Cincinnati Reds News Roundup — October 12, 2026

The Reds face significant roster decisions heading into the offseason, with their young core showing both promise and concerning inconsistency. Sal Stewart's historic rookie season—over 30 home runs, 100 RBIs, and 15 stolen bases—was undermined by a sharp September decline, prompting discussion about whether the organization should prioritize his development through mentorship, potentially by signing 39-year-old Paul Goldschmidt as a veteran presence.

The team's pitching staff remains a central concern following Derek Johnson's departure as pitching coach. The rotation of Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder, and Brandon Williamson has struggled with command and walk rates despite considerable talent, leading observers to call for an external hire rather than promotion from within to address these fundamental issues and restore Cincinnati's pitching development reputation.

Behind the scenes, the organization is building for the future at catcher through prospect Alfredo Duno, whose .322 average and strong defensive projection at Double-A suggest he could reach the majors by mid-2027 following a Triple-A assignment. This development comes as Tyler Stephenson enters free agency, leaving the position in transition. Meanwhile, the team added depth to its bullpen through the three-team trade that brought reliever Brock Burke to Cincinnati, who posted a 2.30 ERA and led the league with 77 appearances before entering free agency.

The organization may also explore affordable depth options in the outfield, with former Royals prospect Drew Waters available as a potential minor-league signing. Waters offers solid defense, baserunning ability, and switch-hitting capability with strong numbers against left-handed pitching in Triple-A, providing flexibility as a fourth or fifth outfielder without significant financial commitment.