Reds could steal Padres pitching coach with familiar Terry Francona link

The Cincinnati Reds are seeking a new pitching coach after Derek Johnson's departure, with their young arms like Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott underperforming to produce the third-worst ERA in baseball in 2026. Ruben Niebla, the San Diego Padres' pitching coach who previously worked under Terry Francona in Cleveland, is a potential target, though he remains under contract with San Diego through 2027. Alternatively, Padres bullpen coach Ben Fritz could be promoted to the role after seven years developing one of the league's best bullpens, giving him the chance to work with Cincinnati's talented young pitchers under Francona's management.

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