Pierce Johnson Signing Signals Cincinnati Reds Committing Fully to Bullpen OVER Lineup Upgrades

Cincinnati Reds risk playoff dreams by betting big on pitching while leaving their outfield dangerously thin. Has the front office failed to balance the roster, or is hope the real MVP as 2026 approaches? Jeff and Steve analyze the Reds’ offseason, spotlighting the $6.5 million Pierce Johnson signing and its implications for future moves. Key topics include the team’s resource allocation—just 7% spent on the outfield—and how limited upgrades leave players like Spencer Steer and Matt McLain shouldering the offensive load. The bullpen’s transformation is broken down, with battles brewing among Graham Ashcraft, Connor Phillips, Caleb Ferguson, and Tony Santillan. James Rapien joins to compare the Reds and Bengals ownership dynamics and the potential impact on Cincinnati’s sports landscape. Is the Reds’ “hope strategy” enough for a postseason run, or will missed opportunities haunt the Queen City’s ballclub? Don’t miss this hard-hitting breakdown of the franchise’s future. Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…🎧 https://lockedonpodcasts.com/podcasts/locked-on-reds/ https://www.youtube.com/@LockedOnReds?sub_confirmation=1 Locked On MLB League-Wide: Every Team, Prospects & More🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnMLB BOOKMARK Sports Illustrated’s Cincinnati Reds site, Inside the Reds!https://www.si.com/mlb/reds/ Also follow @jefffcarr and @soffenbaker on Twitter JOIN THE DISCORD SERVER: https://discord.gg/STMcRDyMCt For your next listen, check out the Locked On MLB podcast. Get Sully’s take on MLB! He has it all covered every single day. Click HERE to listen now. Part of the Locked On Podcast Network. Your Team. Every Day. Everydayer Club  If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans.Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub   Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors! FanDuelToday's episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now. FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN) #Reds #CincinnatiReds #MLB Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.