Reds have two huge questions before deciding Brady Singer's trade deadline fate

It sounds as if Brady Singer is already on the trade block. At least that's the notion being pushed by Cincinnati Reds beat reporter Gordon Wittenmyer. In a recent column for Cincinnati Enquirer (subscription required), Wittenmyer cites Singer as the Reds' top trade chip regardless of whether or not the team is in playoff contention.

For what it's worth, Wittenmyer spoke to Singer about the idea of being traded, and the Reds starter affirmed the concept that a trade could be on the horizon. “I knew that from the beginning of the year, that it would be a possibility, just because of where I am. I understand what (the business of the game) entails," Singer said.

Trading Singer could (and probably should) be on the Reds' radar. Once the trade deadline rolls around, opposing GMs are always looking to find starting pitching. The Reds took a flier on Zack Littell at last year's deadline, and traded away Frankie Montas back in 2024. Singer, who'll be a free agent after the season, is bound to hear his name bandied about in trade rumors for the next month.

Reds shouldn't rush to trade Brady Singer

But the Reds should't be in hurry to deal their most durable starter. While Singer's performance this season hasn't been worth his $12.75 million payday, he's answered the bell every fifth day — something that very few pitchers in today's game can say.

Singer is a quality back-end starter, and just because he'll likely leave the organization via free agency this coming winter doesn't mean Cincinnati should just take the first (and maybe only) offer they receive.

Before looking to jettison Singer ahead of the August 3 deadline, the Reds must answer two questions. First, what's the team's win-loss record? And second, how healthy is the rotation?

If the answer to question No. 1 is anything but a winning record, question two doesn't really matter as much. Cincinnati can duct tape together a rotation to get them through the end of the season if there's no plans to play into October.

If the Reds are in contention, however, the health of the rotation will greatly dictate whether or not Singer is on the move at the trade deadline. The hope is that both Hunter Greene and Brandon Williamson will be back before this year's deadline, which would give the Reds seven MLB-caliber starting pitchers (including Singer).

If Cincinnati's leadership feels like they can navigate the second-half of the 2026 season with Greene, Williamson, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Rhett Lowder, and Chase Burns, all of sudden, Singer becomes expendable. But given Lodolo's injury history and the impending innings-limit bound to hit both Burns and Lowder, one has to question whether or not trading Singer should even be on the table.

This will be a fascinating development over the next month, and one that could gain or lose steam based on how the Reds play heading into the upcoming trade deadline.

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