Supervisor Terry Francona is the newest member of Cincinnati’s group to downplay the potential of buying and selling beginning pitching. Francona mentioned on the Baseball Isn’t Boring podcast that he wasn’t anticipating a Hunter Greene commerce. “I don’t suppose these issues are gonna (occur)…pitching is simply too arduous for us to amass by free company…we gotta preserve Hunter on the mound,” Francona mentioned in a clip relayed by Chatterbox Sports activities.
President of baseball operations Nick Krall provided an identical sentiment final month, downplaying the concept the Reds would transfer gamers on the pitching facet. Led by Greene, Cincinnati’s starters ranked sixth within the Nationwide League in ERA and third in strikeouts. Solely the Phillies, Diamondbacks, and Braves obtained extra innings from their beginning pitchers.
Greene battled a groin damage a number of occasions final season, however he was dominant when wholesome. He set career-best marks in xFIP (3.27) and SIERA (3.06) whereas throwing more durable than ever earlier than. Greene’s heater averaged 99.5 mph in 2025, a 1.9 mph bounce from 2024. Amongst pitchers who threw no less than 100 innings, Greene ranked fourth in swinging-strike charge and sixth in Okay-BB%.
Probably the most notable growth for Greene final season was how typically he was within the strike zone. He posted a powerful 68.6% strike charge and a career-low 6.2% stroll charge. Greene had by no means recorded a season with a strike charge above 65% or a stroll charge under 9%. The improved command helped him keep a decrease pitch rely and work deeper into video games. He notched high quality begins in 11 of 19 outings. Greene had 13 high quality begins in 2024, however it took him 26 appearances to get there.
If the Reds have been to place Greene available on the market, he would definitely fetch a good-looking return. The 27-year-old signed a six-year, $53MM extension in 2023. The deal features a $21MM crew choice for 2029. Greene’s annual wage will rise in every of the subsequent three seasons, however it’ll nonetheless be a lot reasonably priced within the last 12 months of the deal, even when the Reds (or one other membership) decline the crew choice.
Cincinnati has a steady of controllable starters past Greene. Andrew Abbott and Chase Burns have but to achieve arbitration. Nick Lodolo received’t hit free company till 2028. Kids Rhett Lowder and Julian Aguiar solely have a 12 months of MLB service time apiece. Brady Singer is the one mainstay nearing free company, as he’s in his last 12 months of arbitration. The Reds can preserve the vast majority of this group collectively for the foreseeable future in the event that they need to.
Photograph courtesy of Jayne Kamin-Oncea, Imagn Photos.
