Reds quietly lose underrated arm to Giants amid busy offseason shuffle

The 2025-26 MLB offseason has barely just begun and Cincinnati Reds have been one of the most active teams in the early-going. Earlier this week, Cincinnati outrighted infielder Santiago Espinal, signed former Chicago Cubs reliever Keegan Thompson to a one-year deal, and declined to pick up the club-options for the trio of Austin Hays, Brent Suter, and Scott Barlow.

The Reds made another flurry of roster moves on Thursday — some additions and some subtrations. Cincinnati outrighted right-hander Sam Benschoter to Triple-A Louisville and selected the contract of starting pitcher Jose Franco. The Reds claimed right-handed pitcher Roddery Muñoz off waivers from the St. Louis Cardinals, but also lost left-hander Reiver Sanmartin to the San Francisco Giants.

The team reinstated five players from the 60-day injured list as well. Pitchers Rhett Lowder, Carson Spiers, Brandon Williamson, and Julian Aguiar along with utility player Tyler Callihan are all back on the 40-man roster. The Reds 40-man roster is now sitting at 36, though several more moves are expected between now and the the non-tender deadline.

Reds LHP lose Reiver Sanmartin to Giants amid busy offseason shuffle

The two moves that stood out the most are losing Sanmartin to San Fran and promoting Franco to the big-league roster. On the one hand, Cincinnati is down to just one left-handed reliever and could be down to zero if the Reds choose to non-tender Sam Moll in a couple of weeks. Franco, however, is a talented young pitcher who could make his Major League debut next season.

Sanmartin missed the entire 2024 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery and returned to the Major League mound last season after the Reds were hit hard by the injury bug. Sanmartin appeared in just one game for the Reds in 2025, but posted terrific stats at Triple-A last season.

Franco, 24, has a fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and plus-slider. Last season, while splitting time between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville, the right-hander went 10-4 with a 3.11 ERA in 31 appearances, including 26 starts.

The Reds other addition — Muñoz — may not be on the roster for long. The former Cardinal's reliever is out of minor league options and posted an 8.18 ERA in his nine appearances this past season. The Reds obviously like something about Muñoz, but it'll be difficult to justify keeping him on the 40-man roster throughout the winter.