Reds FeedBrock Burke
P · Age 30 · Bats Left · Throws Left
Where things stand
Brock Burke has emerged as the Cincinnati Reds' most dependable relief pitcher after arriving as an afterthought in a three-team trade, posting a 2.73 ERA over 56 innings and becoming manager Terry Francona's preferred option in high-leverage situations. The left-hander, who previously struggled as a starter with the Rangers before finding success with the Angels, represents a key piece the Reds chose not to trade at the August 3 deadline despite market interest in acquiring him. With Cincinnati's bullpen ranking 25th in ERA, retaining Burke alongside other relievers would provide a strong foundation for the team's pitching staff moving forward.
Synthesized by MLB Feed Network from the 4 stories below. How we write these
2026 season
Stats from the MLB Stats API.
Contract
See the full Reds payroll.
Brock Burke coverage
Reds' trade deadline strategy looks worse after brutal insider report
MLB insider Robert Murray reported that other league executives were confused and critical of the Cincinnati Reds' trade deadline approach, calling it "the most confusing by far." Murray specifically cited the team's asking price for catcher Tyler Stephenson as unreasonably high, noting that other teams openly mocked the Reds for their valuation. The Reds also failed to trade pitcher Brady Singer and reliever Brock Burke despite the market reportedly seeking such players, leading Murray to conclude the deadline strategy was a significant mistake.
Blog Red MachineNL Wild Card standings make Reds' trade deadline misfire look even worse
The Cincinnati Reds have lost seven of their last ten games and now sit at 62-69, more than five games behind the final Wild Card spot held by the San Diego Padres. General Manager Nick Krall chose not to trade expiring players like Tyler Stephenson, Pierce Johnson, Brady Singer, Brock Burke, and Eugenio Suárez at the August 3 deadline, instead making only minor moves involving Nathaniel Lowe and Caleb Ferguson. The team's playoff odds have dropped below 1 percent, and the decision to hold onto those rentals rather than acquire prospects to strengthen the farm system now appears particularly costly given Cincinnati's recent collapse.
Blog Red Machine7 Reds who are playing their way out of the team's 2027 plans
With about a month remaining in the 2026 season, several Cincinnati Reds players are underperforming and facing potential roster changes. Outfielder TJ Friedl, once a fan favorite and playoff contributor, has declined significantly this year and may not be retained due to arbitration costs. Third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes provides elite defense but has struggled offensively while carrying a $25 million contract through 2029, creating a difficult decision for the organization. Relief pitcher Sam Moll performed well early in the season but has been unreliable since the All-Star break, and his future may depend on the team's plans for free agent Brock Burke. Prospect Michael Toglia was recently called up but has not translated his Triple-A success to the majors and faces likely release after the season since he has exhausted his minor-league options. Shortstop Noelvi Marte continues to underperform relative to expectations, with manager Terry Francona having criticized his work ethic.
Blog Red MachineReds can't afford to lose this bullpen weapon nobody saw coming
Brock Burke arrived in Cincinnati as an afterthought in a three-team trade but has emerged as the Reds' most reliable relief pitcher, posting a 2.73 ERA over 56 innings with a .032 batting average against in high-leverage situations. The hard-throwing left-hander, who previously struggled as a starter and with the Rangers before finding success with the Angels, has become manager Terry Francona's go-to option out of the bullpen. With the Reds' relief corps ranking 25th in ERA at 4.42, retaining Burke alongside Tejay Antone and Emilio Pagan would form a strong foundation for the team's bullpen heading into 2027.
Blog Red Machine