The Cincinnati Reds are experiencing considerable trade interest in starting pitcher Hunter Greene, according to reports. While the Reds are not actively looking to move Greene, his potential availability is generating buzz as the Major League Baseball trade deadline nears.
Greene, who is under contract for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, could represent a significant asset for teams looking to bolster their rotation. Although the Reds have other players on expiring contracts, such as Brady Singer and Nathaniel Lowe, Greene is seen as capable of yielding a more substantial return.
This trade speculation comes as Greene has made an inconsistent return from elbow surgery that sidelined him for the first three months of the 2026 season. His early starts have shown mixed results, including a rough outing where he surrendered eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, followed by a strong performance with 12 strikeouts over seven innings. More recently, he allowed three runs over six innings against the Rockies and gave up seven runs, six earned, in 5 1/3 innings in his latest start. He currently holds a 7.06 earned run average and a 1.34 walks plus hits per inning pitched.
Despite his recent struggles, Greene has a track record as a reliable starter for the Reds over his four previous years. He has consistently thrown pitches exceeding 100 miles per hour. In the 2024 season, he posted a 2.75 ERA over 150 innings with 169 strikeouts. The previous season, he recorded a 2.76 ERA with 132 strikeouts in fewer starts. His home and road statistics show a notable difference, with a 2.29 ERA in 13 starts at Cincinnati's Great American Ball Park compared to a 5.33 ERA in 10 road starts over the last two seasons.
Greene is considered one of the top starting pitchers potentially available on the market, second only to Tarik Skubal, making him a target for teams like the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves, particularly if the Los Angeles Dodgers acquire Skubal. The Reds, despite holding a 20-11 record at one point, are currently six games back in the NL Wild Card race and are on the outside looking in.
Should Greene be traded, the Reds would likely lean on second-year starter Chase Burns to anchor their rotation. Burns has demonstrated strong performance this year, with a 2.40 ERA over 112 innings.