Reds' ideal roster upgrade could be sitting with a division rival

The Cincinnati Reds need to bolster their lineup this winter, and while not overly popular, one way to do so would be through an intra-division trade with one of their NL Central rivals. St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is already being bandied about as a possible trade candidate this offseason, and he would seem to be a perfect fit for Reds manager Terry Francona.

Nootbaar has two years of team control remaining and is due a raise through arbitration this offseason. After taking home $2.95 million in 2025, MLB Trade Rumors predicts Nootbaar will net $5.7 million next season. That's just slightly above the salary that Cincinnati paid Austin Hays last season, and would easily fit into the Reds' budget for 2026.

Nootbaar had a down-year in 2025, though some of that could be due to injury. The Cardinals outfielder just had surgery on both heels to shave down Haglund’s deformities earlier this month. It's assumed that he'll be ready for spring training, but no timetable has been given for his recovery just yet.

Reds might find their perfect roster fix in the form of Cardinals' OF Lars Nootbaar

With Hays set to leave via free agency this offseason, the Reds need to find a worthy replacement in left field. Though Spencer Steer is an option, he seems better suited to play first base after being named a finalist of the Rawling's Gold Glove Award.

If Nootbaar is given a clean bill of health, he should undoubtedly pique the Reds' interest this offseason. The 28-year-old has been a consistent performer for St. Louis over the years, and has a career slash line of .242/.341/.406 with a 109 OPS+ and 110 wRC+.

Nootbaar can play all three outfield spots, though right field is arguably his strongest position. If Cincinnati were to acquire Nootbaar, however, with Noelvi Marte now entrenched in the outfield, he'd likely be pushed into the opposite corner. During his five big-league seasons, he's been worth 1 defensive run saved (DRS) and -1 outs above average (OAA).

Nootbaar's approach at the plate is predicated on a strong understanding of the strike zone and very little swing and miss. He posted an11% walk rate last season, and that number was even more impressive (12.8%) in 2024. Nootbaar's career 20.2% strikeout rate is very manageable and his 19.3% chase rate is superb. While some fans may not like it, the Reds showed a preference for contact over power in 2025, and that's likely something they'll continue to preach in 2026.

With Chaim Bloom in charge, the Cardinals now have new leadership in the front office and are looking to start from the ground up. Nootbaar is undoubtedly on the trade block, and fits the mold of what the Reds will be looking for this winter. It wouldn't be surprising to see Cincinnati look to swing a trade with their division rival while they're in the midst of a rebuild.