Cincinnati

Reds

Friedl may be the most prominent minor-league free agent on the open market this offseason after passing through waivers unclaimed last month. The 31-year-old hit just .172/.255/.255 with four homers and five steals across 272 plate appearances for Cincinnati this past season, a steep decline from the 18-homer, 27-steal campaign he put together back in 2023. He should still be able to latch on somewhere as a quality fourth outfielder, with a chance to compete for a more significant role in spring training.

We’ll give him the /OF slash because the Mariners did, but he belongs at first base, and he missed the final five weeks of this year because of a right shoulder dislocation he suffered while diving in the outfield. Toglia is 28 with a .198/.275/.385 line and a 74 OPS+ in 1,095 major league plate appearances, all except the last 28 of which came with the Rockies. He does offer legitimate power, but he seems more like a minor league signing than someone who should take up a 40-man spot all winter.

Johnson, 27, went 1-for-16 in 16 games with the Reds this year before finishing the season in the minors. He hit .247/.354/.424 with 11 homers and 15 steals in 73 games while mostly playing second base and left field for Louisville.

The 28-year-old Williamson winds up 5-5 with a 5.30 ERA over 12 outings in his return from Tommy John. He’ll probably have a chance to stick around and complete for a spot next year, but middle relief might be a better home for him than the rotation.

Stewart collected just six RBI and saw his OPS fall from .826 to .787 during the month of September, which might well cost him NL Rookie of the Year honors. He does have 32 homers, and he’s finished third in the majors with 111 RBI. However, a first baseman with a sub-.800 OPS probably doesn’t deserve the hardware in this crowded of a field.

The 35-year-old slugger and impending free agent started each of the previous five games, so he’ll get a breather at least to begin this one. I’d expect to see him make an appearance off the bench in what could be his final at-bat with the Reds. Juan Brito will start at third base for the Reds and will bat fifth against Jays’ right-hander Max Scherzer.

Bleday’s home run was his 24th of the season. He hit a solo shot off Trey Yesavage in the second inning. Bleday’s power is real. He’s hit at least 20 home runs in two of the last three years and has slugged at least .400 in three consecutive season. The question will be if that’s enough for him to remain a regular everyday player for Cincinnati next year.

Lowder gave up three hits, walked two and struck out two. He’ll finish the year 7-12 with a 5.74 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 103 strikeouts in 133 1/3 innings over 26 starts and 29 appearances. Lowder’s 4.85 xFIP suggests it’ll take a significant skills change for him to become fantasy-relevant.

Elly joined the 30/30 club in the top of the third inning when he doubled off Blue Jays starter José Soriano and then stole third soon after. The double was also the 30th of the season for Elly, who became the fourth player in Reds history to join the 30/30 club and continues to swing a hot bat in the final week of the season. Elly is slashing .377/.461/.792 in September with 14 extra-base hits, 17 RBI and five steals.

The Jays hit Lodolo early and often in this one, smacking three doubles off of the lefty in the bottom of the first inning that resulted in two runs coming across to score. Those would be the only two runs Lodolo would allow in the game. He would escape a bases-loaded jam in the second inning and would be pulled at the top of the sixth inning after hitting Nathan Lukes with a pitch to start the frame. Lodolo’s season ends with a 3-6 record and a 4.97 ERA.