Friday, October 30

CINCINNATI -- With the World Series completed, it's time to turn attention to not only baseball's Hot Stove season, but also awards season.

After a disappointing 2026, the Reds were very much on the outside looking in during this month's postseason. But some of their players have good chances to earn awards for their individual performances this season.

The best chances for recognition belong to first baseman Sal Stewart, who is expected to be a leading candidate for National League Rookie of the Year.

Stewart, 22, batted .263 with a .787 OPS, 32 home runs and 112 RBIs while playing all 162 games for Cincinnati. He became the second Reds player to have a 30-homer rookie year, joining Hall of Famer Frank Robinson (38 in 1956). Stewart, who set the franchise record in RBIs for a rookie before the end of August, is also the only Cincinnati rookie to enjoy a 30-homer, 100-RBI season -- something that only 14 AL/NL rookies have ever accomplished. 

Each of the previous nine to do it since the Rookie of the Year Award began (1947) have all won the honors: Walt Dropo (1950), Ron Kittle (1983), José Canseco (1986), Mark McGwire (1987), Mike Piazza (1993), Albert Pujols (2001), José Abreu (2014), Aaron Judge (2017) and Pete Alonso (2019).

Among other superlatives, Stewart led NL rookies in homers, RBIs, extra-base hits (57) and total bases (285). His 164 hits -- the most by a Reds rookie since Pete Rose's 170 in 1963 -- were tied for second. He was also second in runs (87) and third in walks (63).

Stewart is likely vying for NL Rookie of the Year with the Cardinals' JJ Wetherholt and both Carson Benge and Nolan McLean of the Mets. The finalists -- as voted on by 30 members of the Baseball Writers' Association of America -- will be announced Nov. 2 on MLB Network.

Perhaps a foreshadowing of what's to come, Stewart has already won top NL rookie honors from the Sporting News via a player vote and the MLB Players Association's Players Choice Awards. The winners of the BBWAA's NL and American League Rookie of the Year Awards will be announced on Nov. 9 on MLB Network.

The last Reds Rookie of the Year was Jonathan India in 2021.

Stewart, shortstop Elly De La Cruz and starting pitcher Chase Burns are the Reds that are nominees for the 2026 All-MLB Team. Winners will be announced on Nov. 11 during the fourth annual MLB Awards in Las Vegas. Top performances will be recognized with first- and second-team honors. 

De La Cruz batted .283 with an .880 OPS, 30 homers, 79 RBIs and 30 steals in 143 games for Cincinnati. He became the fourth Reds player to post a 30-homer, 30-steal season and the first since Brandon Phillips in 2007.

Burns was 15-3 with a 2.86 ERA in 29 starts during his second pro season. He struck out 185 batters over 154 1/3 innings. Although not expected to win the NL Cy Young Award, he could garner some votes from the BBWAA electors. That award will be revealed on Nov. 11. 

De La Cruz and Stewart could also get some down-ballot votes for the NL MVP Award, which will be announced on Nov. 12.

First day after World Series (Oct. 29): Players become free agents; players may be traded between clubs

Five days after World Series (5 p.m. ET Monday): Deadline for teams to make a qualifying offer to players; players can begin signing with any club

Nov. 10-12: General Managers Meetings in Las Vegas

Nov. 17 (4 p.m. ET): Deadline for players to accept a qualifying offer

Nov. 20: Non-tender deadline

The following Reds players became free agents after the World Series:

RHP Brady Singer, Catcher Tyler Stephenson, LHP Brock Burke

These are the Reds who are facing option decisions, which have a Saturday deadline:

3B/DH Eugenio Suárez  ($16 million mutual option with no buyout), RHP Emilio Pagán ($10 million player option), RHP Pierce Johnson ($8M mutual option, $1 million buyout)

• Outfielder JJ Bleday is seeking more consistency following his first season in Cincinnati.

• Reds outfielder prospect Yerlin Confidan has been one of the hotter hitters lately in the Arizona Fall League.

• A Reds division rival, the Brewers, claimed their first World Series championship in that franchise's 57-year history. 

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