Terry Francona just made Reds' 2026 expectations crystal clear

When the Cincinnati Reds hired Terry Francona following the conclusion of the 2024 season, his task was clear. Turn the club into a contender. That's what Francona has done his entire career, taking teams from the realm of intriguing young ball clubs to the rarified air of perennial competitors.

With a playoff appearance in 2025, you could say he immediately got off on the right foot, but as the Reds were quickly dispatched by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL Wild Card Series, it was clear that they hadn't truly arrived yet.

They were the intriguing team. The kind with exciting young pieces. They got hot at the right time and were able to sneak into the October dance. But with an 83-79 record, to call them an upper-echelon contender would've been a stretch.

Heading into 2026, there were two ways things could go. The Reds could continue to slow-play their ascension, which seemed likely given their tight budget, or they could go full-throttle in order to vault themselves into the next stratosphere.

In reality, they sort of split the difference. Cincinnati made a play for a big splash with Kyle Schwarber, but ultimately was rebuffed. Instead, they pivoted in several different directions, making savvy moves like getting Schwarber-like power at a fraction of the cost by reuniting with Eugenio Suarez, keeping Emilio Pagan around to shore up the ninth, and making some intriguing plays for bounce-back candidates like JJ Bleday.

With all of that, and now with spring training underway, Francona has a message. It is time.

Terry Francona's bold message sets the bar for the Reds in 2026

Speaking down in Goodyear, Francona explained the message last year was about balance. There was work to be done developing the young players while also trying to win ball games. This year, the training wheels are getting removed.

"I've told our players -- it's time. Are we younger than some other teams? Yeah. That doesn't mean we can't go toe to toe. It is time for us to do that," Francona said.

He's not wrong, either. The youngsters, with the exception of Sal Stewart and a few others, all have more experience under their belts. The club's top four starters are among the best in the game. The fifth starter competition might be over before it truly begins, but if the presumptive favorite, Chase Burns, falters, there is plenty of depth behind him to make sure they don't skip a beat.

Another leap for Elly De La Cruz is certainly possible and would absolutely be a game-changer. Aside from that, Francona and company are clearly designing ways to make sure that the best nine are in the lineup at all times. The bullpen is stronger, too, with some sneaky-good additions like Brock Burke and Pierce Johnson.

The Reds might not have added a true superstar this winter, but the combination of further development from their young core, attacking key areas of need with players who excel in areas that the roster was lacking, and some new veteran leadership, makes the team poised for the kind of growth that Francona is talking about. And the club has the perfect guy at the helm to take that vision and turn it into a reality.