4 Reds prospects who shouldn't be traded during the 2025-26 offseason

While the Cincinnati Reds are still in the mix for the final Wild Card spot, the club will certainly hope to be even better next season. After all, Cincinnati has floated around the .500 mark all year long, and a solid winning record is generally a prerequisite for the postseason.

The Reds, then, may be doing some shopping this winter, and with so much talent on the big-league roster, they may look to deal from the plethora of young talent down in the minors. But the club should avoid trading these prospects at all costs.

4 Reds prospects who shouldn't be traded during the 2025-26 offseason

Alfredo Duno, Reds catcher

Once Sal Stewart’s eligibility for prospect lists expires, Alfredo Duno will likely rise to the top spot, and with good reason. In his first healthy season, the backstop has put on a display at Class-A Daytona. He's maintained his impressive power while cutting his strikeout rate to 18.4%. The 19-year-old has a mature eye at the plate and boasts a .430 on-base percentage with a 19.2% walk rate. He's dominated the Florida State League, ranking first in homers, runs scored, OPS, and doubles and won the league’s MVP award.

The Reds need Duno to continue to develop so that he can fill the coming gap at catcher. Tyler Stephenson’s contract will expire at the end of next season, and Jose Trevino’s may be up the year after if the Reds do not pick up his club option for 2028. Duno could be knocking on the majors by mid-2027 and able to study under Trevino. Considering the lack of catching depth in the Reds’ farm system, Duno is a must-keep prospect.

Tyson Lewis, Reds shortstop

If not for Duno, Tyson Lewis would be the most talked about prospect on the Daytona Tortugas roster. Just three days younger than Duno, Lewis joined the catcher in Florida in late-July. The shortstop hasn’t been quite as dominant, but his sweet swing and blazing speed have attracted attention.

Lewis has a clearer path through the minors with Sammy Stafura gone, but he still needs some more seasoning. He began to slow down as the season went along — his slugging percentage dropped from .449 in August to .286 in September — but as he adjusts to the demands of pro ball, Lewis could rocket through the system.

Héctor Rodríguez, Reds outfielder

While Duno and Lewis could be the future of the franchise, Héctor Rodríguez is one of the more important players in the present. The Reds have had a persistent outfield problem, and Rodríguez could be the player to solve it.

In his three seasons in the Reds’ farm system, he has improved his offensive approach, cutting his strikeouts and increasing his walks. His defensive abilities have improved as well. When he first moved to the outfield from the middle infield in 2023, he made nine errors. This season he has made just three. Rodríguez has taken a bit of a step back offensively since joining Triple-A Louisville in mid-July. Success early in the season in 2026 could be enough to help him crack the Reds’ roster.

Outfielder Carlos Jorge

Another infielder-turned-outfielder, Carlos Jorge is perhaps the least-known player on this list. His path through the minors has stalled a bit as he is in his third consecutive season at High-A Dayton. Still, he’s only 21 and has the type of raw speed that can be game changing.

Jorge is a line-drive hitter who can get on-base consistently and wreak havoc. Over five pro seasons, he has 154 steals. Jorge may not be the slugger that becomes a superstar in the majors, but he could be a speedy sparkplug in the mold of Chandler Simpson.

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