2 Reds players who could see a larger role in 2025, and 3 who should not

Obviously the 2024 regular season isn't over, but the majority of Cincinnati Reds fans already have their sights set on next year. Cincinnati failed to live up to the hype this season, and it may well cost David Bell his job.

While a new manager, and even a handful of up-and-coming prospects and free agent acquisitions could all be part of the equation in 2025, there are also a number of players who'll be back next season. The Reds have a handful of free agents to-be, but the majority of Cincinnati's roster could be back next season.

But just because they're on the 40-man roster during the offseason doesn't necessarily mean that they'll have the same role heading into 2025. Which Reds players could see a larger role next season, and whose role should definitely be reduced?

Reds OF Will Benson should see a major reduction in his role next season

There's no way the Reds can put Will Benson in the same position heading into next season. Before his 2024 campaign began, Benson was lobbying to be an everyday player. In 2023, Benson was ineffective against left-handed pitching an acted as a platoon outfielder during his first season in Cincinnati. This year, Benson got a couple chances early to prove his worth an failed miserably.

Not only was Benson unable to fill the role of an everyday player, he's barely worthy of being on the Reds bench. Quite frankly, the Reds should have made the decision midway through the season to send their struggling outfielder back to Triple-A.

Benson has immense physical gifts, but his strikeout-rate is unsustainable. Heading into next season, the Reds should be prepared to option Benson to Triple-A at the outset unless he wows the coaching staff during spring training.

Reds IF Santiago Espinal could see his playing time increase in 2025

The brightest spot of the 2024 season might by Santiago Espinal. The former All-Star came over in a preseason trade with the Toronto Blue Jays and after some early-season struggles, Espinal has thrived. A contact hitter who can play all over the diamond is exceedingly valuable in today's game, and Espinal has even started a few games in the Reds outfield.

Who knows what next year's infield is going to look like? Both Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand should be back on the field when spring training opens next February. Jonathan India is under contract, but his name came up often in trade rumors over the past 12 months. There's also players like Jeimer Candelario and Noelvi Marte who'll be looking for playing time.

A healthy Reds team would probably slot Espinal into a bench role, but with the rash of injuries Cincinnati has incurred this season, it's imperative that the team keep talented depth options like Espinal While likely not a starter on Opening Day, Espinal should still see an increase in playing time next season.

Noelvi Marte cannot be the Reds' everyday third baseman in 2025

Noelvi Marte is arguably the most frustrating player the Cincinnati faithful have watched this season. Marte was suspended for the first 80 games of the 2024 season due to PED use, and since his return in late-June, the rookie infielder hasn't even come close to living up to expectations.

Marte not only strikeouts a great deal, but his defense has been atrocious. Under no circumstances can Bell, or whoever is managing the Reds in 2025, run Marte onto the field as Cincinnati's everyday third baseman. He has not earned that right.

Marte, much like Benson, should be ticketed to begin the year at Triple-A Louisville unless he absolutely lights it up next spring in Goodyear. At just 22 years old, it's understandable why the Reds' brass is so bullish on Marte, but he hasn't shown anything during his first season in the big leagues.

Rece Hinds deserves a longer look in the Reds outfield

If there's one player on the Reds roster who feels as if he's gotten a raw deal, it's Rece Hinds. Few, if any, expected Hinds to burst onto the scene the way he did back in July. But once TJ Friedl returned from the injured list, Hinds was sent back to Triple-A.

And while the move itself was certainly understandable, the rookie outfielder has received far too few chances to make a statement during the month of September. Hinds might be the most athletically-gifted player on the Reds roster, but he's been turned into little more than a pinch runner late in games.

The Reds spent a high draft pick on Hinds back in 2019, and while it's warranted to limit his opportunities because of such a high strikeout rate, that rationale doesn't hold true when talking about Benson and Marte, does it? It's time to see if Hinds has what it takes to be an impact bat at the major league level on a consistent basis. The Reds need to give Hinds every chance to break camp with the big league club in 2025.

Graham Ashcraft may move from the starting rotation to the Reds bullpen

If there's one move the Reds just need to make this offseason, it's transitioning Graham Ashcraft from a starter into a reliever. Ashcraft had a terrific rookie campaign in 2022, and looked shaky at times in 2023. But this season showed that Ashcraft may not have what it takes to be an effective starter in the big leagues.

Ashcraft struggled the third time through the lineup. Opponents posted a .759 OPS the first time through, and that number actually dropped when they saw Ashcraft a second time. But the third time through the batting order, Ashcraft surrendered a .352/.425/.521 slash line to the opposing batters. That's a jump in OPS of nearly 200 points.

Ashcraft has the pitch mix and the moxie to be a top-end closer in Major League Baseball. Quite honestly, he could surpass Alexis Díaz at the backend of the Reds bullpen in 2025. With Hunter Greene, Brandon Williamson, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, and Rhett Lowder likely to comprise the Reds Opening Day rotation in 2025, it makes all the sense in the world to move Ashcraft to the back of the bullpen next spring.

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