Offseason Outlook: Cincinnati Reds

The Reds hoped to make the jump from underdogs with an exciting young core to legitimate playoff contenders. It didn’t happen this year. With a splash managerial hire and returns to health from most of the rotation, expectations will again be high going into 2025.

Guaranteed Contracts

• Hunter Greene, RHP: $47MM through 2028 (including buyout of ’29 club option)
• Jeimer Candelario, 3B: $30MM through 2026 (including buyout of ’27 club option)
• Jonathan India, 2B: $7.05MM through 2025 (eligible for arbitration in ’26)

Option Decisions

• RHP Nick Martinez holds $12MM player option (no buyout)
• RHP Emilio Pagán holds $8MM player option ($250K buyout)
• Team, RHP Jakob Junis hold $8MM mutual option; Brewers are responsible for $1MM of the $3MM buyout
• Team holds $3.5MM option on LHP Brent Suter ($500K buyout)
• Team holds $3.5MM option on C Luke Maile ($500K buyout)

2025 financial commitments (assuming Martinez opt-out and Pagán opts in): $39.05MM
Total future commitments (assuming Martinez opt-out and Pagán opts in): $95.05MM

Arbitration-Eligible Players (projections via Matt Swartz)

• Ty France (5.089): $8.6MM
• Tejay Antone (5.000): $1.1MM
• Santiago Espinal (4.149): 4MM
• Jake Fraley (4.097): $3.3MM
• Tyler Stephenson (4.056): $5.2MM
• Austin Wynns (4.017): $1.4MM
• Ian Gibaut (3.077): $800K
• Sam Moll (3.075): $1.1MM
• Alexis Díaz (3.000): $4.2MM
• Nick Lodolo (3.000): $2.2MM

Non-tender candidates: France, Antone, Espinal, Fraley, Wynns, Gibaut

Free Agents

• Buck Farmer, Justin Wilson, Amed Rosario, Casey Kelly

The Reds have begun their offseason with a bang. As the season wound down, Cincinnati dismissed sixth-year skipper David Bell. That wasn’t especially surprising with the team en route to a 77-85 finish that represented a five-game drop relative to last season. Bell’s replacement was a stunner. The Reds brought Terry Francona out of what proved to be a one-year retirement. Landing one of the sport’s most respected managers should renew optimism going into 2025.