3 MiLB signings the Reds should make to help fuel spring training competition

2. Reds should sign Eric Lauer to MiLB deal

Yes, the Cincinnati Reds already have a healthy competition for next year's starting rotation. But you can never have enough starting pitching, right? The Redlegs found that out in 2023, and would like to avoid such a pitfall next season. Perhaps adding Eric Lauer would give the Reds even more depth in their starting rotation.

While the Reds have already added Frankie Montas and Nick Martinez, brining in another veteran arm couldn't hurt. None of the Reds young hurlers, though talented, have thrown more than 150 innings in the big leagues. That's something that Lauer's done once, and almost twice in his career. The left-hander threw 149.2 innings in 2019.

Lauer, as most Reds fans will remember, has plenty of experience in the National League Central as a member of the Milwaukee Brewers. If you take last season out of equation, Lauer's numbers are not bad at all. The southpaw has an ERA of 4.11 and over 500 strikeouts in 110 major league appearances.

The Reds will, of course, be looking to the trio of Hunter Greene, Graham Ashcraft, and Nick Lodolo to provide plenty of innings in 2024. However, with all three seeing time on the 60-day IL in 2023, Reds fans aren't ready to count their chickens before they're hatched.

And while there's growing optimism that Andrew Abbott, Connor Phillips, and Brandon Williamson could all be key contributors during the upcoming season, the sophomore jinx is real. It could befall any of of those three pitchers, so adding another player who has experience can't hurt. Eric Lauer should be on the Reds' radar.