3 Reds who will make the 2025 Opening Day roster but won't last the season

Spring training is underway in Goodyear, Arizona, and the new-look Cincinnati Reds are readying for the 2025 season with manager Terry Francona now calling the shots. While the next month will be filled with workouts, spring games, and chatter on the back fields, Reds fans are ready to get the regular season started.

Players like Elly De La Cruz, Hunter Greene, and Tyler Stephenson, are all but mortal locks to be part of the Reds Opening Day roster, but a host of fringe-players and non-roster invitees will be trying to make a good first impression and join the club on its departing flight from Goodyear back to the Queen City next month.

But not every player who breaks camp will last the season. Whether they're traded, released, or simply replaced, it's highly unlikely that the 26 players who leave Arizona will be the same 26 players left standing when the season comes to a close in September.

3 Reds who will make the 2025 Opening Day roster but won't last the season

Rather than choose the obvious candidates like Rule 5 draftee Cooper Bowman and veteran non-roster relievers Bryan Shaw and Ian Gibaut, let's dig a little deeper. Which three players who'll be part of the Reds Opening Day roster won't last the season?

Will Benson, Reds OF

Benson had a tremendous 2023 campaign with the Reds, but was unable to carry that success over to 2024. The outfielder has a lot to prove just to maintain a spot on the Reds Opening Day roster, but his speed and defense certainly help his case and you don't have to squint too hard to see Benson making the cut.

But if the 26-year-old fails to make adjustments at the plate and continues to carry a huge strikeout rate, Cincinnati may have no more use for Benson in the organization. Benson has minor league options remaining, so there's no need for the Reds to designate Benson for assignment just to clear a roster spot, but if he shows no improvement in his approach, it could be time to move on.

Alexis Díaz, Reds RHP

Unlike Benson — whose spot on this list is purely due to lack of performance — Díaz finds his way here because of a possible trade. Relievers are notoriously fickle, as Díaz proved last season. After posting a 2.47 ERA with 169 strikeouts during his first two seasons, Díaz saw his ERA jump to 3.99 in 2024 and only struck out 55 batters in 56 ⅓ innings pitched.

As the 2025 MLB trade deadline nears, if the Reds are in need of some extra pop in their lineup, don't be shocked if Díaz is dangled as a potential trade chip. With the addition of Scott Barlow and Taylor Rogers, Cincinnati now has some quality depth at the backend of the bullpen to pair with Emilio Pagán and Sam Moll.

The Reds also have hard-throwing prospects like Zach Maxwell and Luis Mey in the farm system, and may look to transform Graham Ashcraft into a high-leverage reliever as well. Díaz will receive a bump in pay through the arbitration process next offseason, and Cincinnati may decide to use those resources to boost another facet of the roster.

Andrew Abbott, Reds LHP

Abbott has been a workhorse for the Reds since making his major league debut in 2023. The left-hander has recorded at least 20 starts and eclipsed 110 punch outs during his first two major league seasons. Despite having the second-half of his 2024 campaign derailed by injury, Abbott still posted a respectable 3.72 ERA and 3.3 bWAR.

But with the Reds' pitching depth, Cincinnati could opt to trade the southpaw at this year's deadline if doing so would bring back a quality bat. While the Reds have pitchers like Chase Petty, Rhett Lowder, Jose Acuña, and Chase Burns in the farm system, Cincy is clearly lacking outfield prospects. Dealing Abbott later this summer may be the key to unlock a potential trade that would upgrade the Reds lineup for a potential postseason run.

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