NL Central rivals prove big spending isn’t the answer for the Reds

While the conventional wisdom may favor big spending in the majors, the NL Central offers some hope for the Cincinnati Reds. The path to the playoffs isn’t necessarily paved in gold. In fact, in the Reds’ division, money doesn’t tend to get you very far at all.

The Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals have consistently shelled out in free agency. Prior to the 2024 season, these division rivals snapped up two of the most prized players: Sonny Gray and Cody Bellinger. In 2023, MLB.com declared the Cubs as the “winner of free agency.” Even still, the Cubs and Cardinals have spent the past two Octobers watching baseball from the couch.

Money hasn’t guaranteed success in the NL Central, which could be in the Reds’ favor

In fact, the most dominant NL Central team of this decade has been the Brewers. Milwaukee has brought home three of the past five division titles, and their payroll has never ranked higher than 19th in the majors during that time. 

The 2024 Brewers locked up the division while cutting its payroll by $10 million. Meanwhile, the Cubs added $40 million and the Cardinals $22 million. The Cardinals are now entering a rebuilding phase and may be dumping salary with very little to show for their previous spending.

The Reds, of course, will never be able to compete with the New York Yankees and Los Angeles Dodgers of the world, but they should consider themselves fortunate to be in a division where the little dogs can still make waves.

To make a real impact, the Reds will need to step up their spending just a bit, though. The team’s payroll has been in a downward spiral since 2021, when Cincinnati ranked 16th in Major League Baseball. In 2024, the team’s payroll was 25th in the league. The Reds could start by making a bit of a splash on the free-agent market. Nick Martinez hasn’t yet slipped from Cincinnati’s grasp, and Anthony Santander’s name has floated in early rumors surrounding the club.

The NL Central is a winnable division. The Brewers have proven that, but the Reds need to prove that they want to win.

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