Will Elly De La Cruz and Sal Stewart ACTUALLY Save the Cincinnati Reds Franchise?

Cincinnati Reds’ 2026 season mercifully ends amid frustration and cautious optimism. Elly De La Cruz’s superstar leap—highlighted by his 30-30 season and improving splits—has fans dreaming of a Rickey Henderson-like future, while Sal Stewart’s Rookie of the Year campaign and Chase Burns’ emergence as a Cy Young contender offer hope for a brighter core.

Steven Offenbaker and Tim Daniel dissect which performances the Reds can trust heading into 2027, what lingering roster holes must be addressed, and why running back Jose Treviño as catcher or JJ Bleday as an everyday outfielder could doom next season. The hosts challenge the front office to upgrade around the promising youth, caution against another year of weak depth from Louisville, and preview offseason drama with looming CBA uncertainty. Will Cincinnati finally build a contender or repeat costly mistakes?

Cincinnati Reds, Reds offseason, Elly De La Cruz, Sal Stewart, Chase Burns, Matt McLain, JJ Bleday, Jose Trevino, TJ Antone, Tyler Stephenson, Alfredo Duno, Ke'Bryan Hayes, Brady Singer, 2026 Reds season, Reds roster, Locked On Reds, MLB Reds, Cincinnati Reds News, Cincinnati Reds Rumors, Reds prospects, Reds lineup, MLB offseason, Terry Francona

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