5 Reds players whose long-term outlook keeps getting murkier

Sadly, Major League Baseball teams have a bad habit of forgoing the present while looking too far ahead into the future. That said, if GMs don't plan for the future, they're bound to be stuck in the past. Such is the situation the Cincinnati Reds find themselves in this season.

The Reds' had the division title in their sights before the calendar flipped to May, but it's been all down hill since then. Bullpen implosions, injuries to their best players, and an overall lack of production have Cincinnati sitting in the NL Central basement and looking like sellers at the upcoming MLB trade deadline.

5 Reds players whose long-term outlook keeps getting murkier

This obviously brings about a number of questions, not the least of which is who might be traded prior to the August 3 deadline. While every player on this list is unlikely to be dealt this summer, their outlook beyond the 2026 season is murky. Let's look at five Reds players whose long-term future is up in the air.

Spencer Steer, Reds utility player

Spencer Steer is the least of the Reds' problems, but he's become a player without a home. His versatility is arguably his best asset, but the Reds continue to push him all over the field, and as a below-average defender at every position except first base, that feels like a foolish endeavor.

Steer has two years of team control remaining after the 2026 season, and there's a chance that he could bring back a nice return in a trade later this summer or during the offseason. While Steer has become a fan-favorite in Cincinnati, his future with the club is muddled at best.

Nick Lodolo, Reds left-handed pitcher

The Reds missed their window to trade Nick Lodolo following the 2025 season, and after dealing with blister issues yet again, it's unlikely that another front office will be willing to give up anything of value for the Cincinnati lefty.

Lodolo presents an interesting opportunity given his injury history. The Reds could stick their neck out and sign the southpaw to an incentive-laden contract extension that is based on innings-markers. Or they could simply shop him this coming offseason and, if they can find a buyer, allow him to enter free agency after the 2027 season. Either way, Lodolo's future is clouded at the moment.

Matt McLain, Reds infielder

Matt McLain couldn't be further from the player he was during his rookie season in 2023. Had he remained healthy, there was a chance he could've won Rookie of the Year honors. Instead, he ended that year on the IL, missed all of the 2024 campaign after undergoing shoulder surgery, and has been a shell of that player ever since.

The Reds' latest move has them testing out McLain's defensive acumen in center field. Like it has so many times before, this has the makings of an experiment sure to go awry. This is a sign that the Reds no longer have a plan for McLain, and his time with the organization is up in the air.

Noelvi Marte, Reds outfielder

Speaking of transitioning an infielder to the outfield; how'd that experiment work out for Noelvi Marte? To date, the answer is, it hasn't. The Reds — who initially deployed Marte in right field midway through the 2025 campaign — even tried moving him to center field this season. That proved to be a mistake, and the Reds have yet to give him another chance.

Marte was the Reds' prized asset they received from the Seattle Mariners after trading Luis Castillo in 2022. So far, he's struggled to lay off the breaking ball outside the strike zone, can't find a defensive home, and was busted for PEDs in 2024. Otherwise, his future looks bright. Marte has plenty of raw talent, but the Reds have yet to see it manifest at the big-league level.

TJ Friedl, Reds outfielder

It's doubtful that anyone expected to see TJ Friedl get off to such a wretched start in 2026. Coming off a career-year in 2025, the hope was to see the Reds' leadoff hitter continue to get on base at a 36% clip by any means necessary.

Instead, Friedl has obviously lost a step, can't be counted on to play above-average defense in center field, and is currently toiling away in the minor leagues. He's taking home just less than $4 million in 2026, and could be a non-tender candidate later this year.

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