Matt McLain and Ke'Bryan Hayes are creating a major Reds' roster dilemma

The Cincinnati Reds aren't exactly enjoying a banner campaign on offense. The Reds rank 27th in runs scored, and their collective 87 wRC+ ranks dead last. Suffice it to say, the Reds lineup has been far from potent in 2026.

Though you can hardly attribute those failures to one or two players, some deserve a larger chunk of the blame than others. Both Ke'Bryan Hayes and Matt McLain are having seasons to forget. They've combined to be worth -0.3 fWAR and have an OPS below .600.

With two glove-first, offensively challenged players starting on an regular basis, the Reds' potential firepower is muted. It's likely that the organization will need to move on from one of them this upcoming offseason. The question is: which one will it be?

Reds facing paradoxical decisions with Ke'Bryan Hayes and Matt McLain ahead of the offseason

With all things being equal, the Reds would love to move on from Hayes. The 29-year-old is in the midst of the worst season of his career, owning a .453 OPS and 19 wRC+ over 190 plate appearances.

Even Hayes' usually stellar defense hasn't quite been up to snuff, with career-lows in Outs Above Average (2 OAA) and Defensive Runs Saved (5 DRS). His injuries and limited playing time have contributed to those numbers, but anything beneath Gold Glove-caliber defense renders Hayes unplayable.

Nevertheless, his remaining contract is impossible to move. The Reds owe him $23 million between through 2029, which all but ensures he's stuck in Cincinnati unless the ownership group shockingly green-lights his unconditional release.

McLain is also having a season to forget. He's eclipsed double-digit home runs and steals for the third consecutive season, and has been surging of late, but his overall value has cratered since a dynamic debut in 2023. He's working with a batting average just above the Mendoza Line, which has led to a disappointing 79 wRC+.

McLain is a sterling defender at second base (7 OAA), and some team would surely be willing to take a chance on a player with his pedigree and three years of arbitration remaining. But the Reds would have to sell low to facilitate a deal because of his struggles at the plate.

The Reds need to improve their production at second and third base this offseason, but Hayes is un-tradable due to the money he's owed, and McLain can only be moved for pennies on the dollar. The team could simply bet on one or both rediscovering their offensive ceiling, but that same gamble has sunk the bottom of the lineup this year.

Nick Krall and the Reds front office is going to have a difficult time wriggling out of this mess during the offseason.

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