MLB insider offers bold prediction for 2025 Reds, but fans have heard this before

When Jon Morosi joined MLB Network to talk about the Gavin Lux trade, he offered few surprises regarding how the Cincinnati Reds would use the new utility player. After all, it’s not too hard to project Lux slotting in at third base or (as Morosi indicated) platooning with Noelvi Marte. What did come as a surprise was Morosi’s declarative final statement that the Reds have “as much of a shot to win this division… as anybody else.”

Considering how predictably unpredictable the NL Central tends to be, Morosi’s statement shouldn’t come as too much of a shock. After all, the Reds made a splash early in the offseason with new manager Terry Francona. Since then, though, Cincy has been relatively quiet apart from the Lux and Jonathan India trades. Has the team really improved enough to vie for the division?

The idea of a Reds division win, espoused by one MLB insider, may be overhyped

The Reds will enter 2025 with a marginally improved lineup, a solid rotation (bolstered by Brady Singer and Rhett Lowder), and a questionable bullpen. Honestly, the team isn’t too different from the 2024 version (before all the injuries). And that version was picked by Bleacher Report to win the division. ESPN and MLB.com also showed the Reds some love in the polls despite choosing the Chicago Cubs as the projected winner.

Also, the rest of the division hasn’t gotten that much better either. The Milwaukee Brewers lost their big bullpen arm to the New York Yankees and have major concerns at the corner infield spots. The Pittsburgh Pirates have a great starting pitching trio but no offense, and the St. Louis Cardinals are actively selling off their former stars. Only the Cubs look likely to make a big splash this offseason.

Maybe the Reds can feed off of the rest of the division to contend with the Cubs. Maybe this is the year that Jeimer Candelario proves his worth. That Elly De La Cruz wins the MVP. That the many platoon partnerships actually produce. That’s a lot of maybes standing between the Reds and their first division title since 2012.

Ultimately, it feels like the Reds still need to make one more move to solidify the outfield and potentially bolster the bullpen as well. But the outfield market is narrowing, and the remaining relievers are costly. So excuse me if I don’t quite buy the hype yet.

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