Even before the start of Tuesday’s MLB general managers meetings in San Antonio, the Cincinnati Reds know that left-hander Brent Suter and right-hander Emilio Pagán will return to the team’s bullpen in 2025. They signed Suter to a one-year deal and Pagán exercised his player option.
The rest of the Reds’ offseason? Well, that could be slower to come together.
As of Friday, president of baseball operations Nick Krall said the organization has yet to nail down its budget for next season but will go into the GM meetings ready to talk to other teams, as well as representatives of free agents, about its needs.
On the list? Some stability in the outfield, a veteran starter, a backup catcher and bullpen aid.
Major team needs
The Reds are already looking at at least one possible addition to the outfield, as second baseman Matt McLain has played center field in the Arizona Fall League. McLain, who missed all of this season following shoulder surgery, played center in college, in addition to shortstop and third base. For the Reds, he’s played second base and third base.
The Reds need more production from the outfield after a disappointing 2024, finishing with the third-worst outfield bWAR of minus-5. Reds infielders accounted for 101 home runs, while outfielders hit 55 and just .221/.302/.380 collectively.
Some of that was due to injuries, with center fielder TJ Friedl limited to 85 games and Spencer Steer, who was penciled in to start the season as the everyday starter in left, starting 58 games in the infield due to injuries there to McLain, first baseman/third baseman Jeimer Candelario and first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand, coupled with Noelvi Marté’s suspension and ineffectiveness.
Overall, the team’s defense needs to improve. The Reds were one of the worst defensive teams in baseball. If healthy, the team’s defense should improve, but that’s playing the same hand it played a year ago with poor results.
While the group of Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott and Rhett Lowder looks as if it could be a strong rotation, a veteran starter is on the team’s wishlist, someone who could serve the roles Frankie Montas and Nick Martinez did in last year’s free-agent signing class. Either or both could be picks for the Reds to fill the role again. Both are free agents after Martinez opted out of his contract, but in each case, both sides have at least acknowledged a willingness for a reunion.
With the Reds declining their option on Luke Maile’s contract, the team needs a backup catcher. Like others, a reunion with Maile is not out of the question.
For the second year in a row, Jonathan India will go into spring with questions about where he’ll play defensively. This spring, he played first base in addition to second, and worked out some in the outfield. In the end, India started 132 games at second base and just 18 at DH.
Free-agent roster decisions
By Tuesday, the Reds will need to make a decision on offering Martinez a qualifying offer. Of the Reds’ free agents, he’s the only one who would be under consideration.
A year ago, the Reds signed Martinez to a two-year deal worth $26 million. In that contract was an opt-out after the first year, which he declined. Martinez made $14 million in 2024 and would have made $12 million in 2025.
As he had done in San Diego, Martinez moved between the bullpen and the rotation with the Reds. Martinez was 10-7 with a 3.10 ERA in 42 games and 16 starts. Out of the bullpen, Martinez had a 1.86 ERA over 53 1/3 innings. While he was 5-5 with a 3.84 ERA as a starter, he finished 5-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 11 starts after being moved to the rotation in August.
If the Reds offered him a qualifying offer — $21.05 million for one year — it wouldn’t be unexpected for him to accept it.
Reds coaches and players raved about Martinez’s impact on the team’s other pitchers in addition to his production on the field, while Martinez indicated he’d be happy to return to Cincinnati.
Relievers Buck Farmer and Justin Wilson, who combined for 121 appearances, are also free agents. Farmer was a free agent following the 2023 season and signed back with the Reds. It wouldn’t be a surprise if it happened again.
Arbitration/non-tender decisions
The team has more or less made its decisions about tendering its arbitration-eligible players already. Last week the team outrighted first baseman Ty France, first baseman/outfielder Nick Martini, catcher Austin Wynns and right-hander Tejay Antone. All but Antone elected free agency. Antone, who underwent elbow surgery in April, accepted his assignment to Triple A.
Catcher Tyler Stephenson, infielder Santiago Espinal and outfielder Jake Fraley are all entering their second year of arbitration. Closer Alexis Díaz, starters Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft are first-year eligible along with relievers Sam Moll and Ian Gibaut.
Rule 5 draft protection decisions
Hard-throwing right-hander Luis Mey will almost certainly have to be protected in anticipation of the upcoming Rule 5 draft. The 6-foot-5 Mey is dominating the Arizona Fall League, with a league-high five saves in his six appearances. He hasn’t allowed a hit or run, has walked one, hit one and struck out eight in 6 2/3 innings. He also has 35 of the fastest 36 pitches recorded in the AFL, including 20 north of 100 mph. It’d be hard to see a team passing up on an opportunity to take him in the Rule 5 draft.
Two other players who would need protection from the Rule 5 draft — right-handed starter Jose Acuña and infielder Tyler Callihan — are playing in the AFL.
Acuña, 22, reached Triple A this season. He was 0-3 with a 3.69 ERA in 15 appearances and 12 starts. He’s put up a 2.70 ERA in three AFL appearances, including two starts.
Callihan, 24, hit .276/.359/.429 between Double A and Triple A, with most of his time coming at Double-A Chattanooga. He’s hitting .313/.411/.417 in 12 games in Arizona.
Another player who could get added to the roster is right-hander Jose Franco, who was 2-3 with a 3.52 ERA between Low A and High A.
Significant coaching vacancies to fill
New manager Terry Francona inherits pitching coach Derek Johnson and hired his former hitting coach in Cleveland, Chris Valaika, to the same position with the Reds. The rest of his staff has yet to be determined but could come together quickly.
(Top photo of Nick Krall: Sam Greene / The Enquirer / USA Today Network via Imagn Images)
