On Monday, Reds beat reporter Mark Sheldon held an Ask Me Anything on Reddit with fans at r/reds. This mailbag features questions and answers from there. The full AMA can be read here. Questions and responses have been lightly edited for clarity.
Who, if any, of the core is most likely to get a long-term extension this year?
Based on what I've heard, there have been no multiyear deal conversations with any arbitration-eligible players or guys under club control. That can change quickly though since teams and arb-eligible players are scheduled to exchange figures on Thursday. While that process often brings one-year deals to avoid the hearing, it's possible for a multiyear deal.
Among the core guys, of course Elly De La Cruz would top the list, but it's quite rare – although not impossible – for Scott Boras clients to sign extensions that push back free agency. Others I'd look at are Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo and possibly Tyler Stephenson.
What’s your thoughts on the outfield after the recent moves?
Adding JJ Bleday and Dane Myers were low-risk, high-reward moves. In Bleday, he will be seeking a comeback season much like Austin Hays was in 2025. Myers gives Cincinnati a true center fielder and right-handed hitter to back up TJ Friedl and potentially give him more breaks so he can be more productive.
What are the team’s expectations for Matt McLain in 2026? I know that recovery from labrum surgery often takes two years and the 2023 season was awesome, but 2023 was also propped up by an unrealistically high BABIP (.385). What is the club expecting to get from him this year?
As of today, McLain appears to be their main second baseman, but he will have to solidify that status in camp. During the holiday break, I chose him as the Reds’ best bounceback candidate. The lost 2024 season was a killer for a young player still developing in the big leagues. Terry Francona is a big fan of his overall game, though. The skipper likes how the ball jumps off his bat and his overall baseball acumen. McLain plays good defense, always knows where he is supposed to be and is a good baserunner.
Those are all good places to start. He was arguably the Reds' best hitter in 2023. High BABIP or not, that doesn't just disappear without a good reason. The shoulder surgery was the reason. Let's see what he does a second season removed from that.
Do you see any way that the Reds can top the 83 wins they had last year? It feels like they are just running it back with the same squad.
I can see it, but I would see it much more if they find a bat for the middle of the order. The offseason isn't over yet, so it's too early to make predictions. The pitching situation is a good place to start. Teams would love to have the Reds' rotation depth.
All the rumors I've seen throughout the winter have been, "Well, the Reds don't want to trade a starter." With this window so finite, why the reluctance to package someone like Chase Petty for a bat that helps in 2026?
From everything I've heard, the front office is loath to part with any starters to make a trade. They want as much depth as possible considering that just about every starter other than Brady Singer spent time on the injured list in 2025 and three pitchers -- Rhett Lowder, Julian Aguiar and Brandon Williamson -- missed the entire season. But to me, it may take a starter to get what they want via a trade.
Any chance that Christian Encarnacion-Strand rebounds this year and fulfills his potential?
It's going to get tougher for him than the past couple of years because others have passed him on the depth chart. The Reds now have Sal Stewart and Spencer Steer as their main options at first base and Ke'Bryan Hayes is locked in at third base. CES was prone to chasing outside of the strike zone at bad pitches during his earlier big league stints. As far as defense, CES is also behind others. Steer is much better at 1B and Hayes at 3B. So I would say this is a huge camp for him to prove he is one of the best 26 players for the roster.
Are you hearing any buzz from within the team as to whether the new ABS challenge system will affect how they approach the catcher position? Will playing time, or who catches for which pitchers, be changed up because one is more effective with their challenges?
There's going to be some adjustment period in how it's used, but I don't think the ABS system will have much to do with playing time between Stephenson and Jose Trevino. Francona consulted a lot with Triple-A Louisville manager Pat Kelly about ABS and how he has used it. One thing I would expect is that challenges will come from Reds catchers and not their pitchers.
"I've never seen a pitcher who doesn't think everything is a strike," Francona said during the Winter Meetings.