Reds fans will agree with Jim Bowden’s plan just not the player he chose

When Cincinnati Reds fans find themselves agreeing with Jim Bowden, it's usually not a good sign. The former GM — now contributor for The Athletic and a commentator for various other outlets — did not have a very successful tenure in Cincinnati. Sure, he made a few moves that excited the fanbase, but outside of a couple of good seasons (1995 and 1999), the Reds were rarely competitive with Bowden at the helm.

So you'll have to forgive those fans throughout Reds Country who have little desire to hear what Bowden has to say. However, during a recent appearance on MLB Network Radio, the ex-Reds GM made some logical sense when talking about his former employer.

"I think the Cincinnati Reds need to get more offense," Bowden said. "Look, I really like the young rotation that Nick Krall and Brad Meador have built in Cincinnati, and I think it's a rotation, like the Pirates, that if you get enough offense, that can be a winnable division in 2026. I don't think the Reds offense, as constituted, is good enough to get there."

Jim Bowden is right about the Reds need for offense, but White Sox OF Luis Robert Jr. isn't it

There's nothing about Bowden's statement that is remotely controversial. Reds fans have been begging Krall and Co. to improve the lineup, and to date, they've little to nothing. Cincinnati failed to bring Kyle Schwarber back home, and while signing JJ Bleday and trading for Dane Myers have plenty of upside, neither acquisition is going to move the needle.

But while Bowden's plan to upgrade the offense is spot-on, the player he cited as the top choice to do so is way off. Bowden believes the Reds should make a run at acquiring Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. — a player they've been linked to for over two years.

On the surface, the move makes sense. Robert is a former All-Star who belted 38 homers in 2023. At just 28 years old, and under contract through 2027, Robert sounds like the perfect trade candidate for Cincinnati, right?

Well, if he had put up those types of numbers the past two seasons, then, yes. Unfortunately, as most Reds fans are aware, Robert's production has taken a nosedive the past two seasons. He's combined to hit just .223/.288/.372 since 2024 and has only played in 210 of a possible 324 games.

Missing a combined 35% of the 2024 and 2025 seasons, while putting up below-average numbers, and also being owed $20 million per year doesn't sound like the type of move the Reds would be eager to make.

So much of a potential Reds trade for Robert depends on what the White Sox want in return and how much money they're willing to chip in. If Chicago is seeking little more than a top-20 organizational prospect and adds $12 million or more in order to seal the deal, it's hard to see Cincinnati saying, no. Much more than that, however, would likely be an overpay on the part of the Reds.