Cubs-Mets trade could reshape what the Reds do with Brady Singer at the deadline

One way or another, it feels like Brady Singer isn't long for the Cincinnati Reds' rotation. After an offseason full of trade rumors, the Reds opted to hold onto the free-agent-to-be, but now it's time to move on. Cincinnati hasn't fully fallen out of the race, Elly De La Cruz is back from the IL and Emilio Pagan should be joining him on the active roster shortly, but even if the club doesn't sell, Singer should be moved.

The Reds won't be re-signing him in the offseason, and the deal that sent David Peterson from the New York Mets to the Chicago Cubs set a favorable precedent. At the time of the deal, Peterson had bounced between the rotation and bullpen, making 16 appearances (8 starts) and posting a 6.09 ERA. That return netted them first baseman Cole Mathis, who was the Cubs No. 13 overall prospect. That's not a bad return for a pitcher on an expiring deal who has struggled mightily this year.

If Peterson can yield that sort of return, then Singer would net even more, given his longer track record eating innings and better performance in 2026 in comparison. So, if there were any doubt, it should now be clear that the Reds should make a move and capitalize on another team's urgency.

Whether the Reds buy or sell at the trade deadline, they need to trade Brady Singer

When evaluating a prospect's value, it's important to understand the system they are coming from. The 13th-ranked prospect in the top farm system in baseball might be a top-five prospect in the pipeline for a club whose minor league apparatus ranks towards the bottom of the league.

The Cubs entered 2026 with the 23rd-ranked farm in MLB. While that's towards the bottom, it doesn't mean that Mathis isn't a good prospect. He's a 2024 second-round pick who has displayed good patience and power as a 23-year-old in the lower levels. Basically, he's a solid, mid-tier prospect. That's the level of return that Cincinnati could expect from trading Singer, except maybe they'd get back another lottery ticket or a youngster with just a tad more upside.

There's also the potential that they could get even more. Singer was dreadful to start the year, but he has posted a 1.64 ERA through 22 innings in June. If he keeps performing well in the coming weeks, he'll lower his 4.81 ERA to something more palatable, and help erase the memories of his abominable beginning to 2026.

With Hunter Greene on the verge of a return, the Reds' rotation is nearing a point where it no longer needs Singer. Greene and Chase Burns will be a formidable one-two punch at the top. Andrew Abbott has begun to round into form, and there's reason to believe that Nick Lodolo will do so soon as well. Rhett Lowder has essentially matched Singer's production, making him an ideal replacement, and if he can get back to where he was prior to hitting the IL, he'll be even better.

That means, regardless of the decision Nick Krall and company make at the deadline for the direction the Reds will follow for the remainder of 2026, trading Singer is a good idea that looks even better in light of the Peterson trade. They don't really need him if they're going to make a run, and they certainly won't be keeping him in the offseason, so why not move him for a useful future piece with potential? It's a no-brainer.

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