Nick Lodolo agreement gives Reds a huge edge they desperately needed

If you’re looking for a clean, boring sign that the Cincinnati Reds are trying to do 2026 the smart way, start with this: they got Nick Lodolo done for $4.725 million and kept him out of an arbitration room. That number is the entire point.

On the same day the Reds agreed to a much louder $12.75 million salary with Brady Singer, Lodolo’s deal landed like a stealth discount that actually matters for a roster trying to thread the needle between young and exciting and good enough to jolt the fanbase with a deep playoff run.

This does come down to the same obvious disclaimer: if he’s healthy. But the interesting part is… he mostly was. Lodolo didn’t make it through 2025 completely untouched — a left index finger blister put him on the 15-day IL in August — but it was the kind of setback you can live with, not the kind that derails a season.

A couple of small hiccups here and there, but when Lodolo was out there, he gave Cincinnati exactly what this rotation has been begging for: steady innings from a left-hander with real swing-and-miss.

Reds’ encouraging Nick Lodolo deal hints at a more serious 2026 plan

In 2025, Lodolo logged 156⅔ innings across 29 games (28 starts) with a 3.33 ERA, 156 strikeouts, and a 1.08 WHIP. And while the Reds don’t need Lodolo to be an ace, they do need him to be the version he was for much of last season. The same guy who could give them six frames of decent baseball while keeping the ball out of the air and reducing the burden on their bullpen. 

There is reason to believe his overall numbers indicate some very legitimate skills with regards to both control and efficiency (he has a 24.3% strikeout rate, a 4.8% walk rate, and a 42.6% ground-ball rate). This is how you gain a little bit of an edge without getting too much publicity.

It also changes the math around Singer’s price tag. Singer at $12.75 million is the kind of number you notice immediately, especially for a pitcher the Reds are counting on to stabilize the middle of the rotation. But Lodolo under $5 million softens the hit. 

Cincinnati’s path in 2026 isn’t just about collecting arms at a good price — it’s about stacking credible starting options so the Reds aren’t one sore shoulder away from a month of bullpen games and vibes. A healthy Lodolo raises the floor. Getting the deal done at this price is the rare offseason win that actually feels like it could show up in the standings.