Outfield market shrinks after affordable Reds' free agent target comes off the board

The Cincinnati Reds desperately need to an outfield bat this winter. But one of the Reds' would-be free agent targets is no longer available after Tyler O'Neill agreed to a three-year, $49.5 million deal with the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday night.

The Reds were never directly linked to O'Neill, but many fans and pundits assumed that Cincinnati would look to pursue the former St. Louis Cardinals' slugger. Instead, O'Neill, who played last season with the Boston Red Sox, is staying put in the AL East.

Reds' outfield market shrinks after Tyler O'Neill comes off the board

O'Neill had a monster season with the Red Sox in 2024. The Canadian hit .241/.336/.511 and hammered 31 homers while racking up 61 RBI last season. O'Neill was coming off back-to-back down-years in St. Louis, but parlayed his success in Beantown into a three-year pact with the O's. . According to sources, the deal contains an opt-out after the 2025 season.

With O'Neill now off the board, the Reds have one less outfielder to choose from in free agency. Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall has stated that upgrading the team's lineup, specifically the outfield, is a priority this offseason. In fact, fans should not be shocked if Krall and Co. leave the MLB Winter Meetings in Dallas with a new outfielder in tow.

Everyone knows that Juan Soto is the top outfielder available in free agency, but Cincinnati isn't going anywhere near the rumored $700 million it would take to bring the superstar's talents to the Queen City. Anthony Santander is going to cost an arm and a leg as well, and would seem to be outside the Reds' price range.

But some lesser names are still available with the likes of Max Kepler, Michael Conforto, and Jurickson Profar still on the board. However, if the Reds intend to add an outfielder through free agency, they'd better not dawdle. Once Soto signs, teams will be scrambling to find alternatives.

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