Could Hunter Greene be on the move?

The Reds are drawing significant interest in the starting pitcher, who’s under contract for $15 million next season and $16 million in 2028, according to The Athletic.

While the Reds reportedly aren’t motivated to move Greene, it’d likely be their best chance to make an impact at the trade deadline, especially considering an Elly De La Cruz swap is even more unlikely. 

The Reds have multiple trade candidates on expiring contracts like Brady Singer and Nathaniel Lowe, but they wouldn’t yield as significant of a return as Greene would. 

Greene missed the first three months of the 2026 season after undergoing elbow surgery, and has been inconsistent in his first four starts back. 

His first appearance of the season saw him give up eight earned runs in 3 1/3 innings, while he followed that with seven innings of three-hit ball with 12 strikeouts.

Greene surrendered three runs over six innings against the Rockies on July 19, and his latest start last week he lasted 5 1/3 innings with seven runs against — six earned.

He currently sports a 7.06 ERA and 1.34 WHIP. 

Generally, Greene has been a reliable starter for the Reds across four years prior, overpowering hitters by consistently topping 100 miles per hour. 

In 2024, he had a 2.75 ERA in 150 innings while racking up 169 strikeouts.

Last season, albeit in fewer starts, he recorded a 2.76 ERA with 132 strikeouts. 

Over the last two seasons, Greene has a 2.29 ERA in 13 starts at Cincinnati’s Great American Ballpark and 5.33 ERA in 10 road starts.

Outside of Tarik Skubal, Greene may be the best starting pitcher on the market for teams come the trade deadline, giving clubs like the Brewers and Braves a chance to pounce if the Dodgers land Skubal. 

Despite starting the season 20-11, the Reds have remained outside the hunt in the NL Wild Card race for much of the season, entering Thursday’s slate 50-57 and six games back of the third and final spot. 

If Greene were to be traded, second-year starter Chase Burns would become the centerpiece of the Reds’ rotation. 

Burns has a 2.40 ERA in 112 innings this year.