Reds offseason plans just got a lot clearer after brutal Silver Slugger reality

This year's National League Silver Slugger Award finalists were revealed on Wednesday morning, and to the surprise of absolutely no one, there wasn't a single player from the Cincinnati Reds roster on the list. Nope, not even Elly De La Cruz.

This should be the biggest red flag imaginable to the Nick Krall and the Reds front office. Cincinnati needs to prioritize securing a big-bat this offseason, and there'll be no shortage of such players available in free agency this winter.

While the dream of most Reds fans is to bring Ohio-native Kyle Schwarber back home, that seems rather unrealistic. Most experts are predicting Schwarber to land a four or five-year deal worth upwards of $30 million per season, and it's doubtful that Cincinnati's ownership is willing to make such an investment.

The Reds didn't have a single Silver Slugger Award finalist this season

In addition to Schwarber, players like Josh Naylor, Cody Bellinger, and Lourdes Gurriel Jr. will also become free agents this winter; all of whom represent a clear upgrade to the Reds lineup heading into the 2026 season.

If the Reds fail to acquire a bat through free agency, Cincinnati's front office could always look to secure a masher through a trade. Despite the fact that the MLB offseason hasn't even officially begun, Hunter Greene's name has already emerged in trade speculation.

While much debate has ensued since Greene's name was mentioned as a potential trade candidate, there's little doubt that the Reds could find a way to secure at least one big-bat if they decided to move their ace this winter.

The Reds had two finalist for the award last season. Jonathan India (second base) and De La Cruz (shortstop) were both in the running, though neither player took home the trophy. The Reds traded India to the Kansas City Royals during the 2024-25 offseason, and De La Cruz's second-half collapse this season torpedoed any chance of him being among the top-3 hitters at his position.

The Reds pitching was top notch last season, but their bats failed them. Seeing the Silver Slugger Award finalists announced without any mention of the Reds was confirmation of just that.