When the Cincinnati Reds traded for Taylor Rogers from the San Francisco Giants this past offseason, fans were caught off guard but generally optimistic. The Giants agreed to cover half of the left-hander’s salary, and Rogers’ 2024 advanced stats pointed to him being a solid late-inning option for the Reds’ bullpen.
However, halfway through the 2025 season, that optimism has faded. While Rogers’ 2.56 ERA looks impressive, it doesn’t tell the full story. His actual performance has been disappointing across most metrics. A 3.98 FIP offers a more accurate reflection—and even that might be a bit generous.
Rogers’ ground ball rate has dropped from 46% last season to just 37.9% this year. His hard-hit rate has also worsened significantly—falling from an elite 32.9% in 2024 to 40.2% in 2025, placing him around league average.
The Reds should be alright without Rogers in the bullpen, as they already have two additional lefties, Sam Moll and Brent Suter. Left-handed relievers are highly sought after at the MLB trade deadline, and the Reds may be fortunate enough to find a buyer for Rogers before the July 31 deadline.
Rogers pitched effectively in the first month of the season, but his performance deteriorated as the calendar turned to May. After keeping opposing batters to a.219 average and.375 slugging percentage in his first 12 outings this season, Rogers saw the opposition hit him for.278/.325/.444 in his 11 May appearances.
Rogers has also struggled with high leverage situations. In 14 high-leverage appearances this season, the southpaw has allowed opposing batters to absolutely hammer him (.412/.458/.647). Rogers has settled into a sixth-seventh inning position and is frequently called upon when the Reds are down. In other words, Terry Francona does not trust him to help maintain a late-game lead.
The Reds should want to enhance their bullpen at the deadline, but they also have some serviceable backups in the minors in case Rogers gets picked up by another team. While the Reds only gave up Braxton Roxby to acquire Rogers, he has been little more than a replacement-level player this season.