent margin. The Reds would need to jump multiple teams just to get to a wild-card race.
Sellers Market Is a Real Opportunity
Bowden’s point about the market is worth paying attention to. A lot of teams are trying to buy at the deadline. When supply is low and demand is high, sellers can get more value for their players. The Reds could end up with a handful of prospects for a couple of veterans and a starter or two.
If they hold onto everyone and stay the course, they risk wasting another year of development for their young arms. That’s the kind of thing that keeps a team stuck in neutral. A purposeful sell-off might hurt in the short term but gives them a clearer path forward.
For now, the Reds have a decision to make. They can ride out the season or start reshaping the organization for 2027. Bowden thinks the choice is obvious. We’ll see if the front office agrees.
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