Reds reunion could quietly solve Cincinnati's looming free agent problem

With Nick Martinez and Zack Littell on the cusp of free agency, the Cincinnati Reds are going to need to replenish their starting pitching depth during the upcoming offseason.

Not that they need to overhaul things, mind you. Hunter Greene is the staff ace, and Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, and Nick Lodolo round out the rest of a very impressive group. With young pitchers like Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, and Chase Petty expected to get serious major league consideration in 2026, there's plenty of rotation options at Terry Francona's disposal.

However, Martinez and Littell combined to cover 219 innings for the Reds in 2025, and that's a lot to replace if both walk over the offseason. Thus, it would behoove the team to sign at least one veteran with a proven track record, especially if they can find one that doesn't come at a prohibitive cost. That describes old friend Tyler Mahle perfectly.

Reds could be perfect match for Tyler Mahle in free agency

Mahle was one of the few constants during the Reds' last rebuild, logging nearly 600 innings from 2017-22 while anchoring the staff with a 4.35 ERA. Ultimately, the team traded him to the Minnesota Twins at the 2022 trade deadline in the deal that brought Spencer Steer and Christian Encarnacion-Strand back to Cincinnati.

Mahle was fine when healthy, though that was rarely ever the case. He pitched just 42 innings with theh Twins, and ultimately left in free agency to join the reigning champion Texas Rangers. After barely pitching in 2024, Mahle was tremendous in his second season in a Rangers uniform, firing off a 2.18 ERA in 86⅔ innings. His 168 ERA+ was the best mark of his career.

So then, how does a guy like that fit into the Reds' budget? Well, if there's one thing Mahle has become synonymous with in recent years, it's injuries. Since July 2022, Mahle has missed time with various shoulder, elbow, and arm injuries. He's pitched a grant total of just 141⅓ innings since the Reds traded him over three years ago, and he missed the middle three months of the 2025 season due to shoulder fatigue.

For all his talents, the 31-year-old right-hander just can't stay healthy, and it'll cost him in free agency. Unfortunate as it may be for Mahle, that's a boon for the budget-conscious Reds, who could use another high-upside starter to pair with their emerging group of youngsters in the rotation.

Mahle will likely have to settle for a one-year prove-it deal in 2026, and he'll likely want a chance to pitch for a postseason contender seeing as he's never made it to October in his nine-year career. The Reds can give him the opportunity to both pitch and contend next season, and they won't need to overextend him thanks to their preexisting depth.