The Reds have one defining offseason priority and it starts with Sal Stewart

The Cincinnati Reds could be approaching a transformative offseason. As the Reds' 2026 campaign winds down, with no hope of the playoffs in sight, the eyes of the fanbase have already drifted toward the 2027 season.

There haven't been many bright spots for the Reds in 2026, but the emergence of rookie slugger Sal Stewart has been a revelation. He looks like a lock to be named the NL Rookie of the Year and could be a cornerstone for the organization moving forward.

As such, the Reds have one (and only one) true priority this offseason. They must pull out all the stops and sign Stewart to a contract extension. Everything else on Cincinnati's to-do list — and it's a long one — must take a back seat this winter.

The Reds should have one objective this offseason — sign Sal Stewart to a long-term deal

Some fans will quickly point out that the Reds have an abundance of roster holes to fill, and with Stewart under team control through 2031, there's no rush. While that's factually accurate, this was the exact sentiment that cost Cincinnati a chance to keep Elly De La Cruz beyond his arbitration window.

De La Cruz debuted in 2023. He hit .235/.300/.410 with 13 home runs and 35 stolen bases in 98 games. Had the Reds approached De La Cruz about a contract extension during the 2023-24 offseason, there's a high probability — even though he's represented by Scott Boras — that the two sides could've reached a long-term agreement.

Instead, the Reds spent $108 million in free agency on the likes of Jeimer Candelario, Emilio Pagán, Nick Martinez, and others, only to watch De La Cruz hit .259/.339/.471 with 25 home runs, 76 RBI, and 67 stolen bases en route to an All-Star season. He finished eighth in the NL MVP voting that year, and effectively pushed his price tag far beyond a number the Reds would feel comfortable with.

In other words, the Reds drug their feet during the 2023-24 offseason, watched De La Cruz become a star, and are now counting down the days until he reaches free agency. Cincinnati made a half-hearted attempt to sign De La Cruz to a franchise-record, but the 10-year, $225 million deal Joey Votto signed in 2012 isn't going to cut it.

The Reds cannot afford to make the same mistake with Stewart. He's already been to the All-Star Game and will soon be named NL Rookie of the Year. He's also watched a number of other talented first-year players receive massive contract extensions this year.

Detroit Tigers All-Star infielder Kevin McGonigle inked an eight-year, $150 million deal. The Pittsburgh Pirates and rookie phenom Konnor Griffin agreed to a nine-year, $140 million contract earlier this year. Colt Emerson and the Seattle Mariners came to terms on an eight-year, $95 million deal before he even played a game. Stewart's biggest competition for the Rookie of the Year Award, JJ Wetherholt, agreed to an eight-year, $112.5 million deal with the St. Louis Cardinals.

Signing Stewart should be priority No. 1, No. 2, and No. 3 this offseason. Rebuilding the roster to contend in 2027 — a season that could be shortened by the impending collective bargaining dispute — is already going to be a tall task this winter.

Outside of Stewart, De La Cruz, and Chase Burns, the Reds are severely lacking in the talent department. Throw in the fact the ownership never spends aggressively in free agency and the organization's depleted farm system, and Cincinnati is staring directly into the face of another rebuild.

Competing in 2027 isn't necessarily an impossibility, but trying to circle the wagons and make a meaningful leap next season seems unlikely. The Reds will be paying Hunter Greene $15.3 million to rehab from elbow surgery, and Ke'Bryan Hayes' $7 million is practically a sunk cost. That's $22 million off the top that's essentially being wasted.

With that in mind, all roster decisions about 2027 should be put on hold until Stewart is signed to a long-term deal. The Reds can then focus all their attention on 2028 and beyond with two of their best players — Stewart and Burns — under contract for the long haul.

The Reds fanbase needs something to believe in. Rather than enjoying the formative years of De La Cruz, the Cincinnati faithful are just waiting for him to be traded or hit the free agent market. The Reds can't afford the let the fans down again. It's time to make a long-term commitment to Stewart — and by extension — the Reds fans.

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