Shane Bieber and these 2 free agent starters continue to draw interest from the Reds
Shane Bieber has been linked to the Cincinnati Reds for almost the entire offseason.
After officially signing Jeimer Candelario to a three-year contract, it appears as though Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall is not done adding to the roster.
Sources are telling Jon Morosi of MLB Network that the Reds are active in both the trade market and free agency as the Cincinnati front office continues to search for an upgrade to join the starting rotation.
Three names that popped up in Morosi’s latest reporting are Cleveland Guardians starter Shane Bieber, along with free agent right-handers Michael Wacha and Lucas Giolito.
Reds rumors: Shane Bieber still drawing trade interest from Cincinnati
It’s no surprise that these latest Reds rumors tie Shane Bieber to Cincinnati. It seems as though the idea of bringing Tyler Glasnow to the Queen City have faded, but the Bieber trade rumors are still strong.
Bieber, who is in the final year of his arbitration window, is expected to make about half of Glasnow’s $25-million salary for the 2024 season. It’s also been reported that Bieber is willing to work out a contract extension should he be traded this offseason.
There are, however, injury concerns that come with swinging a deal for Shane Bieber after the former Cy Young Award-winner experienced elbow inflammation last season. Bieber was able to return and pitched in two games during the month of September.
Reds rumors: Lucas Giolito and Michael Wacha receiving interest on the free agent market
The Cincinnati Reds have been loosely tied to almost every single free agent pitcher on the market this winter. After their young core was unable to stay healthy in 2023, Nick Krall and Co. have made it their mission to upgrade the starting rotation this winter.
The Reds have already added Nick Martinez. And while he’ll enter spring training competing for a spot in the rotation, Martinez could easily be flipped to the bullpen.
Michael Wacha would be a fine middle-of-the-rotation addition, while Luacs Giolito has long been considered a frontline starter. But after last season, the former Chicago White Sox hurler might be looking for a one-year deal in order to reestablish his market following a down-year in 2023.
These latest Reds rumors would certainly suggest Cincinanti is not done adding to their pitching staff quite yet. All three players mentioned in Jon Morosi’s report would immediately vault near the top of the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation.
