Nick Krall’s latest comments might spell the end for this Reds player

Nick Krall just confirmed what we've all suspected for a while now. The Cincinnati Reds' payroll will be around the same as it was in 2025. The implications this not-so-shocking revelation brings about are numerous.

First, we can finally put to bed any notion of the Reds making a big splash by signing hometown kid Kyle Schwarber. Second, the $15 million that the departed Jeimer Candelario will count against the books in 2026 stings that much more. Third, there's likely to be a useful player who gets cut loose in order to land a bigger fish to upgrade a lineup. Unfortunately, Gavin Lux is the most likely victim.

Nick Krall's confirmation that the Reds will not raise payroll in 2026 likely spells the end for Gavin Lux

Per Spotrac, the Reds' adjusted payroll in 2025 was $119 million, ranking near the bottom third of the league. When projecting costs for arbitration raises and pre-arb players, they'll have about $20-$25 million to play around with this offseason. That leaves very little breathing room for the offensive upgrades the team desperately needs.

With one simple move, though, the Reds can nearly double that space. All they need to do is non-tender (or trade) Lux. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Lux is projected to make $5 million in arbitration, with 2026 marking his final year of team control.

Lux brings some versatility that is useful, and his on-base skills are a nice value, but the utility man logged more time at DH than any other position and only really saw action in the field at second base and in left in 2025, save for a half-dozen appearances at the hot corner.

In total, his .269/.350/.374 line combined with his defensive value only produced 0.3 fWAR on the season. The lack of power is emblematic of what ails Cincinnati's lineup, and simply put, $5 million is a high price to pay for a total package that was just a hair above replacement level.

Lux isn't the only player the Reds can cut, but of all the non-tender candidates that aren't essential to the roster, his projected salary is the biggest chunk of change.

Upgrading the offense is a non-negotiable for the Reds this offseason if they are to continue their ascension in an uber-competitive National League, and that will ultimately lead to hard choices needing to be made. Moving on from Lux might seem tough, but it will be essential if the club is going to have any chance of making its way back to the postseason in 2026.