5 Reds players who definitely won't be back and 3 who could surprisingly return in 2027

With the Cincinnati Reds' 2026 campaign almost in the books, it's time to focus on the upcoming offseason and the team's 2027 roster. There are certainly plenty of questions heading into the winter, and the upcoming Collective Bargaining negotiations will surely have an effect on the Reds' offseason planning, but there's close to a half-a-dozen player who have no hope of returning next season.

Let's take a look at five (it would've been six before TJ Friedl was DFA'd) Reds players who definitely won't be back in 2027, and cast a surprising — and somewhat hopeful — glance in the direction of two players who could return despite underperforming this past season.

5 Reds players who won't be back in 2027

Pierce Johnson, Reds pitcher

Pierce Johnson signed a one-year deal with the Reds this offseason that included a club-option. It's safe to assume — given his underwhelming performance this season — that option won't get picked up. Johnson has a negative fWAR and an ERA approaching 5.00. There's no chances he's back next season.

Ivan Johnson, Reds infielder

Ivan Johnson was little more than a stopgap midway through the season when the Reds were hit with a bevy of injuries. A lack of production from Matt McLain, TJ Friedl, and Ke'Bryan Hayes kept Johnson on the roster as an emergency option, but with the rise of Juan Brito and the recent acquisition of Oswaldo Cabrera, Johnson will be let go this winter.

Michael Toglia, Reds infielder/ outfielder

Michael Toglia had a fine year with the Reds' Triple-A affiliate in Louisville, but after getting called up to the big leagues, he failed to make the most of his opportunity. A season-ending shoulder injury also doesn't bode well for his candidacy to return next season. Look for Cincinnati to non-tender the former Colorado Rockies slugger.

Zach Maxwell, Reds pitcher

Zach Maxwell has failed to live up to the lofty hype. The fastball is a legitimate offering, but his command and control are nowhere near Major League-ready. Big Sugar might survive the first-round of cuts this offseason, but as more names are added to the roster, it's difficult to envision the hard-throwing right-hander sticking around.

Connor Phillips, Reds pitcher

Connor Phillips failed to maintain the command he appeared to discover in 2025. He will likely end his brief stint in the bigs with more walks than strikeouts. That's never a good thing, and until his call-up last week, he'd spent the last several months in the minor leagues. Much like Maxwell, Phillips might not be an immediate roster casualty, but it's difficult to see him surviving the entire winter.

3 Reds players who might return in 2027

Brady Singer, Reds pitcher

Bringing Brady Singer back to Cincinnati on a qualifying offer worth $23 million would be Nick Krall's biggest blunder ever — and that's saying something. Nevertheless, the Reds are already down one starter heading into 2027 (Hunter Greene) and need to find some way to offset the loss. If they're able to bring Singer back on a short-term contract with an AAV below $15 million, it would probably be worth the gamble.

Eugenio Suárez, Reds designated hitter

Eugenio Suárez has enjoyed a second-half surge with his former club, though his production certainly hasn't matched the $15 million contract he signed last February. Geno will probably test the market once again this winter, but if he continues to linger unsigned, the Reds should not rule out another reunion — at a reduced price, of course.

Tyler Stephenson, Reds catcher

This has been an ongoing theme throughout the regular season, and it'll be a big question once the offseason officially arrives. What will the Reds do at catcher in 2027? Jose Trevino, though a capable backup, is not an everyday backstop. Top prospect, Alfredo Duno, is at least a year away from the majors. And the free agent market is barren. The Reds should've locked up Stephenson sooner, but perhaps there's a chance to the two sides come together this winter.

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