Before joining the Reds, Keegan Thompson spent his entire career with the Cubs. Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images
CINCINNATI — Since the offseason officially kick-started this weekend, the Cincinnati Reds have already made a trade and a signing. Monday, the Reds sent infielder/outfielder Ryan Vilade to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for cash considerations. Tuesday, they added right-hander Keegan Thompson on a one-year deal, the team announced.
Thompson, 30, was with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs in 2025 after being outrighted off their 40-man roster in March. He was 6-2 with a 4.50 ERA in 35 appearances and two starts in Triple A. A third-round pick of the Cubs in 2017, Thompson had spent his entire career with Chicago. He appeared in 104 major-league games with 23 starts from 2021 to 2024. In 2022, he threw a career-high 115 innings for Chicago, going 10-5 with a 3.76 ERA in 17 starts and 12 relief appearances.
Vilade, acquired as a waiver claim from the St. Louis Cardinals in June, made only one appearance for the Reds. Tampa is Vilade’s sixth organization since going to the Colorado Rockies in the second round of the 2017 draft.
The Reds had five free agents to start the offseason: outfielder Miguel Andujar, left-hander Wade Miley and right-handers Zack Littell, Nick Martinez and Emilio Pagán. Additionally, right-hander Ian Gibaut and infielder Santiago Espinal refused outright assignments to Triple-A Louisville, entering free agency.
Nov 4, 2025
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