“Stop me if this sounds familiar: the Cincinnati Reds are eyeing a free agent. It’s hardly breaking news, and Reds fans are no strangers to this cycle of speculation. Time and again, they’ve watched reports link the team to certain players, only to see those players sign elsewhere—a pattern that has become all too familiar for longtime fans of the franchise.
This makes it tough for Reds supporters to feel optimistic about the latest rumor from MLB insider Héctor Gómez, who reports that Cincinnati is in the mix for free-agent outfielder Teoscar Hernández. A key contributor to the Los Angeles Dodgers’ recent World Series run, Hernández is still unsigned this offseason.
On paper, the Reds seem like a reasonable landing spot. According to Gómez, they’re one of six teams pursuing the slugger. However, there’s a glaring issue—a big-market issue, to be precise. The other teams reportedly interested are the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, and Blue Jays. In terms of payroll and financial clout, the Reds clearly stand apart from this group, and not in a favorable way.”
Reds’ pursuit of Teoscar Hernández only ends favorably if Cincy does the unthinkable
The report not only highlighted the six teams interested in signing Hernández but also noted that the two-time All-Star is seeking a three-year contract. If the Reds are serious about landing him and outbidding larger market teams, offering a fourth year might just seal the deal.
Would the Reds consider extending a four-year, $100 million offer to Hernández? That would certainly be tempting. At 32 years old, Hernández is coming off his best season since the shortened 2020 campaign. He earned his third career Silver Slugger Award while slashing .272/.339/.501 with 33 home runs and 99 RBIs. It also marked his sixth straight full season with 20 or more homers. Hernández perfectly fits the mold of the right-handed power bat Reds fans have been craving.
However, it’s hard to classify Hernández as an outfielder. While he can play both corner spots, his defensive metrics are poor. Last season, he ranked among the league’s worst defenders with -9 outs above average. But let’s be real—Hernández isn’t being signed for his glove.
This is a move the Reds could make, but it would require ownership and the front office to spend big on free agents—something they haven’t done since the 2019-20 offseason. To be fair, one of those big-ticket deals, Mike Moustakas’ four-year, $64 million contract, is still a sore spot for Reds fans as one of the franchise’s worst signings.
Still, that’s the cost of doing business. If Cincinnati wants to keep up with the moves the Chicago Cubs are making this offseason, it’ll require owner Bob Castellini to loosen the purse strings. And that might be harder than throwing out Elly De La Cruz on a weak grounder to third.
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