Callihan (forearm) has been fully cleared for all baseball activities and is a full-go in spring training, Charlie Goldsmith of The Dayton Daily News reports.

Callihan has had an incredibly unlucky professional career when it comes to his health, the latest being in May 2025 when he snapped his forearm trying to make a sliding catch in Atlanta. He's got an uphill battle to make the team out of spring training, lining up behind Will Benson and JJ Bleday as left-handed hitting corner outfielders.

Suarez is taking reps at first base to start each day of spring training, Charlie Goldsmith of The Dayton Daily News reports. "I'm a guy who likes work," Suarez said. "I want to be better at first base. I know they're going to need me there."

Suarez is still likely to get most of his starts as theReds' designated hitter, with Ke'Bryan Hayes starting at third base and either Sal Stewart or Spencer Steer playing first base, but every bit of flexibility helps. Suarez played the first three games at first base of his major league career last season.

Rodriguez's contact ability has generated reaction from observers in camp, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

Rodriguez spent time with Double-A Chattanooga (82 games) and Triple-A Louisville (53) in 2025 before earning a promotion to theReds' 40-man roster during the offseason. He slashed .298/.357/.481 with 12 home runs in Double A and .260/.304/.405 with seven homers in his introduction to Triple A. While onlookers are impressed by Rodriguez's ability to hit anything thrown at him, they also feel he needs to be more selective. The soon-to-be 22-year-old outfielder also played offseason ball in the Dominican Winter League, where he slashed .301/.375/.504 with four homers across 128 plate appearances and walked as many times as he struck out (13).

Burns will compete for the fifth starter's role during spring training, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. He showed improvement with his changeup during a two-inning live batting practice session on Monday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Dayton Daily News reports.

Burns experienced just about everything a pitcher can during his first year of professional ball in 2025, hitting three levels of the minors before making his MLB debut with theReds. He also experienced an injury, time on the injured list and returned to pitch as a reliever over the final weeks of the regular season and into the postseason. The right-hander held his own for the most part and can leverage that experience to compete for the final rotation spot. His fellow candidates for the job are Rhett Lowder, Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar (elbow). Burns possesses an elite four-seamer and slider (43.9 Whiff%) and has succeeded thus far on the strength of those two pitches, but adding a useful changeup or cutter could take him to another level.

TheReds signedLowe to a minor-league contract Friday that includes an invitation to spring training, Mark Feinsand and Mark Sheldon of MLB.com report.

The 30-year-old Lowe had to settle for a minor-league deal after slashing a disappointing .228/.307/.381 with 18 home runs over 153 regular-season games between the Nationals and Red Sox in 2025. While his left-handed bat could be of use in a righty-heavy lineup, the Reds already have Sal Stewart and Eugenio Suarez projected for everyday at-bats between first base and designated hitter. Spencer Steer is also in the mix for playing time at those spots, so it's difficult to see a current fit for Lowe on the 26-man roster.

Steer said Thursday that he cleaned up his sprinting mechanics to prevent re-injuring his quadriceps, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Steer got off to a slow start in 2025 because of a shoulder injury, but he admitted there was also a right quadriceps issue that bothered him for most of the season. "I think that had to do with my sprinting mechanics, and I cleaned that stuff up," he said. That was likely the reason he stole just seven bases after reaching double-digit swipes in each of the previous two seasons. Steer, who was a Gold Glove finalist at first base in 2025, will move around the diamond this season. His primary spot will be left field but depending on matchups, injuries and game situations, he could also see time in right field, and at first, second or third base.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Thursday that Valdez will be shut down from throwing for a few weeks due to a shoulder issue, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Valdez finished the 2025 season with a 2.34 ERA and 67:25 K:BB over 57.2 innings between Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville. The 25-year-old was already a long shot to make the Opening Day roster, and the shoulder injury should essentially eliminate him from contention.

Reds manager Terry Francona said Thursday thatEncarnacion-Strand is behind schedule after suffering a hamstring injury in January, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

Encarnacion-Strand is on a running program, so he is improving, but he could miss the first few Cactus League games. The 26-year-old infielder slashed just .208/.234/.377 across 137 plate appearances last season and looks to be a bit buried on the Reds' depth chart.

Marte will receive opportunities to play center field this spring, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

TJ Friedl is expected to get the most starts in center field this season, but theReds want to see how Marte handles the new position. Marte moved from third base to right field in 2025, and though there were growing pains, he eventually proved himself to be competent and enters 2026 as the primary starter in right.

Stewart shed 26 pounds during the offseason, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Stewart, primarily a third baseman in the minors, has a clear path to playing regularly at first base and designated hitter this season. Last season's primary starter at first base, Spencer Steer, will likely be a regular in left field while also subbing in at three infield positions. Stewart was introduced to first base last season and had a throwing error in the playoffs that led to a four-run rally by the Dodgers. It's unclear if the error prompted him to drop the weight, but the early report out of camp is that the slimmer Stewart has improved his athleticism. How that reduction in weight impacts his offense is something to monitor, but the 22-year-old prospect is confident he will retain his compact swing and continue to hit for power. During a September call-up last year, Stewart slashed .255/.293/.545 with five home runs, eight RBIs and 11 runs scored over 58 plate appearances.

Williamson (elbow) faced hitters in a live batting practice session Wednesday, Charlie Goldsmith of Fox 19 Now Cincinnati reports.

The left-hander has no restrictions to begin camp after he missed the entire 2025 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Williamson will get the chance to compete for a spot in theReds' Opening Day rotation this spring, but he still has two minor-league options remaining and seems more likely to begin the season at Triple-A Louisville.

Stephenson will earn $6.8 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing against theReds, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

The two sides went to a hearing despite just a $250,000 difference in their submitted arbitration figures, and the three-person panel ultimately picked Stephenson's filing. Stephenson put up a .737 OPS with 13 home runs over 88 regular-season contests for the Reds this past season and will be their top catcher again in 2026. He is slated to reach free agency next offseason.

Pagan and teammate Tony Santillan will likely see less work in spring training games this year, especially early in the spring, Charlie Goldsmith of The Dayton Daily News reports. "We'll slow play them a little," pitching coach Derek Johnson said. "We need to give them a bit of time on the front end to build and maybe not be in games right away.

Pagan and Santillan were heavily used by theReds last season, particularly down the stretch as the team tried to make the playoffs. The Reds did acquire Caleb Ferguson, Pierce Johnson and Brock Burke this offseason to help lighten the load on the two returning high-leverage arms.

Ashcraft will earn $1.75 million in 2026 after winning his arbitration hearing against theReds, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.

The three-person arbitration panel sided with Ashcraft rather than the Reds' $1.25 figure. Ashcraft had a solid 2025 campaign in his first year as a full-time reliever, posting a 3.99 ERA and 64:25 K:BB over 65.1 regular-season innings. He's slated for a middle-relief role again in 2026.

Lowder's velocity returned to the 93-95 mph range during short outings in the Arizona Fall League last year, Keith Law of The Athletic reports.

Lowder missed all of the 2025 season initially with a forearm injury, which he rehabbed, before a strained oblique muscle kept him off the mound until the AFL. In addition to a velocity bounce-back, the right-hander showed a plus changeup and a sharper slider that missed bats. Lowder enters spring training healthy and will compete for a spot in the rotation.

TheReds designatedRortvedt for assignment Tuesday.

Booting Rortvedt off the 40-man roster clears a spot for Eugenio Suarez, who was officially signed Tuesday. Rortvedt was a waiver claim by the Reds earlier this offseason and is now likely to be on the move again. The defensive-minded catcher is a career .190/.279/.270 hitter over parts of four big-league seasons.

Stewart is expected to split his time between designated hitter and corner infield following theReds' signing of Eugenio Suarez, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

As long as he's healthy, Ke'Bryan Hayes is in line to be the team's everyday third baseman, which leaves Stewart and Suarez to share first base and DH duties. Bringing Suarez aboard does not preclude Stewart from getting everyday reps, but it does give him less margin for error. The rookie swatted five home runs in 18 regular-season contests down the stretch for Cincinnati while slashing .255/.293/.545. Stewart also sported a robust 52.5 percent hard-hit rate and 17.5 percent barrel rate during his cup of coffee.

Steer is expected to play some in the outfield and serve in a super utility role following theReds' signing of Eugenio Suarez, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

Suarez and Sal Stewart will soak up most of the at-bats between first base and designated hitter, and Ke'Bryan Hayes will occupy the hot corner. Steer's clearest path to playing time is in left field -- which was his primary position in 2024 -- though the 28-year-old is unlikely to settle in at one spot. He slashed an underwhelming .238/.312/.411 with 21 home runs across 146 regular-season contests in 2025, though Steer's numbers were held back by a dreadful .174/.248/.272 line in April when he played through a shoulder issue.

De La Cruz should benefit from Cincinnati signing free agent Eugenio Suarez, who is expected to bat cleanup behind De La Cruz, C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic reports.

The addition of Suarez's bat is expected to provide protection for De La Cruz, who started 148 games as the No. 3 hitter and led the team with 22 home runs in 2025. TheReds hadn't done much to address the need for power during the offseason until signing Suarez, a right-handed bat that belted 49 home runs in 2025 while with Arizona and Seattle. Despite playing in one of the league's friendlier hitting environments, Cincinnati ranked 21st in home runs and struggled offensively at times last season, and it lost two of its top offensive performers this offseason, Austin Hays and Gavin Lux.

Hayes is expected to remain the starting third baseman despite theReds' signing free agent Eugenio Suarez on Sunday, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

The organization reunited with Suarez, who played mostly third base for Cincinnati from 2015 to 2021 prior to being traded in March of 2022. Recognizing Hayes' value as a fielder -- he won a second Gold Glove at the hot corner in 2025 -- the Reds plan to deploy Suarez as the primary designated hitter while also giving him occasional starts at both corner infield spots.