According to MLB Trade Rumors, the Cincinnati Reds are projected to hand out over $50 million to their 13 arbitration eligible players next season. While the likes of Brady Singer, Tyler Stephenson, and Gavin Lux are going through the process for the final time and are expected to take home some of the highest salaries, first timers like TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer are both projected to earn more than $4 million through arbitration in 2026.
This is quite the problem for a team whose budget is rather tight. Last season, Cincinnati's Opening Day payroll was a little less than $112 million — 23rd lowest in Major League Baseball — and the Reds aren't expected to see a giant increase in spending heading into 2026.