Hunter Greene Emerges as a Reds Trade Candidate

Hunter Greene is again drawing trade speculation as the Cincinnati Reds head into the 2026-27 offseason. The right-hander is expected to miss the entire 2027 season after having his elbow ligament reconstructed again in August, making a move a complicated proposition for the club and any potential trade partner.

Greene is due $15 million in 2027, which would make him Cincinnati’s highest-paid player, and is set to earn $16 million in 2028. The Reds also hold a $21 million team option for 2029. Moving his contract could ease the team’s payroll burden, but his injury and missed season are likely to limit the return Cincinnati could receive.

Selling now would mean parting with a pitcher who has shown significant upside. Across 45 starts in 2024 and 2025, Greene posted a 2.76 ERA and a 29% strikeout rate, though groin and elbow problems cost him time during those seasons.

Greene has said a trade is not something he controls, describing it as part of the business of professional baseball. Cincinnati may be reluctant to move one of its more affordable contracts as the collective bargaining agreement approaches its expiration. A deal could still be considered if another team makes an offer the Reds find difficult to turn down.