Christian Encarnacion-Strand's breakout with Orioles makes Nick Krall look even worse

The Cincinnati Reds' disappointing 2026 campaign has put every single one of Nick Krall's decisions under the microscope. One of his most egregious mistakes this year may have been designating Christian Encarnacion-Strand for assignment; a decision that only adds to the growing list of reasons the Reds must terminate Krall's contract at the end of the season.

Encarnacion-Strand never got a chance to make his presence felt in the Reds lineup in 2026, but that didn't stop Krall and Co. from DFA'ing the slugging infielder earlier this season. Encarnacion-Strand was cut loose on April 8 and traded to the Baltimore Orioles five days later for cash considerations.

The O's optioned Encarnacion-Strand — yes, he still had minor-league options remaining when he was DFA'd — to Triple-A Norfolk and recalled him to the big leagues on July 16. Since joining Baltimore's active roster, Encarnacion-Strand has been a force in the middle of the Orioles lineup.

In 31 games with the Orioles, Encarnacion-Strand is hitting .264/.301/.519 with seven home runs, 27 RBI, and a 124 wRC+. Yes, the strikeouts are still a big part of his game (26.3% K-rate) — and his 35% strikeout rate at Triple-A Louisville was a major reason why Cincinnati moved on in the first place — but the thunder in that bat is undeniable.

Reds letting Christian Encarnacion-Strand walk was a Nick Krall blunder

At this point, Krall's seat has to be scorching hot. The Reds president of baseball operations has made some bone-headed decisions over the years, but this one has to near the top. Not as bad as signing Jeimer Candelario in 2023 or trading for Ke'Bryan Hayes at the 2025 deadline, mind you, but it's not far behind.

The team's lack of success in 2026, and the front office's inaction at the trade deadline, has fans hoping for major changes during the offseason. Krall and his compatriots have been at the helm since 2020, and have little to show for it.

Encarnacion-Strand, on the other hand, has the Orioles poised to join the AL Wild Card chase. Heading into play on Thursday, the O's have pulled to within 2½ games of the final wild-card spot in the American League with just over a month to go.

Unfortunately, the Reds are nowhere to be found in the NL Wild Card standings, and sit nine games out of a playoff spot with a murder's row on the schedule for September. Cincinnati heads to the Windy City to play the Chicago Cubs on Friday, and then have upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers, and Atlanta Braves — all of whom lead their respective divisions.

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