The Reds 2025 Long-Term Player Rankings
- Ian Altenau
- Jul 31
- 11 min read
The MLB Trade Deadline is officially behind us, and believe it or not, the Reds made a move. Actually, they made several. You read that right – the Cincinnati Reds are wheelin’ and dealin’!
Okay, wheelin’ and dealin’ is a strong sentiment. Ke’Bryan Hayes, who the Reds acquired in a trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates, is a fine defender, but doesn’t exactly fix the Reds struggles against left-handed pitching. Adding Zach Littell was a creative move that allows the Reds to move Nick Martinez to the bullpen, while acquiring Miguel Andujar gives the Reds another versatile player with some pop at the plate, but neither is a splashy addition. The Reds didn’t exactly address either of their biggest needs (a power-hitting right-handed bat, or another shutdown arm in the bullpen), but they are unequivocally a better team today than they were last week.
While Littell and Andujar will both be free agents at the end of the year, an underrated element of the Hayes trade is that he’s still under contract until 2029. That means not only is Hayes part of the solution to getting the Reds back to the promised land in 2025, but he’s also an important piece moving forward as well…
Which brings me to the 2025 Player Importance Rankings! For the last four years, I’ve taken a deep dive into the Reds 40-man roster and ranked the forty (and change) players in terms of their importance to the Reds future success. From the guys barely hanging on to a roster spot to the essential pieces that could power a playoff run, each one has a spot in these rankings – even the newbie Hayes.
From Least Important to Most Important
Break Glass in Case of Emergency
46. OF Ryan Vilade (26 y/o) – Minors
This is being a little unfair to Villade, who doesn’t deserve to be singled-out as the least important player on the entire Reds 40-man roster, but seriously, what is he bringing to the table? He hasn’t been good when he’s been on the field, doesn’t offer much defensively except for some versatility, and at 26, isn’t offering a whole lot of room for growth either. He’s basically just there in case Connor Joe (the Reds de facto backup utility man) goes down with an injury. Hey, at least he’s not Garrett Hampson!
The Phantoms of the Diamond-Opera
45. RP Sam Benschoter (2/7 y/o) – Minors
Benschoter is what is known in the baseball universe as “phantom ballplayers.” You might be surprised to learn there is an entire Wikipedia article dedicated to this phenomenon. Basically, it’s when a player is listed on the active roster, but never appears in a game. It’s safe to say this does not bode well for his importance to the Reds future success.
Just a Bunch of Dudes
44. RP Joe La Sorsa (27 y/o) – Minors
43. SP Brandon Williamson (27 y/o) – IL-60
42. SP Julian Aguiar (24 y/o) – IL-60
41. RP Yosver Zulueta (27 y/o) – Minors
40. RP Luis Mey (24 y/o)
39. RP Connor Phillips (24 y/o) – Minors
38. RP Ian Gibaut (31 y/o) – IL-15
More than likely, none of these guys will make a difference for the Reds in 2025, and there’s a non-zero chance they never make an impact for the Reds down the road either. Williamson is a sad case: he looked like a potential mainstay back in 2023 as a rookie, but back-to-back lost seasons due to injury cast doubt on his MLB future. Mey does throw 100 mph, and Phillips was once a highly-touted starter who’s now transitioning to relief. There is potential that someone in this group becomes a difference-maker, but I wouldn’t bet on it.
Depth, and That’s It
37. SP Wade Miley (38 y/o) – IL-15
36. OF Blake Dunn (26 y/o) – Minors
35. 1B/OF Connor Joe (32 y/o)
34. RP Brent Suter (35 y/o)
If the Reds do make the playoffs, the hope would be that none of these four players sees much, if any, action. Miley was signed after a rash of injuries to the Reds starters demanded someone who would provide some innings. Miley can still do that, but his days as an effective starter are pretty much over. Dunn is a speed-merchant who can’t really hit at the MLB level, but he could potentially provide some value as a pinch-runner. Joe is basically the backup utility man to Santiago Espinal, a role that I didn’t realize existed. Suter is the Reds primary long-relief pitcher, a role that he’ll likely cede to Nick Martinez once the playoffs roll around, if not sooner now that Littell is in town.
There’s Still (Hopefully) Some Hope
33. SP/RP Carson Spiers (27 y/o) – IL-60
32. LF/2B Tyler Callihan (25 y/o) – IL-60
31. OF Rece Hinds (24 y/o) – Minors
30. SP Chase Petty (22 y/o) – Minors
These guys are all still young enough and talented enough that giving up on them would be ridiculous, but there’s been enough evidence up to this point to suggest that they might not live up to the hype. Spiers has been effective in spurts both as a starter and reliever, but injuries have spoiled his 2025 season and he’s starting to get up there in age. Callihan is a top-30 prospect for the Reds, but his season was also lost thanks to a freak broken arm in just his fourth game as a big-leaguer. He also wasn’t particularly effective at the plate when he was healthy.
Hinds has shown tremendous power, and surprisingly good defense too, but his inability to make consistent contact at this point makes him a liability, no matter how impressive his power displays can be. At the same time, his ability to destroy baseballs is rare in the Reds organization, so he’ll keep getting opportunities to prove himself. Petty, in a similar vein, has been utterly abused nearly every time he’s been on the mound for the Reds. He’s still considered their #6 prospect, and there’s plenty of ability in his right arm, but the early returns have been troubling.
The Veteran’s Committee
29. RP Sam Moll (33 y/o)
28. RP Scott Barlow (32 y/o)
27. UTIL Santiago Espinal (30 y/o)
26. INF/OF Miguel Andujar (30 y/o)
Rounding out the Reds bullpen are two veteran pitchers. Moll and Barlow both offer middling ability as middle-relievers, and they’ve all been…fine, for the most part. Barlow will be free agents at the end of the season, while Moll won’t be until 2028.
It’s hard to believe that Espinal was an All-Star once upon a time. He might not be much of a threat with his bat, but between his ability to field multiple positions at a high-level, as well as provide a consistent source of contact (if not much else) at the plate, Espinal has become an important part of the Reds bench.
Andujar joins the Reds as another deadline acquisition, and his like the anti-Espinal, in that he isn't known for his glove (despite lining up at multiple positions), but rather, for his bat. He isn’t the kind of player who will light the National League on fire, but he has a long track record of success at the plate, and for a team that needs all the hitting it can get, Andujar fills an important gap.
Opportunities Are Dwindling
25. 1B/3B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (25 y/o) – Minors
24. OF Will Benson (27 y/o)
23. OF Jake Fraley (30 y/o)
We’ve been waiting on their breakouts for years, and it’s time to admit it’s probably not happening. Encarnacion-Strand was optioned back to the minors following another rough stretch at the plate, and his path to playing time is difficult to project. Benson and Fraley both have a massive flaw in their game: namely, they can’t hit left-handed pitching. That’s not unique, as many of the Reds hitters struggle against lefties, but neither Benson nor Fraley is making up for that deficiency in other ways. There’s still enough potential and pedigree in this group that you can talk yourself into maybe one of these three turning into an everyday ballplayer, but their opportunities to prove it are rapidly disappearing.
The Relievers of the Future
22. RP Lyon Richardson (25 y/o)
21. RP Graham Ashcraft (27 y/o)
20. RP Tony Santillan (28 y/o)
The Reds bullpen has been more than acceptable in 2025, and much of the thanks for that has to go to these three. None played a big role for the Reds in 2024 (except for Ashcraft, who struggled as a starter), but all three have made an impact this year.
Richardson and Ashcraft have both made the transition from starter to reliever, and looked good doing it. Santillan, meanwhile, has really blossomed into an elite set-up man, leading the majors in appearances while maintaining a strong 2.68 ERA. The Reds really needed some of their younger arms to step up in relief, and Richardson, Ashcraft and Santillan have all heeded the call. They should be essential players for the here and now, and moving forward.
The Backstops
19. C Tyler Stephenson (28 y/o)
18. C Jose Trevino (32 y/o)
Trevino was an offseason acquisition that didn’t garner much fanfare. The Reds acquired him from the New York Yankees in exchange for volatile reliever Fernando Curz. Trevy was brought in to be the backup to Stephenson, but he’s played so well he’s basically become a co-starter.
Stephenson may never reach the heights many Reds fans expected after a very impressive rookie season, but he’s a good hitting catcher nonetheless. Both he and Trevy provide some pop at the bottom of the Reds order. Despite Trevy being a few years older than Stephenson, he’s ranked slightly higher because he’s slightly less expensive and under contract for an additional year.
The New Kid on the Block
17. 3B Ke’Bryan Hayes (28 y/o)
Here he is, the man of the hour. For a deadline addition, Hayes isn’t exactly garnering a lot of fanfare, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t a useful player. He’s a glove-first third baseman, and while he doesn’t provide much juice with the bat, he does allow the Reds to move Noelvi Marté to right field. This, in turn, means less at-bats for Benson, Fraley and Espinal, three of the weakest bats on the roster. With one move, the Reds managed to upgrade at two positions, and give themselves elite defense at the hot corner for years to come.
The Stars-in-their-Role-Players
16. SP/RP Nick Martinez (34 y/o)
15. OF/2B Gavin Lux (27 y/o)
14. 1B Spencer Steer (27 y/o)
13. OF TJ Friedl (29 y/o)
None of these guys will likely sniff an All-Star team in their careers, but all provide significant value because they have blossomed into star role players. Martinez isn’t pitching quite as well in 2025 as he did in 2024, but as a fifth starter, you could do much, much worse, and his willingness to pitch in relief is rare. Martinez is a team guy, through and through, and with Littell now in the fold, Martinez will slide into a bullpen role that makes this team much deeper.
Lux, Steer, and Friedl all have their flaws, but each has strengths as well. Lux can’t hit lefties but rakes against righties. Steer is average as a hitter but has been lights-out defensively at first base. Friedl is the best all-around player of the three, offering good defense in center field, good speed, and a good bat. He’s a jack-of-all-trades – and probably the best bunter in baseball too!
Here for a Good Time, not a Long Time
12. RP Emilio Pagán (34 y/o)
11. OF Austin Hays (30 y/o)
10. SP Zach Littell (29 y/o)
There’s a good chance everyone in this group is playing in a different uniform in 2026. Pagán is an unrestricted free agent after the season, and while Hays has a mutual option for $12 million, he might want to test the free-agency waters after the nice season he’s had. Littell, meanwhile, is a late-season trade rental, and will almost certainly want to test the free-agency waters after the season.
That said, these three are all essential to the Reds success in 2025. Pagán has had an excellent season, his first as a team’s primary closer, with a National League-leading 39 games finished and a 2.78 ERA to go with an incredible 0.90 WHIP. He might not have the name recognition of some of baseball’s more electric closers, but Pagán is pitching as well as any of them. If not for injuries, Hays would have gotten serious consideration for an All-Star spot, and his .491 SLG% is one of the two best on the Reds roster. Littell immediately improves the back-end of the Reds rotation, and gives the Reds four starting pitchers capable of lining up against anyone in the postseason. All three of these guys could be gone after the season, but their value to the Reds for this season is incredibly high.
Solid Starters with Serious Upside
9. SP Brady Singer (28 y/o)
8. SP Rhett Lowder (23 y/o) – IL-60
7. SP Nick Lodolo (27 y/o)
Trading Jonathan India to the Kansas City Royals in the offseason for Singer looks like a stroke of genius. India has struggled this year to hit the ball with any authority whatsoever, and while Singer has had some struggles with his consistency, overall, he’s been dependable as the Reds fourth starter, and presumably will be until 2027 at least.
Lowder hasn’t pitched in 2025 thanks to an oblique strain, but if his brief appearance at the end of the 2024 season is any indication (1.17 ERA in 30.2 innings), he has plenty of ability to be a useful starting pitcher. His presence also offers depth at one of the most injury-prone positions in sports, a luxury the Reds are not taking for granted.
Lodolo, finally, is coming into his own of late, throwing a complete-game shutout of the Washington Nationals just over a week ago. In his last eight starts, he’s 4 - 1 with a 2.02 ERA. He’s always been exceptionally talented, and he won’t be a free agent until 2028, giving the Reds another important piece to help them now, and in years to come.
The Supernova Starters
6. SP Chase Burns (22 y/o)
5. SP Hunter Greene (25 y/o) – IL-15
Two things need to happen for a star to go supernova: one, it needs to be big enough to fuse its elements into iron; and two, it can’t be so big that it turns into a black hole. When a big star finds that equilibrium, it explodes with the brightness that can outshine entire galaxies. And like a supernova, when Greene and Burns find their equilibrium, they can outshine all the pitchers in baseball.
It’s not a hot-take to say that the Reds hard-throwing righties are two of the most talented pitchers in all of baseball. Both have the kind of stuff that leave hitters looking downright silly at the plate. Both are still working out the kinks (Greene still has trouble staying healthy, and Burns needs to locate his pitches better), but both offer the kind of upside that’s stupendously rare as elite, shutdown starting pitchers.
The Core Four
4. 2B Matt McLain (25 y/o)
3. 3B Noelvi Marté (23 y/o)
2. SP Andrew Abbott (26 y/o)
1. SS Elly De La Cruz (23 y/o)
This is the group. These four will determine how far the Reds can go in 2025 – and beyond. McLain has shrugged off a horrific start to the season, while Marté is beginning to demonstrate the ability that made him such a coveted prospect. Both provide some right-handed pop to a lineup that is desperately in short supply.
Abbott, meanwhile, has been the story of the season. Since returning from an injury that kept him out of the rotation for the early part of the year, he has been nothing short of outstanding, earning his first All-Star nomination and leading the Reds with an 8 - 1 record and a sterling 2.09 ERA. He has supplanted Greene as the Reds ace (at least for this season), and he’s still in pre-arbitration until 2027. Cheap and good is a recipe for value in Cincinnati, and no player is giving the Reds more bang for their buck than Abbott.
But of course, no player is more important to the Reds success (now, and in the future) than De La Cruz. Statistically, he’s having his best offensive season to-date, though he isn’t hitting the ball quite as hard as he did last year and his defense at shortstop has not improved. Regardless, De La Cruz’s power/speed combination is nearly unmatched in baseball. His potential is still sky-high, and the closer he gets to his ceiling, the closer the Reds will be to finally becoming legitimate contenders.
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