Cincinnati Reds News Roundup — October 6, 2026

The Cincinnati Reds' offseason has begun with significant roster turnover as free agents TJ Friedl, Will Benson, and PJ Higgins departed the organization following a disappointing 75-87 season. The team also lost Michael Toglia on waivers and saw pitching coordinator Derek Johnson leave, raising questions about the direction general manager Nick Krall intends to take the club.

The Reds face critical decisions on several fronts. Brady Singer, who provided durability to the rotation over two seasons but declined sharply in 2026 with a minus-38 pitching run value, must be addressed through a qualifying offer, re-signing, or free agency. Hunter Greene's Tommy John surgery compounds the pitching depth concerns. The bullpen lacks left-handed relief options after the departures of Caleb Ferguson and Sam Moll, though Bailey Falter, a 29-year-old free agent from the Braves, could provide an inexpensive solution. At third base, the weak free-agent market may force the team to pursue trades for prospects like Isaac Paredes or Brett Baty rather than signing available options.

Noelvi Marte finished as the team's biggest offensive disappointment, hitting .189 with minus-1.4 fWAR before being optioned to Triple-A. The Reds plan to send him to the Dominican Winter League to address plate discipline issues. Meanwhile, attendance at Great American Ball Park dropped from 26,967 fans per game in 2025 to 24,588 in 2026, a decline of nearly 193,000 total fans.

The organization has brighter prospects on the horizon. Alfredo Duno, a 20-year-old catcher signed from Venezuela, has demonstrated consistent offensive excellence across multiple minor league levels and currently ranks as the organization's 21st prospect overall. Pitcher Luke Holman, the 71st overall pick in 2024, made his Arizona Fall League debut after recovering from Tommy John surgery.