Have the Reds done enough to be a serious competitor in 2025?

Offseason Update
Reds fans, we are less than one month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training! Coming off a 4th place finish (77-85) in the N.L. Central, we certainly understand if fans are not on the edge of their seats waiting for Reds baseball. However, we would argue that there are still reasons to be cautiously optimistic. After all, this is what we love.
Whether it is blind optimism, false hope, or just being plain ignoramuses, we are excited for Reds baseball.
One of the most significant causes of this excitement is the hiring of future Hall-of-Fame manager Terry Francona. He was far and away the top selection of our wish list for the next Reds manager, and every fan should be beyond thrilled he will be at the helm of our team. How many wins is a manager worth? We cannot be sure - but having a guy with Francona’s pedigree will only help.
We have to be honest, however: this team does not seem like a World Series contender as it currently stands. That is a shame, considering that winning a championship should be the goal every year. The firing of David Bell took place at the end of the ‘24 season, a move we supported heavily. That was a step in the right direction, but even the best manager in the world (and Francona very well may be) cannot make the difference alone. The Reds finished 16 games behind the Brewers in the N.L. Central race, and missed the second Wild Card spot by 12 games. So, have they improved enough to bridge the gap? Let’s see what they have done so far.
Brady Singer
The Reds sent Jonathan India and minor league outfielder Joey Wiemer to the Royals in exchange for RHP Brady Singer. Overall, this was a good deal for the Reds. Singer is a solid arm and will hopefully hold down plenty of innings as a fixture in the rotation. He set career highs in games started, innings, and strikeouts.
India was definitely a fan favorite and a leader on this team. However, he was never quite able to recapture his 2021 Rookie of the Year form at the plate, and he was not a defensive standout. When this trade was made, we presumed the return of a healthy Matt McLain meant India was destined for an undefined role, and therefore expendable for a trade. That was until...
Gavin Lux
The Reds acquired second baseman Gavin Lux, who became available from the Dodgers’ loaded roster. This marks the second year in a row the Reds brought an infielder into a seemingly already-crowded fold. Although he has played other positions, Lux is likely going to be the second baseman for the Reds. He is not known for his arm and has limited outfield experience. That being said, Lux is a quality left-handed bat with 2 World Series championships under his belt. Now, the question is where McLain will play. With the Reds apparently unwilling to move Elly De La Cruz from shortstop, McLain might be the latest converted outfielder for the Reds.
Jose Trevino
The Reds traded reliever Fernando Cruz to the Yankees in exchange for catcher Jose Trevino. This trade received a lot of hate from various online sources, but we think it was a positive deal. Cruz was a late-blooming reliever who had a real problem with control at times. Although he did have one of the nastiest pitches in all of baseball, trading him for a solid, Gold-Glove winning catcher does not seem like a bad gamble. Trevino will not bring a lot of flair with the bat, but he will serve as a nice complement to Tyler Stephenson.
Other Additions
The Reds brought back RHP Nick Martinez, who was a bit of a question mark going into the offseason. It seemed that a multi-year deal was a probability for him, considering how effective he was in the second half of the season. However, he took the qualifying offer from the Reds, meaning he will earn $21.05 million for one year of work. It is possible that the Reds expected he would decline the offer and net them a compensatory draft pick, but that is no matter now. Extra pitching depth never hurts, although he will be a relatively expensive 3rd/4th starter. Martinez also saw time out of the bullpen last year, but as of now it seems more likely that he will stick in the rotation.
Also returning is LHP Brent Suter, a reliever who is capable of eating multiple innings every time he appears. Suter seems like a lock to make the bullpen staff. Former top 100 prospect Owen White was acquired from the Rangers and will compete for a spot in the bullpen. Veteran Bryan Shaw, who pitched for Francona with Cleveland, was signed to a minor league deal and invited to big league camp.

Overall, this list of non-roster invitees is weak. With only one outfielder, there is not a lot of pressure on the rostered players to have a strong spring. It is common to see veterans brought into camp to compete for spots, but this roster, while not the strongest, does not have a lot of gaps to fill aside from the outfield.
The Most Improved Team?
Buster Olney of ESPN recently put out an article declaring the Reds the most improved team going into 2025. He notes that the Reds had the worst record in one-run games last year, at 15-28. This will surely be improved upon by the hiring of Terry Francona. By now, we know better than to be overly optimistic. We would have liked to see the Reds sign a serious outfield bat to solidify the roster, but this seems unlikely now. Someone like Randal Grichuk or Austin Hays would improve the outfield situation, and there is still time to make a signing. Despite the outfield questions, some of the roster needs have been addressed, the young core has another year of experience, and the team’s health appears to be in order.
Do you think the Reds have done enough to be competitive this year? Let us know in the comments!
Comments