3 Reds players who have no business being on the playoff roster

Certain rules govern MLB playoff roster. Any player who wasn't on the 40-man roster or 60-day IL at the September 1st deadline is ineligible to play in the postseason.

That will definitely hurt the Cincinnati Reds, as players like Carson Spiers and Connor Phillips will be unable to be part of the team's playoff roster if David Bell's squad is able to secure that final NL Wild Card spot.

But even with a few players ineligible to be part of the festivities this postseason, there's also a few players who have no business being on the Reds playoff roster. Teams are limited to just 26 players, so how should Bell go about trimming the fat?

1. Stuart Fairchild has no business being on the Reds playoff roster.

Sorry, Stu, but there's just not enough room. Stuart Fairchild found his way back to the Cincinnati Reds roster in 2022 after being traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2020 as part of the deal that brough Archie Bradley to Cincinnati.

While Fairchild is a fine player, the Reds will have to be incredibly picky when it comes to selecting who will be part of a potential playoff roster. Fairchild is a versatile defender with an average arm who has plenty of speed, but his best role on a potential playoff team is that of a pinch runner. Fairchild's bat has let him down of late.

When looking at the depth the Reds have in the outfield, Fairchild is probably No. 5 on the list, slotting behind TJ Friedl, Will Benson, Spencer Steer, and Nick Senzel. If Jake Fraley were completely healthy, Fairchild would be even further down on the list.

If the Cincinnati Reds were to play in the Wild Card Series, the most likely opponent will be the Milwaukee Brewers. With a starting rotation of all right-handed pitchers (Corbin Burnes, Brandon Woodruff, and Freddy Peralta), Stuart Fairchild's at-bats would be very limited.

2. Nick Martini has no business being on the Reds playoff roster.

You're going to laugh, but Nick Martini has an outside chance to be part of the Cincinnati Reds playoff roster. Quite frankly, there might not be a better left-handed hitting bench option, but it all comes down to the numbers.

If the Cincinnati faithful have an understanding that Joey Votto, Jonathan India, Luke Maile, Tyler Stephenson, Elly De La Cruz, Jake Fraley, TJ Friedl, Will Benson, Spencer Steer, and Christian Encarnacion-Strand are locks to be part of a potential Reds playoff roster, that would account for 10 of the 13 position players.

It feels as if Noelvi Marte has done enough over the past few weeks to warrant inclusion on a potential playoff roster, and Nick Senzel has absolutely crushed left-handed pitching this season. So that leaves just one more position up for grabs.

If Matt McLain is healthy, the position is his. If he's not, the Reds have two choices - Nick Martini and, perhaps, Harrison Bader. Seeing as how the Reds would already have four left-handed bats, plus the switch-hitting De La Cruz, there's not really a need for another left-handed bat.

However, it sounds as if Bader will be shutdown for the season. So if McLain is still not back from his oblique injury, perhaps Martini could sneak onto the roster. It just doesn't seem very likely.