Are The Reds Considering Trading Starting Pitcher Hunter Greene This Offseason?

[Brock Beauchamp]

Mark Sheldon of MLB.com posed one question for Cincinnati’s offseason: Would trading Hunter Greene help bring back a bat? The 26-year-old Greene is signed through the 2028 season, with an option for 2029, all well below market value for a free agent of his calibre.

In 2025, Greene made 19 starts and threw 107 2/3 innings with a 2.76 ERA, 3.27 FIP, 31.4 K%, 6.2 BB%, 1.25 HR/9, and a 0.94 WHIP. His average four-seam fastball velocity was 99.4 mph. 

For comparison, Toronto’s primary starters produced the following 2025 lines. Kevin Gausman: 32 starts, 193 innings, 3.59 ERA, 3.70 FIP, 8.81 K/9, 2.33 BB/9, 0.98 WHIP. Chris Bassitt: 31 starts, 170 1/3 innings, 3.96 ERA, 4.18 FIP, 8.77 K/9, 2.75 BB/9, 1.16 WHIP. José Berríos: 30 starts, 166 innings, 4.17 ERA, 4.85 FIP, 19.8 K%, 8.0 BB%. 

As a staff,  in 2025 Toronto's rotation ranked 20th in ERA (4.34), 14th in strikeouts (786), and 24th in FIP (4.46).

Greene’s expected indicators included a 3.09 xERA and 3.27 xFIP in 2025. He has yet to exceed 150 1/3 innings or 26 starts in a season, with a 2025 groin strain among recent IL stints. 

View full rumor

[jaysblue]

Not sure the Jays have the type of bat to trade for Hunter.

Barger + isn't enough.

Maybe you see a team with a top hitting prospect/rookie make the swap for Hunter. Kind of like how the Yankees traded Jesus Montero for Michael Pineda. 

Teams that have the hitting prospects or young bats the Reds would be looking for: Boston, Baltimore, Detroit, Washington, or Texas. 

[Brownie19]

Agreed.  I think the Jays target some of the top arms in free agency this year.  We're not really in a position to be trading good young position players.  I'd rather just pay for an arm.

[BTS]

Toronto definitely doesn't have the pieces if Cinci is looking for a bat. 

[Spanky__99]

Santander, Nimmala and King for Hunter. 😉