Reds are in perfect position to pounce with NL Central rivals unravelling

In case you were wondering just how much MLB teams are dreading the potential of a 2027 lockout, look no further than the rumors surrounding the cream of the crop in the NL Central.

The Chicago Cubs mortgaged the future to gain a chance to court Kyle Tucker in 2025, and while they had their best season in a half-decade, they fell short in the NLDS. Now, rumors suggest they're all but guaranteed to lose him in free agency.

The Milwaukee Brewers were the team that beat those Cubs, though Pat Murphy's team was subsequently embarrassed by the Los Angeles Dodgers the NLCS. Now, fresh off a campaign in which they won an MLB-best 97 games, rumors are floating around that they might trade ace Freddy Peralta, who is due to hit free agency after the 2026 season.

Reds could emerge as NL Central favorites with Cubs & Brewers poised to lose their best players

So, what does this mean for the Cincinnati Reds? Well, the 2025 postseason participants have a long way to go to bridging the gap between themselves and the National League's elite, though the cost-cutting measures of the team above them could propel Cincy into an earlier-than-expected division title.

Again, the Cubs and Brewers are more than just Tucker and Peralta, respectively. However, both teams stand to lose their best player this winter. That's not nothing, and it could give the Reds the prime opportunity they need to build on their positive momentum from this season... assuming they capitalize with an active offseason.

To do that, the team will have to make a host of difficult decisions. Among their own impending free agents, the Reds will need to choose who to retain out of Nick Martinez, Emilio Pagán, Zack Littell, and Miguel Andujar. All of those players were important contributors to the cause in 2025, and replacing their production could prove difficult in a top-heavy free agent market.

Likewise, the Reds need to ward off these Hunter Greene trade rumors, lest they lose their own best player this winter. They could trade him for a jaw-dropping return that heightens their chances of claiming division titles later this decade, but for the sake of competing for one in 2026, Greene is an essential piece of the puzzle.

Then, it comes down to adding talent. The budget-conscious Reds are never going to make the kind of splash that brings Kyle Schwarber into town, but adding some leverage relievers, a powerful slugger, and a reliable innings-eater are necessary to put this roster in a position to compete next year.

With all that in mind, it's admittedly going to be difficult for the Reds to squirm their way into being division favorites come spring training. Heck, it might even be improbable. But the Brewers and Cubs have opened the door just wide enough to make it "not impossible", which could be just the kind of opportunity this franchise has been looking for.