Uncover the Cincinnati Reds' roster predictions as spring training begins
Feb. 15, 2026, 9:12 p.m. ET
GOODYEAR, Arizona - Even for a historic and celebrated organization like the Cincinnati Reds, consecutive playoff appearances are a rarity. It's only happened four times in team history. Heck, even the teams from the Big Red Machine era only made it in consecutive seasons twice.
The Reds last went to the postseason in back-to-back years under manager Dusty Baker (2012, 2013), and current Reds skipper Terry Francona will attempt it in 2026.
These are the players he'll do it with.
Francona will pick his 26-man Opening Day roster from a core group of young, exciting talent, which was augmented with winter bullpen acquisitions and the late-offseason deal for Eugenio Suárez, a premier slugger and Reds fan favorite prior to being traded ahead of the 2022 season.
It's early and Cactus League games don't start until Feb. 21, but here's how we think the battle for the 26-man roster will shake out.
Terry Francona's 2026 Reds starting lineup
- LF T.J. Freidl
- 2B Matt McLain
- SS Elly De La Cruz
- DH Eugenio Suárez
- 1B Sal Stewart
- LF Spencer Steer
- RF Noelvi Marte
- C Tyler Stephenson
- Ke’Bryan Hayes
How we see it: Terry Francona said Sal Stewart's defensive focus will primarily be first base. If Stewart makes the team coming out of spring training, as many expect, that affords the Reds some flexibility. Then, Spencer Steer, a Gold Glove finalist at first base in 2025, can move to left field, where there is no heir apparent. There shouldn't be much drama around who starts at the other positions, although Francona is also still figuring out who his infield backups will be. To that point, Stewart will play second base in the Cactus League opener Feb. 21, as well as a little bit of third base. Steer could play second base and first base, of course, and Eugenio Suárez has played third and first, but will feature primarily as a “DH.”
Reds bench
- C Jose Trevino
- Outfielder J.J. Bleday
- Outfielder Dane Myers
- Outfielder Will Benson
How we see it: Trevino is a lock and a key cog in this team. He stands as the No. 10 player in our roster projection. Will Benson's left-handed bat makes him a valuable commodity for one of the last bench spots. He, Bleday and Myers are all versatile outfielders.
The starting rotation: Could Reds send another pitcher to the All-Star Game?
- Hunter Greene
- Andrew Abbott
- Nick Lodolo
- Brady Singer 5/6. Rhett Lowder 5/6. Chase Burns
How we see it: Greene and Abbott were MLB All-Stars in 2024 and 2025, respectively, and some think Lodolo's stuff is good enough to make him a candidate for the Midsummer Classic this year. That says a lot for the top-of-the-rotation arms Cincinnati has. Singer, an innings-eater and the highest-paid pitcher on the staff, is a lock. That leaves one spot left, and one of the big storylines of spring will be the competition for it.
Do we expect a six-man rotation coming out of spring training? Not quite, but it’s hard to separate Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns in their duel for the No. 5 spot at this juncture. It might be hard to separate them all the way through the spring, too. Also, don't rule out Brandon Williamson, who is coming off recovery for Tommy John surgery. Williamson showed up to camp looking like he's worthy of starter consideration (and yes, we know it’s early).
The bullpen: Can Cincinnati's reserve arms top their 2025 showing?
- Closer Emilio Pagán
- RHP Tony Santillan
- RHP Graham Ashcraft
- RHP Pierce Johnson
- LHP Caleb Ferguson
- LHP Brock Burke
- LHP Sam Moll
- Rhett Lowder/Chase Burns/Brandon Williamson
How we see it: Francona would love to be able to count backward from the ninth inning in terms of having reliable bullpen arms set for those frames. Pagán, Santillan and Ashcraft might be the club's ideal fit there. The newly-acquired Pierce Johnson, Caleb Ferguson and Brock Burke are certain to make the cut, and Sam Moll, who is out of options and has additional value as a lefty that Francona is familiar with, seems a safe bet.
The 'losers' of the Lowder-Burns-Williamson showdown for the No. 5 starting spot in the rotation could drop into the bullpen, or to Triple-A. For Lowder and Burns, both 23 years old, coming out of the bullpen wouldn't preclude them from starting later in the season. For Williamson, the Tommy John surgery is a little bit of a wild card, and he could be more likely to begin the year in Louisville in order to keep his arm stretched out and his body on a starter's cadence.
