Reds might be overlooking the simplest answer to their offseason puzzle

The Cincinnati Reds enter the upcoming offseason with a major void on the roster. Once the non-tender deadline passes next month, it's quite possible that not a single left-handed reliever will be present on the Reds 40-man roster.

Brent Suter has a club-option for 2026 that Cincinnati may or may not pickup, and both Reiver Sanmartin and Sam Moll could be non-tendered or outrighted in the coming weeks. The lack of left-handed relief was a major point of contention among Reds fans during the final month of the 2025 regular season and into the playoffs.

But Brandon Williamson could be part of solution heading into 2026. The long and lanky southpaw, who was sidelined last season while recovering from Tommy John surgery, is expected to be full-go once spring training begins in February, and could be the answer to Cincinnati's lack of lefties in the bullpen.

Brandon Williamson could work out of the Reds bullpen in 2026

Williamson is a starter by trade, and there's no reason to think that he couldn't serve in role next season. At the moment, however, Williamson would be on the outside looking in. Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, and Brady Singer would all seem poised to represent four of the five Reds starters heading into next season.

Barring any additions made in free agency or through an offseason trade (and there are bound to be at least one or two), Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder will likely be battling for the final spot in the 2026 Reds rotation. That would leave Williamson, Julian Aguiar, and Chase Petty as depth in the minor leagues. Right-hander Jose Acuña could be in the mix as well.

But rather than increase the rotation depth at the Triple-A level, Cincinnati could choose to push Williamson into a relief role, much like they did with Graham Ashcraft and Connor Phillips in 2025. Both right-handers turned into high-leverage relievers last season, and there's no reason to think Williamson couldn't serve in a similar capacity.

Furthermore, Williamson has acted as a starter throughout his professional career, and with Nick Martinez likely to exit during free agency, the 27-year-old lefty could give Cincinnati's bullpen some added length next season.

Danny Coulombe, Steven Matz, Brooks Raley, and Andrew Chafin are some of the top free agent lefties who'll be available this offseason, but the Reds may already have the answer to their bullpen void on the roster.