Reds News: Luis Robert Jr. trade buzz fades, Astros ink ex-prospect, Sal Stewart hype

The MLB offseason has hit a standstill. Several top free agents remain unsigned, but with the Japanese stars having agreed to deals with their new organizations stateside, most pundits and experts now believe the floodgates will open next week after arbitration negotiations are in the rearview mirror.

The Cincinnati Reds, like almost every other franchise, has been rather quiet since the Christmas holiday. The Reds re-signed Emilio Pagán, inked Caleb Ferguson, and recently added two rotational outfielders. But they've done nothing to address the gigantic hole in the middle of the lineup.

Based on recent reports from ESPN insider Jesse Rogers, it would seem that the Reds' efforts to trade for Chicago White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr. have been greatly exaggerated. According to Rogers, it's status quo for the White Sox and Robert, and there's no traction for a trade.

Reds News: Cincinnati is not actively talking about a trade for White Sox outfielder Luis Robert Jr.

Depending on your evaluation, this may comes as welcome or unwelcome news. Some Reds fans believe trading for Robert could bring a superstar talent to the Cincinnati outfield. Others within Reds Country can't get past Robert's injury history and his back-to-back subpar seasons.

While it's far too early to completely dismiss the idea of Robert landing in the Queen City, the two sides have been at these negotiations for the better part of two years. If they haven't come to terms on an agreement yet, they may never find common ground.

Reds News: Christian Roa signs with Astros, Sal Stewart receiving Rookie of the Year hype

Former Cincinnati prospect Christian Roa has a new home. The Reds second-round pick in 2020 just agreed to a minor-league deal with the Houston Astros that includes an invite to spring training. Roa fell out of favor with the Reds organization back in 2024, and after being designated for assignment, latched on with the Miami Marlins.

Roa spent most of the 2025 season at Triple-A Jacksonville, but finally made his MLB debut for the Fish in September. Roa recorded three strikeouts in two games while covering three innings of work. It's assumed he'll be looking to secure a spot in the Astros' bullpen this spring.

MLB.com recently released their prospect predictions for the 2026 season, and top talent evalutor Jonathan Mayo threw his support behind Reds slugger Sal Stewart. Mayo tabbed Stewart to be the NL Rookie of the Year during the upcoming season, saying, "He's going to hit and he's going to be in the lineup every day." Reds fans certainly hope that prediction is accurate.