Are Reds saving big in hopes of pursuing Kyle Schwarber in free agency?

The Cincinnati Reds declined options on three players on Wednesday: OF Austin Hays ($12 million) and pitchers Scott Barlow ($6.5 million) and Brent Suter ($3 million). Could this indicate the team’s interest in signing slugger Kyle Schwarber, one of the top free agents on the market this season?

Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said recently C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic that the team “will be approximately the same as our payroll starting in 2025.” According to SpotterIn 2025 it amounted to $119.036 million. Declining these options will save the Reds $21.5 million.

By expanding the payroll a bit, the Reds could have one shot at signing a big free agent like Schwarber, who made $20 million with the Philadelphia Phillies last season. Schwarber has ties to Cincinnati, having grown up in Middletown, about an hour north of the city. Mark Feinsand of MLB.com linked the Reds as a possible candidate to sign Schwarber.

The Reds need to spend these savings and any other money wisely

Cutting spending could hinder the Reds’ chances of remaining competitive in 2026. The threat of the looming labor strike next offseason could be the reason for their hesitation to increase payrolls.

He’s coming off a career year that will likely see him finish second in the MVP voting Los Angeles Dodgers star Shohei Ohtani Schwarber led the National League in home runs (56, a career-high), led MLB in RBI (132, another career-high) and played in all 162 games. The outfielder/DH was one of only five players to do so in 2025.

By rejecting the options of Hays, Barlow and Suter, the Reds could make room to sign Schwarber, an 11-year veteran who won a World Series with the Cubs in 2016.

Pairing Schwarber with their young core could get Cincinnati over the hump next season. The Reds (83-79) finished third in the NL Central last season and were eliminated in the playoffs by the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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