Locked On Reds - Daily Podcast On The Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds face critical decisions about three key players heading into 2026. Matt McLain's disappointing 2025 season (.220 BA, 0.0 WAR) following shoulder surgery has fans concerned, but his elite late-season peripherals—including a 44.4% hard hit rate versus 37% league average—suggest a bounce-back is coming. Ke'Bryan Hayes presents a fascinating dilemma: his Gold Glove defense and 1.4...

The Cincinnati Reds' 2025 season reached the postseason, but what drove that success and what does it mean for the future? Terry Francona's first year as manager brought a laser-focused, day-to-day mentality that helped the team win crucial September games, a stark contrast to previous managers who would sacrifice today's game for tomorrow's bullpen availability. The hosts examine whether David Be...

The Cincinnati Reds face a pivotal decision regarding Hunter Greene's future. Could trading the young ace actually benefit the team? Steven Offenbaker and Jeff Carr analyze the potential impact on the rotation, exploring how Nick Lodolo, Brady Singer, Chase Burns, and Rhett Lowder could step up. They dissect Nick Krall's front office strategy, comparing it to the Tampa Bay Rays' model of sustained...

The Cincinnati Reds face crucial decisions as trade rumors swirl around Hunter Greene. There are reasons you have to really squint hard to see for Greene to be traded. Jeff and Steve analyze the implications of trading Greene, exploring the "Tampa model" of flipping high-value players. The hosts dissect Elly De La Cruz's position dilemma, questioning why he played all 162 games despite not being f...

World Series Showdown: Dodgers vs. Blue Jays - Who Will Reign Supreme?   The Los Angeles Dodgers and Toronto Blue Jays face off in an unexpected World Series matchup. Can the Blue Jays' complete team challenge the Dodgers' powerhouse lineup? Key discussions include team strengths, payroll disparities, and the impact of high-spending franchises on MLB. The hosts analyze starting pitching, bullpen s...

The Cincinnati Reds face pivotal decisions as trade rumors swirl around Hunter Greene. Is trading the young ace a smart move? Jeff Carr and Lance McAlister dissect Greene's team-friendly contract and potential, questioning the logic behind moving such a promising pitcher. The duo explores Elly De La Cruz's future at shortstop, debating patience versus positional change. They critically examine the...

The Cincinnati Reds' quest for a clutch hitter takes center stage as Jeff Carr and Mo Egger dissect the team's offensive struggles. They analyze potential free agent targets like Kyle Schwarber and Pete Alonso, while acknowledging the franchise's historical reluctance to make big signings. The conversation shifts to player development, with Sal Stewart's power potential and Elly De La Cruz's defen...

The Cincinnati Reds' offseason strategy takes center stage as trade rumors swirl around Hunter Greene. Jeff Carr and Tim Daniel dissect why Greene is unlikely to be dealt, citing the gap between his value and potential offers. They explore realistic free agent targets like Rhys Hoskins and Max Kepler, emphasizing complementary moves over blockbuster signings. The hosts analyze Matt McLain's potent...

The Cincinnati Reds face crucial offseason decisions as Nick Krall should opt against extending qualifying offers. Nick Martinez's performance decline and $21 million gamble are scrutinized, with Jeff Carr analyzing his diminished strikeout rate and increased home run vulnerability. Base running strategy shifts dramatically, dropping from 305 stolen base attempts in 2024 to just 105 in 2025. Carr...

The Cincinnati Reds' trade rumors heat up as Hunter Greene's name surfaces in potential deals. Jeff Carr and Gabby Maljanian analyze Greene's impressive 4.4 WAR in just 19 starts last season, weighing his talent against injury concerns. Brady Singer emerges as a more realistic trade target, offering the consistency both teams crave. Red Sox outfielders Jarren Duran and Willy Abreu are dissected as...

The Cincinnati Reds face crucial decisions about Tyler Stephenson's future. Is the talented catcher worth extending or trading? Jeff Carr and Steven Offenbaker analyze Stephenson's offensive production, trade value, and importance to the team. They explore José Treviño's role as backup and dissect the Reds' catching prospects, focusing on Alfredo Duno's potential. Will Duno be the long-term soluti...

The Cincinnati Reds' outfield for 2026 takes shape with Noelvi Marte's surprising shift to right field. His offensive stats (.263/.300/.448 with 14 home runs) and defensive potential spark optimism for the future. Jeff and Steve analyze TJ Friedl's role in center field and explore left field options, emphasizing the need for a power hitter. The hosts dissect the team's dismal 3-12 record in extra...

Could Hunter Greene be available to trade for as the Cincinnati Reds have a surplus of starting pitchers? Steven Offenbaker and Jeff Carr analyze potential moves, including the Reds pitcher they'd actually trade. They explore Nick Krall's non-committal stance on trades and project the Reds' 2026 rotation, featuring promising prospects like Chase Burns and Rhett Lowder. Could moving a starting pitc...

The Cincinnati Reds face a pivotal decision: Should Elly De La Cruz move from shortstop to center field? Jeff Carr and Steve Offenbaker dissect De La Cruz's defensive struggles, starting with his league-leading error counts in 2024 and 2025 and expanding to the bigger picture of mediocrity. They explore the potential benefits of shifting him to center field, drawing parallels to Fernando Tatis Jr....

The Cincinnati Reds' offseason strategy takes center stage as the team should be seeking a power hitter to boost their lineup. Budget constraints and potential free agent targets are analyzed, with Tyler O'Neill, Marcelo Ozuna, and Rhys Hoskins emerging as realistic options. Steven Offenbaker and Jeff Carr explore creative roster moves to free up funds, including possible cuts like Will Benson and...

The Cincinnati Reds face crucial defensive decisions for 2026. Elly De La Cruz remains at shortstop despite leading in errors, while TJ Friedl's center field backup plan raises questions. Host Jeff Carr analyzes Tyler Stephenson's contract situation and explores corner infield options, including Spencer Steer, Sal Stewart, and Ke'Bryan Hayes. Carr examines potential lineup changes, defensive impro...

The Cincinnati Reds' bullpen faces a crucial overhaul for 2026. Steven Offenbaker and Jeff Carr analyze the 2025 performance, highlighting the unit's mid-tier ranking and inconsistent results. They explore potential changes, including Emilio Pagán's likely departure and Tony Santillan's possible ascension to closer. The hosts debate in-house options, discussing Graham Ashcraft's untapped potential...

The Cincinnati Reds' offensive woes in 2025 take center stage as Jeff Carr and Steve Offenbaker dissect the team's disappointing performance. Analyzing key players like Elly De La Cruz and Christian Encarnacion-Strand, they explore why the Reds' bet on young talent didn't pay off. The hosts dive into individual struggles, including Matt McLain's unexpected zero WAR season and TJ Friedl's relative...

The Cincinnati Reds' stellar pitching propelled them to postseason contention in 2025. Jeff Carr breaks down the remarkable performance of the starting rotation, featuring Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Andrew Abbott. Discover how the Reds' pitching philosophy, emphasizing fly balls and limiting hard contact, contradicts traditional wisdom but yields impressive results. Carr explores potential tr...

The Locked on MLB Squad dissects the thrilling Wild Card round, spotlighting Cam Schlittler's dominant performance and the New York Yankees' unexpected success. They analyze crucial pitching decisions, debating the merits of modern bullpen management versus traditional strategies. They offer predictions for the Divisional Series, focusing on the Philadelphia Phillies-Los Angeles Dodgers and Yankee...

The Cincinnati Reds' Wild Card elimination sparks intense debate on Locked On Reds. Jeff Carr and Steve Offenbaker dissect the pitching collapse against the Dodgers, questioning Terry Francona's decisions. They analyze Sal Stewart's promising playoff performance and Hunter Greene's limited role. Looking ahead, the hosts explore offseason priorities, including power hitting additions and defensive...

The Cincinnati Reds’ 2025 season came to an end with a tough loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, as they fell after giving up eight unanswered runs. Cincinnati jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but a series of costly mistakes opened the door for the defending champions to take control. Despite flashes of resilience, the Reds couldn’t recover and saw their postseason hopes dashed once again. Still, the...

Cincinnati Reds face elimination after Hunter Greene's playoff meltdown. Can they bounce back against the Los Angeles Dodgers? Steven Offenbaker and Jeff Carr break down the Reds' disappointing Game 1 loss, analyzing Greene's struggles and the team's late-game resilience. They strategize for a must-win Game 2, debating lineup changes and pitching options to counter the Dodgers' high-powered offens...

The Cincinnati Reds dropped Game 1 of the NL Wild Card Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, falling 10-5 at Dodger Stadium. Cincinnati looked overmatched for much of the night against the defending champions, who built a commanding lead early. The Reds did show some late fight, stringing together quality at-bats in the eighth inning to push across three runs against the Dodgers bullpen, but the defi...

The Cincinnati Reds face a crucial Wild Card showdown against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hunter Greene and Andrew Abbott lead the Reds' pitching staff against the Dodgers' star-studded lineup featuring Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. Jeff Carr and Harry Ruiz, hosts of Locked On Reds and Locked On Dodgers respectively, break down team strengths, bullpen concerns, and lineup challeng...