The Cincinnati Reds will retain nearly their entire 2025 coaching staff for next season, but one key member is moving on. The team announced Wednesday that third base coach J.R. House is leaving to join the Arizona Diamondbacks’ staff for 2026. House, who spent the past seven years on Cincinnati’s coaching staff, now returns to his home state to take on a new role with Arizona.
His departure leaves the Reds with an important vacancy to fill. Beyond his duties in the third base coach’s box, House also served as the team’s catching coach — meaning manager Terry Francona will need to identify a replacement who can handle both responsibilities or restructure the staff accordingly.
One potential internal candidate is former Reds catcher Curt Casali, who currently works in the team’s front office. Casali could transition into an on-field role as catching coach, though he lacks professional experience as a third base coach. Regardless, the Reds will need to act quickly to fill House’s spot before the 2026 season begins.
Former Terry Francona coach Mike Sarbaugh could replace J.R. House as the Reds third base coach
Fortunately, Terry Francona’s extensive connections across Major League Baseball could help the Reds find the right replacement quickly. While former outfielder Collin Cowgill has been floated as a possible candidate to take over third base coaching duties, Francona may also look to a familiar face — longtime colleague Mike Sarbaugh, who was recently let go by the New York Mets. Sarbaugh worked with Francona for years in Cleveland and could be a natural fit to join Cincinnati’s staff for the 2026 season.
Mike Sarbaugh served as Terry Francona’s third base coach throughout Francona’s entire tenure as manager of the Cleveland Guardians. A former minor league infielder in the late 1980s and early 1990s, Sarbaugh spent several years managing within Cleveland’s farm system before joining Francona’s major league staff in 2013 as the club’s third base and infield coach.
When Francona stepped down after the 2023 season, Sarbaugh was not retained by new manager Stephen Vogt and later joined the New York Mets’ staff. He spent the past two years as New York’s third base coach, but both he and bench coach John Gibbons will not return for the 2026 season.
Now essentially a coaching free agent, Sarbaugh’s availability couldn’t come at a better time for Cincinnati. Given his long-standing relationship and chemistry with Francona, it wouldn’t be surprising if the Reds skipper has already reached out. At this point, it feels close to a lock that Sarbaugh will be part of the Reds’ 2026 coaching staff.
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