Non-Tender Candidates: Will Benson

The Cincinnati Reds face several important roster decisions heading into the non-tender deadline on Friday evening, and one of the most intriguing revolves around outfielder Will Benson. Once viewed as a breakout candidate with rare size, speed, and power, Benson’s 2024 performance raised legitimate questions about whether he still fits into Cincinnati’s long-term outfield plans, however, 2025 helped his case…somewhat.

Now, with roster spots at a premium and arbitration salaries rising, the Reds have a real decision to make: Is Will Benson a non-tender candidate?

The Upside Is Real — But So Are the Concerns

Benson’s raw tools have never been in doubt. At his best, he flashes 30-homer power, elite exit velocities, and the kind of athleticism that should make him a cornerstone of any outfield. We saw it during stretches of 2023, and we saw flashes again in 2025 when he looked like one of the most impactful hitters in the lineup, especially against RHP.

But the problem — and ultimately the reason he’s even in non-tender conversations — has been consistent contact. Benson’s strikeout rate ballooned in 2024, at times hovering in the mid-30% range. When he wasn’t hitting the ball hard, he was simply not putting it in play enough to justify everyday at-bats. He worked very hard in the offseason and ended up with a far better result in 2025.

The Reds have spent the past year giving him opportunities to iron it out, but the results stayed volatile, at least in their eyes. Some in the organization still believe the upside is too big to walk away from. Others see a logjam forming and a roster spot & monies that could be better used.

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Crowded Outfield, Rising Costs, and the Non-Tender Math

Cincinnati’s outfield picture is more complicated than it was a year ago:

• Nick Krall has mentioned Spencer Steer will likely see significant time in the OF again as his shoulder is better.
• TJ Friedl remains one of the team’s most valuable position players.
• Rece Hinds and Blake Dunn are pushing for bigger opportunities.
• Hector Rodríguez, and other upper-level prospects are inching closer.
• Krall has repeatedly said they have to ‘replace’ Hays production – that tells us Benson isn’t being considered

With payroll flexibility still a priority and multiple arbitration players due for raises, the Reds must decide whether Benson’s projected salary — modest, but not nothing — is worth the gamble. He’s projected at $1,700,000 currently. Check out our updated Reds Salary Tracker for payroll projections and future roster planning.

A non-tender isn’t an indictment of Benson’s future value; it’s a roster-building calculation. Players with high strikeout rates and limited defensive versatility are the types of profiles that front offices sometimes try to re-sign on minor-league deals after a non-tender. Not to say Benson falls in this category, but he has had his defensive struggles, certainly.

That may be where this is headed.

Could the Reds Trade Him Instead?

Before the Reds non-tender a player with Benson’s toolset, they’ll likely explore the trade market. There will be a plethora of teams still believing in his upside, especially analytically driven clubs that value barrel rate and raw power.

A small return is still better than none — and Benson has enough upside to interest teams like:

• The Giants
• The A’s
• The Nationals
• The White Sox

Each of those clubs has playing time available and a need for power/speed upside.

If no deal materializes, non-tendering becomes a real possibility…

The Bottom Line

The Reds genuinely like Will Benson, but the organization is reaching the point where powerful tools alone may not be enough. Cincinnati has playoff aspirations, and even though their outfield isn’t necessarily ‘crowded’ by markets definitions, Steer getting reps out in the outfield more in ’26, Marte playing rightfield full time…if you can get a good RP for Benson’s services, you do it.

That combination makes Benson’s future in Cincinnati anything but guaranteed.

Whether he’s traded, non-tendered, or remain with the team on the bench, Benson is officially one of the most intriguing Reds storylines heading into this offseason — and his situation could reveal a lot about what ‘creativity’ Krall plans to have.