This unsigned veteran completely wrecks Reds leverage in Brady Singer trade talks

The Cincinnati Reds' Brady Singer conundrum is an interesting one. On the one hand, the Reds can't make the significant lineup upgrade they need, like signing Eugenio Suarez, without trading him. On the other hand, they likely won't get maximum value for the right-hander until the trade deadline.

To that second point, Singer's expiring contract isn't as valuable during the offseason as it will be in July, and the reasoning is two-fold. For one, most teams that are looking to acquire arms now are thinking about 2026 and the future. Secondly, those who are only interested in a rental currently have another alternative sitting out in free agency.

Chris Bassitt is still unsigned, and after top-end options like Framber Valdez and Zac Gallen, he might be the best available free-agent starter. Unlike those two bigger names, Bassitt is likely looking at a one-year deal as he enters his age-37 season, meaning many of the teams that Singer would appeal to have an alternative that won't cost prospects on top of money.

Chris Bassitt remaining unsigned in free agency kills the Reds' chances to trade Brady Singer

Both hurlers fit the bill as mid-rotation innings eaters. Singer logged 169⅔ innings with a 4.03 ERA in 2025, while Bassitt managed a 3.96 mark over 170⅓ frames. Singer edged Bassitt in FIP, 3.98 to 4.01. The pair of right-handers couldn't have turned in more similar performances if they tried.

Bassitt will likely eclipse Singer's $12.75 million salary, but only by a couple of million when he finally signs. Opposing teams might prefer to pay a couple of dollars more in order to save the prospects that they'd have to trade in order to acquire the Reds' right-hander, as those prospects could likely provide more surplus value in the long run.

There's the catch-22 for Cincinnati. Moving off of the 29-year-old's salary is important for them to make a bigger splash, but the cost of weakening their rotation will require them to receive more significant prospect capital than a typical salary dump, especially when you consider that Singer can be a valuable commodity at the trade deadline. In a few months, contenders will only be concerned with the season's final two months plus October, and will pay higher prices for rentals that can help them achieve their goals.

Bassitt being unsigned isn't necessarily due to a lack of market. The Detroit Tigers have shown interest in the veteran. Now it seems that the Atlanta Braves are jumping into the fray as well. More teams are likely lurking.

Those who miss out might be willing to turn to Singer, but there's just as likely a possibility that they'll pivot to the lesser options that remain on the free-agent market in hopes of finding a cheap solution, and then revisit the situation at the trade deadline.

Trading Singer sounds easy in theory, but the reality is the Reds won't just give him away, and other teams won't pony up prospects knowing that, for only cash, they can find similar quality. It's looking more and more like the Reds' most talked about trade candidate will be sticking around for a decent while longer, which means we might have already seen the last significant move of the offseason.