This time one year ago I doubt the Cincinnati Reds envisioned they’d need to turn to Julian Aguiar for 31.2 big league innings during the 2024 regular season. They set out in free agency and eventually landed both Nick Martinez and Frankie Montas, two veteran arms to bolster a young corps including Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, and Graham Ashcraft.
Brandon Williamson was in the fold! So, too, were Connor Phillips and Carson Spiers! Lyon Richardson finally looked healthy, and there was a good chance Rhett Lowder was going to pitch his way into the discussion, too.