Forgotten Reds starter is suddenly making a case to replace Brady Singer

Brady Singer lasted just 3⅓ innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday, and allowed seven runs on nine hits without recording a strikeout. Singer will be a free agent at the end of the 2026 season, but the Reds might already have his replacement sitting at Triple-A in the form of Carson Spiers.

Spiers hasn't been on a Major League mound since April of last year. The right-hander made just three big-league starts for the Reds in 2025 and managed an underwhelming 6.08 ERA and 6.21 FIP over 13⅓ innings pitched before landing on the 60-day injured list with a shoulder impingement.

Spiers began a rehab assignment last July, but after four outings, was back on the IL once again. This time, it was much more serious. Spiers tore his UCL and underwent Tommy John surgery. He was released in November, but quickly re-signed to a minor-league deal that would allow him to complete his rehab with the organization.

He's slowly been working his way back since late-August, and has four Triple-A starts under belt. His first start for the Louisville Bats was forgettable. Spiers lasted into the fifth inning, but allowed six runs on six hits, including two home runs.

His last three starts, however, have been much better. He's covered 16 innings and has allowed just two runs on 10 hits while walking three batters. The most impressive stat is easily the 21 punch outs he's racked up over his last three outings.

Carson Spiers could replace Brady Singer in the Reds' 2027 starting rotation

Spiers is playing well enough that the Reds could (and should) add him to the offseason roster. He's still pre-arbitration eligible and has multiple minor-league options remaining. The 28-year-old has worked as a starter and a reliever during his career, and Cincinnati needs as many arms as they can fit on the 40-man heading into winter.

As for Singer, his last eight games have been downright awful. In total, he's logged just over 40 innings, and has a troubling 8.48 ERA. To make matters worse, he's striking out just 13.7% of the batters he's faced during that time, but is walking another 10.3%. The opposition is batting a ridiculous .330 against Singer in those eight games, and he's watched 10 balls leave the yard.

At this point, if the Reds follow through on their ridiculous plan to extend a qualifying offer to Singer, they deserved to be mocked by every fan and media pundit with a pulse. A player who accepts a QO is effectively under contract for one season with a price tag of $23 million. Singer's performance this season does not warrant such a commitment.

Adding Spiers to the Reds' rotation outlook for 2027 would be an inexpensive way to solve one of the biggest issues facing this organization heading into the offseason. Cincinnati's leadership could then better allocate the remaining resources to upgrade other areas of the roster.

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