Reds could trade Hunter Greene at the 2026 deadline (but only one team can do it)

Okay, it's time to address the elephant in the room; the Hunter Greene trade rumors have grown too loud to ignore, and one has to wonder how much truth there is behind closed doors. The Cincinnati Reds starter addressed the ongoing trade chatter with reporters following the team's win over the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

“I’m not focused on any of that. All that stuff is out of my control. Obviously that’s for you guys to create your stories and do your thing. I’m so out of that mindset. I’m just trying to control what I can control," Greene said.

This isn't the first time over last eight months that Greene's name has been mentioned in trade rumors. The Reds' hurler was talked about early and often throughout the 2025-26 offseason as a potential trade candidate. It wasn't until president of baseball operations Nick Krall, after weeks of speculation, finally shut down the notion that Cincinnati was planning to trade their ace this past winter.

But a lot has changed since those Reds rumors was squashed back in December. Greene — as he's prone to do — has spent a considerable amount of time on the injured list, the Reds have fallen out of contention and look to be sellers at this year's deadline, and Cincinnati just signed their new ace, Chase Burns, to a seven-year contract extension.

Greene is under contract through 2028 and his deal contains a team-option for the 2029 season. His salary will nearly double next season ($15.3 million), but his contract still represents a veritable bargain, especially a small-market club like the Reds.

These rumblings, often spewed from so-called insiders, are likely nothing more than a drummed media narrative designed to create a story. But let's assume that these Reds rumors are true, and the team is quietly shopping Greene at this year's deadline. If that's the case, there's really only one contending team who could afford the Reds' asking price, and most fans won't like who it is.

The Dodgers are the only team who could match the Reds' asking price for Hunter Greene

Sorry Reds fans, but if Greene is going to be traded at the deadline, the Los Angeles Dodgers would be the most likely destination. Why? Because they're the only contender with the type of prospect capital necessary to land a talent like Greene.

Most outlets regard the Dodgers' farm system as the best in the league, and if they're not No. 1, they're in the top-3. Los Angeles has the type of prospect depth that most organizations only dream about with nine players included among MLB Pipeline's top-100.

Prior to the Detroit Tigers' surge, the Dodgers were viewed by many onlookers to be the most likely landing spot for two-time Cy Young Award-winner Tarik Skubal. But with the Tigers now just 4½ games in the chase for the final AL Wild Card spot, there's a growing sentiment that Skubal will stay put. That could push opposing GMs to inquire about Greene's availability at the trade deadline.

Buckle up, Reds fans; the trade deadline is nothing if not entertaining. With the Reds rumors heating up, there's no telling which players could be on the move before the August 3 deadline passes.

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