CINCINNATI — There are players wearing Cincinnati Reds uniforms who will have an impact on a playoff run. But even after the Reds’ 11-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday, it’s more likely that anyone on the first-base side at Great American Ball Park still be playing in October will be doing it in a different uniform.
The Reds aren’t completely out of the playoff race yet. The Pittsburgh Pirates are dealing with injuries, and the St. Louis Cardinals are fading from their surprise start. But so many things would have to go right for the Reds in a season when very little seemingly has gone their way so far.
Between now and the Aug. 3 trade deadline, the phone of Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall will likely see more incoming calls than outgoing ones. Here’s a look at who could be part of those trade conversations over the next month:
Position playersOF JJ Bleday
Age: 28
Contract status: Under team control through 2028
2026 stats: .239/.348/.482, 14 HR, 39 RBIs
The Reds signed Bleday to a one-year deal after he was non-tendered by the Athletics, and the fourth pick in the 2019 draft has had a bit of a resurgence with the Reds. Bleday started the season in the minors and was named the National League Player of the Month for May, hitting .301 with eight homers. He’s not kept that production up, but has still been a solid option. The Reds could move him if they think this is the height of his value, but the organization is still searching for any and all outfield options, and he still has two years of arbitration remaining.
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1B/DH Nathaniel Lowe
Age: 31
Contract status: Free agent after the season
2026 stats: .242/.332/.448 9 HR, 25 RBIs
Signed to a minor-league deal during spring training, Lowe made the Reds’ Opening Day roster as a left-handed bench bat. He’s mostly been a DH this season and provided above-average production. Lowe was traded from the Washington Nationals to the Boston Red Sox at the deadline last year and was a bright spot for Boston down the stretch, hitting .280/.370/.420 in 34 games.
IF/OF Spencer Steer
Age: 28
Contract status: Under team control through 2028
2026 stats: .242/.321/.424, 14 HR, 36 RBIs
Steer might not be one of the sexiest names out there, but he’s a consistent power bat who has 20-plus home runs in each of his first three full seasons in the big leagues, plus 14 in 2026. Steer’s played all four infield spots and both corner outfield spots in the big leagues. Last season was his first full year at first base, and he was a Gold Glove finalist. He’s the type of player managers love because of his willingness and ability to play anywhere and in any situation. He also has above-average speed and is an outstanding base runner.
C Tyler Stephenson
Age: 29
Contract status: Free agent after the season
2026 stats: .234/.320/.364, 6 HR, 24 RBIs
The Reds’ first-round pick in 2015, Stephenson has known no other organization other than Cincinnati. After settling ahead of arbitration in his first two years of the process, he went to arbitration and won last offseason. The Reds have his backup, Jose Trevino, under contract through next year with an option for 2028, while their top prospect, Alfredo Duno, is also a catcher, but is just 20 and in Double-A. Though Stephenson hasn’t developed into the middle-of-the-order bat the Reds hoped he’d become, he has been one of the most successful catchers in the big leagues in Automated Ball-Strike challenges behind the plate.
3B/DH Eugenio Suárez
Age: 34
Contract status: $16 million mutual option for 2027 with no buyout
2026 stats: .204/.279/.367, 9 HR, 32 RBIs
Suárez, who will turn 35 next week, was one of the hottest names on the trade market a year ago when he was reunited with the Seattle Mariners, having hit 36 home runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks when he was traded on July 31. Suárez missed a month with an oblique injury this season and has just nine homers. Still, he has a reputation as a streaky home-run hitter, and every team knows it could get his hot streak. He’s also one of the most beloved players in the game and an instant fit in any clubhouse.
Starting pitchersLHP Nick Lodolo
Age: 28
Contract status: Free agent after the 2027 season
2026 stats: 3-2, 4.68 ERA
Lodolo has battled injuries and inconsistency throughout this season and his career. The lefty has made 11 starts and is coming off perhaps his best of the season. The talent and stuff are enticing for any contender looking for rotation depth with upside. That said, the Reds place great value on their pitching depth, and it would likely take an overpay to pry Lodolo away.
Nick Lodolo’s talent and stuff are enticing for teams looking for rotation depth with upside. (Michael McLoone / Imagn Images)
RHP Brady Singer
Age: 29
Contract status: Free agent after the season
2026 stats: 3-8, 5.03 ERA
Singer can add depth to any rotation. He’s dependable, if unspectacular, though he has a 3.16 ERA in six starts since the start of June. His postseason experience consists of a strikeout of the only batter he faced in the 2024 American League Division Series as a member of the Kansas City Royals.
Relief pitchersLHP Brock Burke
Age: 29
Contract status: Free agent after the season
2026 stats: 45 games, 3-4, 3.12 ERA, 1 save
Not only is Burke leading the National League with 45 appearances, but the lefty also has a 1.16 ERA in 21 appearances at Great American Ball Park. He’s allowed multiple hits in just seven of his 45 appearances. Burke uses four pitches, but his best is a fastball averaging 96.3 mph.
LHP Caleb Ferguson
Age: 30
Contract status: Free agent after the season
2026 stats: 18 games, 1-0, 2.00 ERA, 1 save
Who can’t use a left-handed bullpen arm? After starting the season on the injured list with an oblique strain, Ferguson has given up runs in only three of his 18 outings. He’s limited opponents to an average exit velocity of 84.6 mph this season, tied for ninth among pitchers with at least 15 innings pitched.
RHP Pierce Johnson
Age: 35
Contract status: Mutual option for 2027, $1 million buyout
2026 stats: 29 games, 2-1, 4.15 ERA, 1 save
An experienced reliever, Johnson spent nearly a month on the IL with right elbow inflammation but didn’t allow a run in four of his five games since returning, although he gave up four on two homers in a loss to the Pirates on June 28. He’s been at his best with runners on, limiting batters to a .067 batting average with runners in scoring position and a .132 average with any runners on. He has a 1.50 ERA in 12 postseason appearances with the San Diego Padres and Atlanta Braves.
LHP Sam Moll
Age: 34
Contract status: Free agent after 2027 season
2026 stats: 42 games, 1-6, 3.82 ERA, 1 save
Another left-handed reliever, Moll was a deadline addition by the Reds in 2023. Moll has struck out 26 of the 88 left-handed hitters he’s faced and is limiting lefties to a .189/.291/.311 slash line. Overall, he has a 56 percent ground-ball rate and a 31 percent hard-hit percentage.