Cincinnati Reds Drama ERUPTS as Fans Question Commitment After Schwarber Rejection

Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates mirror each other’s offseason frustrations, leaving fans questioning front-office ambition. Can either team turn a quiet winter into a playoff surge? Jeff and Gary Morgan compare limited spending, missed opportunities for power bats like Kyle Schwarber and Cody Bellinger, and inconsistent roster strategies. Is salvaging the hot stove still possible—or are both franchises headed for another year of close-but-not-quite contention? Key debates include the Reds’ curious stance on payroll after a failed Schwarber pursuit, Ke’Bryan Hayes’ future, and the Pirates’ urgency to spend or trade before backlash mounts. The duo explores potential impact from top prospects like Elly De La Cruz and O’Neill Cruz, player development trends, and why “breakout” hopes may not be enough. With both teams seeking that elusive big bat or pitching upgrade, find out what could truly shift the NL Central race. 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. 0:00 - Reds & Pirates Similarities 1:28 - Reds Offseason Breakdown 10:27 - Pirates Offseason Moves 21:22 - Internal Player Improvements 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! Gametime Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONMLB for $20 off your first purchase. Terms apply. Download Gametime today. What time is it? Gametime. FanDuel Today'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.