Proper-hander Nick Martinez is placing the ending touches on a terrific first season with the Reds, having so far 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 by way of the 2025 season and slated to earn $12MM subsequent season however has the suitable to decide 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 informed 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 said 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 a wide range of bullpen roles and mentioned he’s on board with how he’s been used. He alluded to a “extra delicate subject” that must be talked about within the offseason — a seeming nod to that looming opt-out provision and the clear actuality that he’d have the ability to simply prime 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 frequently improves his incomes energy. The 2011 Rangers draftee struggled by way of 4 large 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 stuffed 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 obtainable to Martinez this offseason, though the Reds could 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 invaluable 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. Prime 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 employees and bullpen as Martinez has been lately. It does make him a transparent match, even when his numbers are notably higher in reduction. The query for the Reds shall be certainly one of wage, as Martinez has pitched effectively sufficient to justifiably search a elevate 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 embody Martinez’s possibility, an $8MM Emilio Pagan participant possibility or a $3.5MM membership possibility on lefty Brent Suter that appears prone to be picked up by the staff. The Reds may even must 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 may very well 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 kind of payroll the membership is comfy fielding in 2025. The Reds may even 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 even absolutely be a objective.
