First Round of Roster Cuts at Camp: What It Really Means

The Reds made their first wave of spring roster reductions Monday morning, trimming six players from major league camp and bringing the total down to 51. While none of the moves were shocking, the timing — and one notable name — tells us a little more about how the final bench could be shaping up.

Cincinnati reassigned Connor Burns, Michael Chavis, Cam Collier, Carson Spiers, Michael Toglia, and Joel Valdez to minor league camp. For the most part, this group fits the “as expected” category. Collier was never realistically pushing for an Opening Day spot, Burns was gaining experience, and Chavis was more depth insurance than serious competition. Spiers and Valdez, both dealing with injuries, were long shots to factor into the early-season bullpen mix regardless.

The most meaningful name in this group, however, is Michael Toglia.

With Toglia heading to minor league camp, it increasingly appears that Lowe has edged ahead in the competition for the final bench bat role. That battle always felt like it would come down to who could offer more dependable at-bats rather than upside alone. Lowe has looked steady throughout camp, controlling the zone and putting together competitive plate appearances, while Toglia’s power potential has been offset by swing-and-miss concerns. In a tight roster build where versatility and reliability matter, that distinction may have made the difference.

Beyond the bench conversation, the rest of the cuts simply reflect roster math. Spiers and Valdez were unlikely to break camp given health concerns, and the remaining position players profile as organizational depth for 2026. They’ll likely open the year in Triple-A or Double-A and serve as call-up options if injuries hit during the season.

This first round of cuts doesn’t dramatically alter expectations for the Opening Day roster, but it does begin to clarify the margins. Most of the core roster remains intact, and the pitching staff picture is largely unchanged. The biggest takeaway isn’t who was sent down — it’s who wasn’t. And at this point in camp, that matters just as much.