The offseason begins in about a week and the Cincinnati Reds haven’t given a public indication whether payroll will increase, decrease or stay the same heading into the 2022 season.
No matter the budget situation, the bullpen is an area the Reds need to address this winter. It was the club’s weakness for most of the season (4.99 ERA, fourth-highest in MLB) and blown saves add up when a team falls short in a playoff race. The Reds lost seven games when leading after seven innings and four games when leading after the eighth inning.
Michael Lorenzen and Mychal Givens will become free agents after the conclusion of the World Series, and Tejay Antone will miss the entire 2022 season after he underwent his second Tommy John surgery.