Brady Singer trade rumors make one potential Reds reunion feel inevitable

While the Cincinnati Reds have consistently dismissed the idea of trading from their starting rotation, Brady Singer's name continues to gain traction. The Reds right-hander is entering his final year of club-control, will likely be the highest-paid player on the roster, and could be a valuable trade asset for a team that's starved for offensive output.

But as Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon of The Athletic (subscription required) recently pointed out, if Cincinnati decided to trade Singer (or another starter) this offseason, they’d need to be able to backfill the innings while also improving their major-league club.

That's where former Reds pitcher Nick Martinez comes into the picture. Martinez is still available in free agency, and manager Terry Francona has never been shy about his affinity for the veteran right-hander. If the Reds were to trade away Singer or another starter in order to secure an impact bat, a reunion with Martinez could help solidify the rotation.

Reds reunion with Nick Martinez could help facilitate trading Brady Singer

At the moment, the Reds starting rotation consists of Singer, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott. A quartet of hurlers — Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, Brandon Williamson, and Chase Petty — will be looking to secure the fifth and final spot in the rotation.

If the Reds were to trade Singer, that would leave a massive hole in the middle of the rotation. While the former first-rounder isn't exactly a frontline starter, he's an innings-eater. Singer appeared in 32 games for the Reds last season and covered nearly 170 innings. It was the fourth season in row Singer has eclipsed 150 innings pitched.

The Reds rotation was the backbone of the team's playoff run last season, and is the strength once again heading into 2026. Parting with one of the team's most reliable starters comes with a lot of risk. But Cincinnati has yet to make any meaningful upgrades to the lineup, and many assume the only way to do so will come through a trade.

Adding Martinez would not only help offset the potential loss of Singer, but it would also provide an experienced reliever in the event one of the Reds' young arms (Burns, Lowder, Petty, etc.) turned into a viable starter and settled into a role at the backend of the rotation.

The longer Martinez lingers on the free agent market, the more likely a reunion becomes. Most experts assume he could sign a two-year deal worth $24 million, meaning his salary would be offset if Singer was traded in exchange for an impact bat. Now the Reds just have to find a willing trade partner.