Reds-Phillies-Trade Will Send 28-Year-Old Pitcher To Cincinnati Reds In Massive Blockbuster Deal
Yankees must make this trade offer for Reds’ Hunter Greene
Yankees must acquire Hunter Greene from Reds with aggressive trade package featuring Spencer Jones, George Lombard Jr., and Carlos Lagrange prospects.
The rumor mill surrounding Cincinnati Reds ace Hunter Greene has reached a fever pitch this winter, and if there’s any truth to reports that the Reds are seriously shopping their flame-throwing right-hander, the New York Yankees need to be at the front of the line with an aggressive offer. While it seems counterintuitive for Cincinnati to move a pitcher under team control through 2029 who posted a 2.76 ERA with 132 strikeouts in 107.2 innings during the 2025 season, the Yankees can’t afford to let this opportunity slip away.
Greene’s durability concerns—he’s never made 27 starts or pitched 160 innings in a single season—might give the Reds pause about his long-term viability as a workhorse ace. But for a Yankees rotation desperately seeking reliable starting pitching behind Gerrit Cole, who missed all of 2025 recovering from Tommy John surgery, Greene represents exactly the kind of high-ceiling talent that could anchor their staff for the next several years. His six-year, $53 million extension signed in 2023 makes him a cost-controlled asset, paying him just $6 million in 2025 before escalating to $8 million in 2026 and $15 million in 2027. For a Yankees organization accustomed to nine-figure contracts, Greene’s deal is remarkably team-friendly.
The Yankees’ rotation situation heading into 2026 is precarious at best. While Cam Schlittler emerged as a revelation during his rookie campaign, pitching like a frontline starter in his limited appearances and delivering historic performances in the postseason, the organization knows better than to bank entirely on a 24-year-old with just 14 regular season starts under his belt. Max Fried and Schlittler figure to occupy two rotation spots, but beyond them, the Yankees are looking at question marks.
Greene would immediately slot in as the Yankees’ number two starter, providing the kind of elite velocity and strikeout ability that plays exceptionally well at Yankee Stadium. His 99.5 mph average fastball velocity in 2025 represents a significant uptick from his 97.6 mph mark in 2024, and his devastating slider combination has proven to be one of the most effective pitch mixes in baseball. His 2.75 ERA across 150.1 innings in 2024 demonstrated he’s capable of sustained success when healthy, limiting home runs to just 0.72 per nine innings. That kind of production is exactly what the Yankees need to complement their offense and compete in the brutal American League East.
The Yankees ranked among the most active teams at the 2025 trade deadline. That aggressiveness demonstrates general manager Brian Cashman’s willingness to sacrifice prospect capital when the right opportunity presents itself. Greene represents that caliber of opportunity—a pitcher with Cy Young potential still in his mid-20s under team control for multiple seasons.
The Perfect Trade Package
For the Yankees to land Hunter Greene, they’ll need to construct a package that addresses Cincinnati’s organizational needs while showcasing premium young talent. The Reds rank eighth in MLB Pipeline’s farm system rankings and have been vocal about their commitment to building through the draft and player development. However, their offensive production has been anemic, particularly since July 1, when they posted the fourth-lowest slugging percentage and second-lowest ISO in the majors. If Cincinnati is serious about competing in the National League Central, they need immediate offensive help alongside future building blocks.
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