MLB insider links Reds to blockbuster move, but fans have heard it before

MLB.com's Mark Feinsand released a ranking of the top-30 free agents ahead of the 2025-26 offseason with Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber coming in at No. 3. Feinsand named the Cincinnati Reds as a potential landing spot for the Ohio native along with both the Phillies and Texas Rangers.

This isn't the first (or the last) time Reds fans will hear Schwarber's name tied to their favorite team this offseason. In fact, ever since the All-Star break, the notion of Schwarber coming back home to Cincinnati has been bandied about by various beat writers and pundits.

But Reds fans have heard this before. It wasn't too long ago that Cincinnati was linked to the likes of Tyler Glasnow and Shane Bieber. Luis Robert Jr. was supposedly on the Reds' radar throughout the entire 2024-25 offseason. Sonny Gray, Josh Naylor, Nick Pivetta, Teoscar Hernandez; the list goes on and on.

Reds Rumors: MLB insider links Cincy to Kyle Schwarber, but fans have heard it all before

This past winter, the Reds offseason moves consisted of trading for Gavin Lux, Jose Trevino, and Brandy Singer while also agreeing to a free agent contract with Austin Hays. That's not meant as an insult to those four players — all of whom played a role in the Reds returning to the postseason for the first time since 2020 — but these are not big-name signings.

In order for the Reds to pull off a blockbuster deal for a player like Schwarber, Bob Castellini and the ownership group are going to have to do something they haven't done since 2019 — open up their wallets.

That winter, the Reds went all-in. Cincinnati shelled out over $165 million in free agent deals to bring in Nick Castellanos, Mike Moustakas, Shogo Akiyama, Pedro Strop, and Wade Miley. This high-dollar spending came on the heels of the Reds' acquisition of Trevor Bauer the year prior.

The pandemic-shortened 2020 season, however, torpedoed any chance of Cincinnati gaining momentum, and though they rallied to be part of the expanded playoffs, the Reds were quickly disposed of in two games at the hands of the Atlanta Braves.

Since then, Cincinnati's biggest free agent gamble was the three-year, $45 million deal they handed out to Jeimer Candelario ahead of the 2023 season. The Reds cut ties with Candelario this past season and will still owe him the remainder of his contract in 2026.

The Reds have maintained the idea of building from within, developing their prospects, making savvy trades when necessary, and using free agency to supplement the roster, not overhaul it. Until the front office's philosophy changes, Reds fans should expect more of the same. While fun to think about, Schwarber's not coming to Cincinnati this offseason.