Reds Fans Losing Patience with Disappointing Offseason Arm as Trade Deadline Looms
When the Cincinnati Reds acquired left-hander Taylor Rogers from the San Francisco Giants last offseason, fans were cautiously optimistic. The Giants agreed to cover half of Rogers’ salary, and his underlying 2024 metrics hinted at a reliable late-inning arm for the Reds’ bullpen. However, as the 2025 season unfolds, that hope has turned into frustration.
Despite a misleading 2.56 ERA, Rogers has struggled in nearly every other key area. His FIP has ballooned to 3.98, and his ground ball rate has dropped significantly from 46% to 37.9%. The once-elite hard-hit rate he carried last year has regressed to a pedestrian 40.2%, landing him squarely in the middle of the pack.
Rogers showed promise in April, limiting batters to a .219 average and a .375 slugging percentage. But come May, things unraveled—opponents teed off for a .278 average and .444 slugging mark over 11 appearances. His biggest issue? High-leverage situations. In 14 such outings, opponents have obliterated him with a .412/.458/.647 slash line, and he’s now been relegated to middle relief duties, usually when the Reds are already trailing.
With lefty relievers Sam Moll and Brent Suter already in the bullpen—and better-performing options waiting in the minors—Reds fans are ready to move on. Rogers has become expendable, and Cincinnati may be actively looking to offload him before the July 31 trade deadline. Though the team only parted with Braxton Roxby to acquire him, Rogers has provided little more than replacement-level production.
Given the demand for left-handed relievers around the league, there’s still a chance another club takes a flier on Rogers. But unless something changes quickly, it appears his time in Cincinnati may be nearing an end.
