Reds avoid Brady Singer standoff but his future suddenly feels shaky

The Cincinnati Reds were unable to seal the deal with all 10 their arbitration-eligible players ahead of Thursday's filing deadline. While there's still time for the two sides to agree to a contract before heading to a hearing, pitcher Graham Ashcraft and catcher Tyler Stephenson were unable to come to terms on agreements for the upcoming season.

The Reds, however, were able to avoid arbitration with starting pitcher Brady Singer. The right-hander settled on a $12.75 million salary for 2026, which is little higher than some estimates had predicted. MLB Trade Rumors projected Singer to take home $11.9 million in 2026, though Spotrac was closer to $13 million.

Either way, that's a hefty sum of money for a No. 4 starter. Though Singer is a talented and durable starting pitcher, he's behind the trio of Andrew Abbott, Hunter Greene, and Nick Lodolo on the depth chart. Furthermore, the Reds have pitchers like Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, and Brandon Williamson waiting in the wings for their chance to crack the starting rotation.

Reds and Brady Singer avoid arbitration, but the trade rumors are likely to increase

With Singer's salary now confirmed for the 2026 season, don't be surprised if the trade rumors increase. His name began to gain some traction this past week, and those rumblings are only going to get louder with Cincinnati's front office and ownership looking for ways to trim payroll.

Singer was a solid piece of the Reds rotation last season and one of Terry Francona most dependable pitchers. He went 14-12 with a 4.03 ERA and 1.238 WHIP. He struck out 163 batters over 169 innings pitched and started a team-high 32 games. That type of production is bound to draw the attention of other organizations, but trading Singer isn't necessarily the smartest idea.

While Cincinnati could attempt to flip their starter for a power-bat — something the Reds need heading into 2026 — their rotation has a history of injuries that make Singer's durability extremely valuable. The Reds have spoken about the need to backfill a spot in the rotation with another arm if they decided to trade one of their starting pitchers, and that's going to cost money too.

For the moment, Singer will be part of the Reds Opening Day. The question now turns to Stephenson and Ashcraft; both of whom will be headed for arbitration hearings in a few weeks.