The Cincinnati Reds failed to sign free agent and hometown native Kyle Schwarber.
Cincinnati’s final offer was reportedly worth about $125 million over five years.
The Reds are now exploring other free agent and trade market options to improve the team.
ORLANDO – Whatever the Cincinnati Reds accomplish – or don’t – in 2026, the story for how it happened will start with Dec. 9 at MLB’s winter meetings.
Fifteen days after Kyle Schwarber and his wife got the Reds-carpet treatment at Great American Ball Park from Reds ownership, manager Terry Francona and top executives, Middletown’s most powerful man turned down an offer to transform his hometown team and instead returned to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Just like that, a Reds offseason of high hopes and tape-measure dreams pivoted to whatever comes next after the team missed on signing the first nine-figure, top-of-the-market free agent in franchise history.
“Kyle’s a great guy and obviously he made the decision that is best for his family. I’m happy for him,” Reds president Nick Krall said. “He’s a great talent, and you’re always disappointed when you don’t get somebody. But that’s just the way it goes. You’ve got to figure out how to pick it up and move on to the next guy.”
The next guy?
“We’re looking at everything,” Krall said.
Another big-ticket target? Multiple modest signings? A trade?