Barry Larkin's remarks may have hinted at Reds' upcoming roster move

Elly De La Cruz is scheduled to return to the Cincinnati Reds roster on Tuesday. The two-time All-Star has been sidelined since June 1 with a hamstring injury, but after a two-week recovery and a recent rehab assignment in Triple-A over the weekend, De La Cruz is ready to return to action.

But with De La Cruz's activation from the injured list comes a tricky roster decision: which player will be removed from the active roster in order to clear the way for the shortstop's return?

Most Reds fans assume the decision will come down to one of three players — Matt McLain, Edwin Arroyo, or Will Benson. Each one has his flaws, and every fan has an opinion of why one player should be sent down over the other two.

During the third inning of Monday's game against the Milwaukee Brewers, Reds' play-by-play announcer John Sadak was describing McLain's struggles of late and asked his broadcast partner, Barry Larkin, what he was seeing. The Hall of Famer may have offered a subtle hint about the team's upcoming decision, and at the very least, voiced his concern with the infielder's shortcomings.

"I'm really befuddled," Larkin said. "That's the word. Because I watch Matty and I feel like he's getting to the ball well. He just hasn't been able to string it together."

Immediately following Larkin's comments, McLain promptly struck out to the end the inning. He went 0-for-3 in the game with three strikeouts, and is hitting .111/.273/.167 with 12 strikeouts over his last seven games.

Reds could (and probably should) option Matt McLain when Elly De La Cruz returns

McLain has arguably been the most frustrating player on the Reds' roster this season. On the year, he's hitting just .202 with eight home runs, 25 RBI, and a .656 OPS. He's shown flashes of the player fans remember from his rookie year in 2023, but the most representative word of his 2026 campaign is probably 'inconsistent'. Or, as Larkin said, "befuddling."

McLain has minor-league options remaining, and much like TJ Friedl, could use a reset down in the minor leagues. Either Arroyo or Spencer Steer could easily handle duties at second base in McLain's stead. Riding with the rookie would allow Cincinnati's brass to see where Arroyo is in terms of his development, and decipher how he fits into the team's future plans.

McLain was the Reds' hottest hitter during spring training, but none of that has translated to the regular season. He's been tucked away in the bottom of the Reds' batting order for the entire season, and has provided little more than a steady glove at second base. While his defense is valuable, this club is going nowhere fast if McLain continues to hit below the Mendoza line.

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