Reds are positioned to pounce if Astros make costly mistake with Rule 5 Draft pick

There's been a lot of discussion about the Cincinnati Reds bullpen heading into Opening Day. Manager Terry Francona announced that the Reds will employ six-man rotation to open the 2026 season, meaning Cincinnati's relief corps has been reduced from eight pitchers to seven.

Currently, there are six players — Emilio Pagán, Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft, Pierce Johnson, Brock Burke, and Connor Phillips — assured of a spot on the Reds Opening Day roster. But what if the seventh just hasn't arrived yet?

The Astros may have to offer Roddery Muñoz back to the Reds

Roddery Muñoz spent last season with the St. Louis Cardinals, but was cut loose after his 2025 campaign came to a close. He was claimed off waivers by the Reds, designated for assignment, and then outrighted to Triple-A Louisville. Houston swiped the right-hander away last winter during the minor-league phase of the Rule 5 Draft.

But if Houston parts ways with Muñoz before the 2026 season gets underway — or at any time throughout the regular season — the Astros must first offer him back to the Reds before attempting to outright him back to the minors.

Muñoz has enjoyed quite the breakout during spring training. He's appeared in eight Grapefruit League games for the Astros and has been a strikeout machine. Across 8⅓ innings pitched, the right-hander has punched out 14 opposing batters (38.9% K rate) and owns a sparkling 2.16 ERA and 0.67 FIP.

Houston's bullpen suffered some injuries of late — Josh Hader and Bennett Sousa — so there's a chance Muñoz could break camp with the Astros. But Enyel De Los Santos, AJ Blubaugh, and Kai-Wei Teng are also jockeying for a spot on Houston's Opening Day roster, as is former Reds pitching prospect Christian Roa.

The Reds, on the other hand, are currently weighing their options between left-hander Sam Moll and flame-throwing prospect Zach Maxwell. Technically, Kyle Nicolas is still among the Reds relievers in Major League camp, but he's expected to be optioned to Louisville at the beginning of the season.

If Muñoz is part of the Astros Opening Day roster, don't expect that to be the end of the Reds' search for bullpen help. Plenty of successful relievers will be released in the coming days, and Cincinnati's front office will be on the lookout for another arm to add to the bullpen before the 2026 season gets underway.