Some new rumors following the MLB general manager meetings offer some very good news about the Cincinnati Reds' pursuit to improve the pitching staff this offseason.
With some help from a collapse by the Mets in September, the Reds finally returned to the playoffs for the first time since 2020. Sure, they were smashed by the eventual champion Dodgers in two Wild Card games, but there were a lot of positives to take away from the 2025 campaign—the first with new manager Terry Francona.
There is sure to be some change this offseason. However, recent rumors actually pointed to the Reds trading homegrown All-Star Hunter Greene . Such a move doesn't seem like one that improves the roster with high-level pitching hard to find. But according to USA TODAY MLB insider Bob Nightengale , the organization has pivoted away from a possible trade.
"The Cincinnati Reds have listened, but don't have any intention of trading ace Hunter Greene, who has three years and $42 million left on his contract," he wrote recently.
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Earlier this week, The Athletic's Will Sammon reported that the Reds are among 12 teams that have shown early interest in signing former Brewers closer Devin Williams. Unfortunately for Cincy, the MLB insider also added that the Dodgers are also in pursuit, and there was "mutual interest" from the two-time All-Star.
But it seems that Nightengale believes the Reds may actually have an interesting leg up in the sizable free agent chase for the talented closer. "While Williams remains an option for the Dodgers, rival teams have been told that if Williams has his druthers, the St. Louis native would love to stay in the Midwest," he reports.
Devin Williams stats: 18 saves, 4.79 ERA, 1.129 WHIP, 90 strikeouts, 25 walks, 62.0 innings
The Cubs might be in the market for a closer, so they could be Cincinnati 's strongest competition in the region to land Williams.
While he posted a 4.79 ERA and was actually demoted from the closing role after a few months in New York, there is a belief around the game that 2025 was an outlier and Williams is still an elite closer. That is why there are so many teams rumored to be interested in the two-time All-Star.
