Reds rumors link Cincy to Brandon Lowe as another internal shakeup looms next

Looking solely at the offensive profile, Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe is exactly what the doctor ordered for the Cincinnati Reds. With an $11.5 million salary, he's relatively affordable, and with only one year left on his deal, acquiring him shouldn't hamper future flexibility.

Moreover, Lowe is a left-handed hitter who can help bring balance to the lineup, with two 30-homer seasons on his résumé, including hitting 31 dingers in 2025. He would bring some much-needed thump to a Reds lineup that was starved of power last season. Lowe owns a career .481 slugging percentage, which would significantly bolster the anemic .384 mark Cincinnati's lefties put up this past season.

However, as perfect as the offensive fit is, trying to figure out how to find a defensive home for everyone makes things dicey. Lowe has some experience playing left field, which could be one way to have him co-exist with Matt McLain. Nick Krall might have another idea, though, and it is exciting for more reasons than one.

Reds Rumors: Cincy is willing to embrace creativity to bring Brandon Lowe into the fold

The issue is, if Lowe comes to Cincinnati, what does it mean for McLain? It's easy to be down on the 26-year-old after a .643 OPS showing in 2025, but if he can return to even 80% of his 2023 form now that he's another year removed from his devastating shoulder injury, it will have a huge impact on the potency of the Reds' lineup.

Lowe isn't just some hypothetical, though; he's a real possibility with MLB.com confirming that trade talks have taken place between the Reds and Rays. The most important nugget, though, was some comments made by Krall, which show that the executive is willing to do what it takes to make an addition to the lineup work.

"Our flexibility allows us to do different things where some people have played different positions," Krall said. "That opens us up to be able to look at different positions to be able to add the most impact we could.”

In the case of Lowe, that would mean moving McLain to center field, a position that he played some in college. McLain has the athleticism to succeed there, and presumably that would bump TJ Friedl to left, potentially bolstering the outfield defense as a whole. It could potentially clear a path for top prospect Edwin Arroyo to take over at second in 2027 once Lowe hits free agency, setting Cincinnati up for success in the long-run.

Most importantly, it shows that the club is willing to get creative to find solutions. If they pigeonhole themselves into only looking at outfielders to fill the need for a big bat, they could back themselves into a corner with only less-than-desirable options fitting into their shoestring budget.

But if they truly are willing to take advantage of certain players' athleticism and convert guys to different positions, it opens up their options exponentially. Lowe would be the ideal fit, but even if that doesn't come to fruition, this mindset should allow the Reds to find a bat that is a true upgrade, without sacrificing any of the existing pieces.