Proper-hander Nick Martinez is placing the ending touches on a terrific first season with the Reds, having to date compiled 134 1/3 innings of three.22 ERA ball with a 20.8% strikeout charge and superlative 3.3% stroll charge. He’s signed via the 2025 season and slated to earn $12MM subsequent season however has the best to choose out of the second season of his two-year, $26MM contract and take a look at free company for what can be a fourth straight offseason.

The 34-year-old righty not too long ago advised MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon that he hasn’t decided or spoken with agent Scott Boras about his contract standing whereas concurrently expressing love for the Reds’ clubhouse and talking fondly of his time within the group. Martinez plainly acknowledged that regardless of the opt-out alternative, his mindset upon signing was that he was going to be in Cincinnati for a number of years. He’s bounced between beginning and quite a lot of bullpen roles and stated he’s on board with how he’s been used. He alluded to a “extra delicate difficulty” that must be talked about within the offseason — a seeming nod to that looming opt-out provision and the clear actuality that he’d be capable to simply high the remaining one yr and $12MM on his contract if he returned to the open market.

MLBTR’s Anthony Franco not too long ago took a prolonged look at Martinez’s opt-out and his ostensible consolation with going year-to-year in free company as he regularly improves his incomes energy. The 2011 Rangers draftee struggled via 4 huge league seasons (2014-17) earlier than reinventing himself in a breakout run with Japan’s Nippon-Ham Fighters and SoftBank Hawks. Since returning to North American Ball, he’s pitched three seasons between San Diego and Cincinnati, logging a collective 3.36 ERA in 351 innings. Martinez has crammed just about each position doable, working as a starter, nearer, setup man, lengthy reliever and bulk reliever behind openers.

A two- and even three-year deal must be accessible to Martinez this offseason, though the Reds may have a while to ponder a possible multi-year deal to maintain the versatile righty from reaching free company in any respect. Martinez opined that the Reds have the items in place to ascend to playoff rivalry subsequent yr and spoke glowingly about his teammates. He’s a worthwhile piece of the puzzle as issues stand, able to serving as a fourth or fifth starter behind Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott (all three of whom he particularly talked about in expressing his optimism concerning the staff’s future) or once more working as a pivotal swingman who might be referred to as upon in any position.

These three younger arms are successfully locked into the highest spots within the Cincinnati rotation. High prospect Rhett Lowder, 26-year-old Graham Ashcraft and 23-year-old Julian Aguiar are among the many different candidates for beginning roles subsequent season. The Reds may arguably use a veteran arm to assist stabilize the rotation outlook, however not each viable beginning possibility can be so amenable to being shuffled between the beginning workers and bullpen as Martinez has been in recent times. It does make him a transparent match, even when his numbers are notably higher in reduction. The query for the Reds will probably be one in all wage, as Martinez has pitched nicely sufficient to justifiably search a increase over the two-year, $26MM phrases to which he agreed final winter.

Cincinnati has about $27MM in ensures on subsequent yr’s books, per RosterResource. That doesn’t embrace Martinez’s possibility, an $8MM Emilio Pagan participant possibility or a $3.5MM membership possibility on lefty Brent Suter that appears more likely to be picked up by the staff. The Reds may also should weigh arbitration raises for Ty France ($6.775MM wage in ’24), Santiago Espinal ($2.725MM), Tyler Stephenson ($2.525MM) and Jake Fraley ($2.15MM), plus first-time arb-eligible gamers like Lodolo, Ashcraft, Alexis Diaz and Sam Moll.

The Suter possibility, arbitration raises and a slate of league-minimum gamers to spherical out the roster would put the Reds north of $60MM earlier than even contemplating Martinez or any offseason expenditures. Cincinnati has opened the previous two seasons with payrolls starting from $82-100MM. Martinez might be deemed one thing of a luxurious if possession desires to maintain payroll in that very same vary, although it’s not but clear what sort of payroll the membership is snug fielding in 2025. The Reds may also be out there for a minimum of one veteran bat to improve the lineup. Including to a bullpen may see as many as 4 relievers attain free company — Martinez, Pagan, Buck Farmer, Justin Wilson — may also absolutely be a objective.