Reds could seize NL Central with one bold offseason move

The Cincinnati Reds have struck out on landing a big fish so far. To be fair, the only time they really tried was in their pursuit of Kyle Schwarber. Instead, the club has shored up its bullpen by bringing back Emilio Pagan, and created an upside outfield platoon by signing JJ Bleday and trading for Dane Myers.

The NL Central feels crowded. The Milwaukee Brewers led the league with 97 victories last season, the Chicago Cubs are seemingly in the mix, and even the Pittsburgh Pirates are throwing money around like never before.

The Reds' marginal moves are nowhere near enough to boost an offense that ranked below average in most categories, and one has wonder if Cincinnati can truly contend in this competitive environment. A deeper look, however, reveals that it won't take much for the Reds to truly separate themselves from the pack.

One big swing could vault the Reds to the forefront of the NL Central in 2026

It's easy to look at things in a vacuum, but in reality, the entire divisional landscape matters. The St. Louis Cardinals weren't real threats last season, but they were pesky enough to hang around and cause problems. Now, though, they seem committed to trading any veteran of value on their roster to the Boston Red Sox. Willson Contreras and Sonny Gray are already out the door. Brendan Donovan and Nolan Arenado could be next.

The Cubs have whiffed on every pursuit they've made. Their highest profile move was seeing Shota Imanaga accept the qualifying offer after they declined his option, which feels more like a mistake than an actual strategy. They'll likely lose Kyle Tucker, too, making them worse on paper than they were in 2025.

As for the Brewers, they also look to take a step back as the Freddy Peralta trade rumors intensify. This wouldn't be the first time they dealt a star starting pitcher and ultimately made out well. But, if a deal happens, it will likely be a quantity-for-quality type of trade, and have Milwaukee looking a little less threatening in 2026.

Lastly, for as active as the Pirates have been, they're coming from such a lowly place that they're not true threats. Players like Brandon Lowe and Ryan O'Hearn are nice additions, but they are not stars who can carry the worst lineup in baseball.

This brings us back to the Reds. They have a deep rotation, a sturdy if unspectacular bullpen, and a lineup that, despite its shortcomings, has pieces to work with. A step forward from either Elly De La Cruz or Noelvi Marte (or both) would go a long way. A full season of Sal Stewart bringing some much-needed pop to the lineup could be a huge boon.

All of that is to have them in the thick of it, but not enough to put them over the top. However, if Cincinnati were to get aggressive, it could truly separate itself from the pack. A trade for Ketel Marte would do exactly that. Even a move for Eugenio Suarez could move the needle enough to make the Reds the favorites.

There are other options out there as well. If the Reds are willing to get bold, they have a shot at moving to the head of the pack. It won't take much. Just one big swing, and we could see the Reds start to be considered as the favorites for the NL Central crown.