Reds: Looking at the 20026 payroll

Something to consider with the Reds 2026 payroll outlook:

12 players are eligible for arbitration. Those players earned around $25M in 2025. Based on projections, their combined 2026 salaries would be about $48M.

That’s a payroll bump of about $21M from last season.

2025 salary/2026 projected arbitration salary:

Brady Singer $8.7…..$11.9

Nick Lodolo $1.98M….$4.3M

TJ Friedl $750K……$4.9M

Spencer Steer $750K…$4.5M

Tyler Stephenson $4.9….$6.4M

Gavin Lux $3.3….$5M

Matt McLain $750K…$2.6M

Will Benson $750K….$1.7M

Sam Moll $1.1M….$1.2M

Tony Santillan $750K….$2.4M

Graham Ashcraft $750K….$1.4M

Brandon Williamson $750K…800K

The Reds don’t have to offer all of these players arbitration.

They could choose to non-tender a player, allowing them to become a free agent (November 21).

Santiago Espinal and Ian Gibaut were arbitration eligible, but were removed from the 40 man last week and elected free agency.