Reds staying quiet on (another) coaching change should be concerning

The Cincinnati Reds announced that pitching director Derek Johnson will not return in 2027 after taking a personal leave of absence in June, but hitting director Chris Valaika remains employed despite the team's offensive struggles. Assistant pitching coach Matt Tracy and bullpen coach Oscar Marin are candidates to replace Johnson after their interim work improved the pitching staff's strikeout and walk rates compared to Johnson's tenure. The Reds' offense ranked near the bottom in most statistical categories in 2026, finishing 30th in batting average and strikeout rate while scoring the fourth-fewest runs in baseball despite ranking seventh in home runs. Manager Terry Francona and front office leadership will return for 2027, raising concerns among fans about whether sufficient changes are being made to address the team's performance issues.

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