Here are the Reds' plans for Winter Meetings

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon's Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

CINCINNATI -- Reds baseball operations officials will travel in droves from Cincinnati to Orlando, Fla., for the annual Winter Meetings that formally get underway on Monday.

Cincinnati is trying to build off of an 83-win 2025 season that concluded with a brief taste of the postseason. But there are numerous holes to fill and a limited budget to work with.

Although it seems like it would be against all odds to land Kyle Schwarber, the Reds are among the suitors trying to sign the left-handed designated hitter. Could they find a creative way to make it work financially? The Winter Meetings setting will provide no shortage of speculation.

Here's a breakdown of what you should know ahead of the events next week:

Club needs: A big bat to boost the offense, and relievers

Despite playing in the smaller confines of Great American Ball Park, the Reds' offense was ranked 21st in homers (167) and 19th in OPS (.706) in 2025. Their No. 3 hitter in the lineup, All-Star shortstop Elly De La Cruz, led the team with only 22 homers, including four after the All-Star break while he was getting a steady diet of offspeed pitches. De La Cruz lacked a consistent power bat in the cleanup spot to protect him and lengthen Cincinnati's lineup. While someone like Schwarber or Pete Alonso might seem financially out of the question, the Reds need someone who can add power and punch to their order.

Multiple free-agent departures especially affected Cincinnati's bullpen, which saw Emilio Pagán, Nick Martinez and Scott Barlow -- among others -- hit the open market. But the Reds brought one of those pivotal relievers back in their closer, Pagán, who agreed to terms on a two-year, $20 million contract on Wednesday, according to a source. The deal included an opt-out for the right-hander after the 2026 season.

Potential trade candidates: Starting pitchers?

The biggest depth the Reds have is in their rotation. Although president of baseball operations Nick Krall noted during last month's GM Meetings that dealing Hunter Greene was "not on the table" at that moment, it doesn't mean he wouldn't listen to offers -- especially if it helped land the hitter the club needs. Greene is signed through 2028, with a club option for 2029.

Brady Singer -- who led the team in innings, starts and strikeouts -- is a year away from free agency. That could make him a potential trade chip as well. The Reds are reluctant to trade any starting pitching, however, because of concerns about attrition during the season.

Prospects to know

Heading into 2026, Sal Stewart is the Reds' No. 1 prospect and No. 31 overall, according to MLB Pipeline. Stewart had an impressive first big league month and led the Reds in September with five home runs.

Cincinnati's No. 8 prospect, shortstop Edwin Arroyo, was added to the 40-man roster on Nov. 18 and will likely begin '26 at Triple-A Louisville. But with De La Cruz at shortstop, the Reds will have to figure out what they could do with Arroyo should he prove ready for the big promotion.

Rule 5 Draft

Once the Pagán signing becomes official, the Reds will have 39 players on their 40-man roster, which would leave one open spot if they wanted to make a selection in the Rule 5 Draft. Last month, they protected three players -- Arroyo, outfielder Héctor Rodríguez (Reds' No. 9 prospect) and infielder Leo Balcazar (No. 23). Among those left unprotected was No. 22 prospect Carlos Jorge. The infielder-turned-center fielder spent last season at High-A Dayton.

Burning question: How can the Reds upgrade their lineup?

Krall also noted in early November that the 2026 team payroll will be around the same as it was this past year, which was about $112 million on Opening Day.

With several arbitration cases pending and multiple holes in the bullpen created by free agent departures, there doesn't appear to be obvious room in the budget to make a huge free-agent splash like signing Schwarber to his hometown team. Whether it's signing a lower-tiered free agent or adding via a trade, Krall and his baseball operations team are facing a challenge to add more offense.