The Cincinnati Reds haven’t signed any players this offseason to a big league contract yet this offseason. They did, however, sign two former Reds players to minor league deals for the 2024 season this past week. Left-handed pitcher Reiver Sanmartin re-upped with the club after testing the free agent market. He’s joined by infielder Alex Blandino, who came up with the club but has spent the 2022 season playing in Triple-A with San Francisco and Seattle.
Reiver Sanmartin spent the 2023 season with the Reds, but most of that time was spent on the injured list. He made the club out of spring training and pitched in 14 games where he allowed 11 earned runs in 14.0 innings (7.07 ERA) before he wound up on the injured list on May 9th with what was reported as a stress reaction in his left elbow. Two months later he underwent Tommy John surgery. With the surgery taking place in early July, it’s possible that he could return to the mound before the end of the 2024 season, but it’s also possible that he would miss all of the 2024 season. In most situations like this, the player signs a 2-year deal, but the length of Sanmartin’s deal has not been announced.
Update: The Reds just announced that Sanmartin’s deal also includes an invite to big league spring training.
Alex Blandino was drafted by the Reds in the 1st round back in 2014 out of Stanford. Four years later he made his big league debut and spent parts of 2018, 2019, and 2021 with the team in the big leagues. In total he played in 135 games and hit .227/.339/.291 with two home runs. He also pitched in five games, with four of them coming in the 2021 season.
After spending the 2022 season in Triple-A with two different organizations, Blandino didn’t play affiliated ball in 2023. In the spring he played for Nicaragua in the World Baseball Classic. Blandino went 2-12 with a double in his four games played.
While Blandino has famously busted out a knuckleball on the mound, he’s also thrown a 91 MPH fastball. Blandino did sign as an infielder, but it’s fun to think about him taking the mound and throwing 90 MPH fastballs and 70 MPH knuckleballs in blowouts.
The Blandino move will definitely strengthen the bullpen.
Hey man, that’s the teams big sign for the offseason! 🙂
Very interesting moves for differing reasons.
1 – very much hope, and really expect, the Sanmartin deal is 2 years. Take his time returning since he had surprising value for being a complete throw in with the Sonny Gray deal. Very useful if he makes it back for 2025.
2 – almost the opposite for Blandino, unless it’s a deep play to reinvigorate the knuckleballer in MLB. IIRC there’s only one left.
Another Reds off season move, so like the many with which we are all familiar, a “depth” move aka cheap. Yawn.
Yeah, I am going to agree with you. Teams make “depth” moves, but this is indeed a big nothing burger.
And I frankly expect the Reds “Top Men” to do nothing this off season.
I hope to be pleasantly surprised, but I think that is not going to happen. Anyone who has actually watched a lot of what the present “Top Men” have done since taking over the Reds could probably predict this.
Or the dreaded innings eater,he’s going to pitch innings but give up 5 runs or more.How about a 2.00-3.00 era and wins.LOL.
I love the Blandino signing but purely as a “feel good” move. He’s easy to root for. Not sure it makes the Reds any better but the depth can’t hurt. Sanmartin might actually help the Reds down the road so it’s an easy low cost gamble. These are not big news but they are good moves.
I believe it will be between Barrero and Blandino to fill the role z Kevin Newman filled in2023.
Stanford Cardinal Alex Blandino went 1-3 last night … if you know, you know.
Could be nothing but could also indicate Matt Reynolds has moved on, leaving an opening for the perfunctory 30 plus year old 2B at AAA.
Ha! I got it @Davect. One of your favorites. But if I had to pick an on base machine to put on the club it would be Hurtibise.
This should increase Redsfest attendance by at least two people.
Reds FO saving money to sign Yamamoto.
Kenta Maeda is signing with the Tigers. So he’s off the books like Gibson and Lynn.
It’s a good thing Gibson or Lynn won’t be REDS tho lmao ?
Depth chart minor league deals. I could see Blandino breaking camp with the club if he performs well in Spring Training. Otherwise, he starts at AAA and gets called up if there is an injury.
Too early to tell but this could drop a subtle clue that Barrero is either dealt or becomes more of an OF focus versus SS.
This is the 2024 version of Matt Reynolds for CIN.
Seriously, if I were the Reds, I’d consider Blandino for a Phil Niekro pitcher of the bp variety. Phil had a descent fb about like Alex does with knuckleball as his #1 pitch. Wakefield wasn’t a youngster when he converted to the knuckleball. Of course he was already a pitcher and not that good of one.
Alex can’t hit well & not for power. Bell would use him like he did Newman(far to often as a position player). See if Blandino can convert down on the farm as a knuckleball relief pitcher and an ocassional fb(tipping of the fb would need to be avoided unless he can use a sinker off the strike zone fringes. Base stealing would be an issue unless his WHIP is really good. We’ve got enough infielders if we have an injury, roll the dice. It’s hard to over work those guys. And you talk about throwing off the hitters timing! Follow him up with a Taylor Hicks or Aroldis Chapman before Diaz. There your long/middle man. Different subject, Lyons Richardson looks like a spot starter/long man candidate to me, for now.
Yeah, I don’t see any reason to sign Blandino just for utility play. Why not use him as a pitcher? I’ve said for years that a good knuckle-baller would completely befuddle today’s over-swinging hitters. He might average 4 strikeouts per inning.
It’s not like he couldn’t be a two-way player, as a utility guy, plus as an opener or in long relief. He’s gonna need some innings in MiLB, but as has been said, Wakefield among many others switched to the knuckleball later in their careers.
Yeah, stick him in the minors as a knuckleball pitcher and see how that works out..
“While Blandino has famously busted out a knuckleball on the mound, he’s also thrown a 91 MPH fastball. Blandino did sign as an infielder, but it’s fun to think about him taking the mound and throwing 90 MPH fastballs and 70 MPH knuckleballs in blowouts.”
They’re not fooling me. They signed another cheap relief pitcher. 😉
We’re still in the K Mart blue light special mode. Always will be with BobPhil in charge. I typed their names together because they both are cheap-herders!
Haha 😀
What a bargain!!!!!!!
It is AMAZING to me that a YOUNG good team has to put UP with this FRONTOFFICE! Blanding and WHO???
Off topic. It appears so lo is wrapping up a deal with sonny gray. Great! My favorite free agent is signing with my least favorite team.
Not gonna lose sleep over the Cardinals getting Sonny Gray. He’s 34 and overperformed in his platform year–a big red flag for me. Prior to this year you have to go back 4 years to find him pitching a full season.
I think there are better options, but the Reds front office has to spend real money or part with some prospects. Given that the competitive window is wide open, they should be doing both.
The Cards & Cubs have been aggressive thus far this off season. At this point, there’s little reason to expect the Reds to be competitive for the division lead next season. They just don’t have the pieces. Still time to remedy that, but signings such as these suggest moderating fans’ expectations.
Stop.
Every team does these types of deals, because (1) they need to fill out their AAA rosters with competitive players, and (2) every now and then, one of these signings work out, like Derek Dietrich and any number of bullpen guys across the league.
The Dodgers, for example, a week or so ago signed Eduardo Salazar, whom the Reds had outrighted in August.
There is nothing wrong or cheap about either of these signings. I hope that the Reds look into signing Tyler Mahle, too, even if he can’t be expected to pitch until maybe Labor Day.
These are normal signings for any club, just AAA depth. You are right, there’s still time, and I want to see them making moves sooner than later. This team is so close to being very good.
It’s not looking good at the moment. I think because the Reds played well in May and June, people forget how just how poorly they played the second half of the season. Sure, there were injuries, but there are always injuries, as we have seen this week.
Sonny Gray would have been a perfect target for the Reds, if they were going to spend money. Now perhaps, Gray had no interest in signing with the Reds. It would be understandable.
I guess we will find out soon if the Reds are really committed to winning or they are more interested in keeping their payroll somewhere between $50 and $70 million even if it means 100 losses here and there. Hopefully the Castellinis will prove me wrong.
Mark Sheldon reports Reds were close on Gray. Clearly willing to spend $20 + mil AAV . Jeff Passan lists Reds as one of most interesting off-season teams and they had conversations with Nola. He notes agents have been told by Castellini Reds are going to spend money this off-season. He likes Glasnow at $25 mil as a good target in a trade.
See what happens at winter meetings next week Nashville. Thats usually a big event for transactions
I can see the Reds signing maybe Cueto and Miley then being done with with it.
Even with no signings there are plenty of reasons to expect the “Reds to be competitive” next season. They need to move beyond “competitive”, to “one of the favorites” in the division.
This is a bit disappointing, but it’s also likely $20-30M more than the Reds were willing to spend. 3 years is about right, but it’s understandable if they were short on the amount.
It’s more concerning if they avoid spending by making a bad trade of prospects for a SP. There are FA pitchers available between the Gray and Weaver levels. Better to sign one of those, than trade India AND one of their top 5 prospects.
I love the perpetual optimism of the Reds’ fans here on RLN. Maybe your optimism will be rewarded this year. History doesn’t favor that outcome, but we’ll see. As for every team making these kinds of signings? Yes, and that was the mantra here on RLN last off season as well. And then these “depth” guys wound up on the MLB team and the rest is history.
Do you think this season’s team will be better than last season’s? Was last season’s better than the prior season? Be realistic. They’re competitive, they’re better, they’re not favored.
Every team makes these signings. And every team uses players like these throughout the entire year. Just watch the hourly transactions — not even daily — during the season. None other than the NYY are famous for this type of operations (the Columbus Shuttle).
I suspect in about a month, when the Reds have done nothing or close to nothing, Nick Krall will drop the “We like the players we have in house” line. and let’s don’t forget the classic “Our budget allows us to add players at the trading deadline”.
Yeah, @V4L, Sheldon is reporting that the Reds tried for Gray. And now they are targeting Glasnow. Just like the summer deadline: “we tried but everything was too expensive”. Except Bell and the rest of the FO promotions.
LDS, let’s don’t forget how the Reds almost signed Zack Wheeler and J.T. Realmuto too.
All you have to do is step back and ask yourself who benefits from these “near miss” rumors. I don’t think Sonny Gray benefits from the rumor, he just signed the last contract of his career. The Cardinals don’t benefit from the rumor, they actually signed the player. That leaves our very own Nick Krall. Who can say “We came close to signing a top of the rotation pitcher, but it just wasn’t in the cards”. Or “We could have traded for a top of the rotation Pitcher, but teams were asking for Elly, McLain, Marte, Steer, CES and Mr. Red”.
You would think by now most people would be able to see it for what it is.
Personally, I don’t think Sonny Gray would have signed here anyway, after he signed a team friendly contract with the Reds and then turned around and was traded. So, I don’t believe for a minute the Reds were “close” to signing Sonny Gray.
Maybe Krall would have us believe we’re in on Ohtani too. I can hear it now, “We just missed him”. 😀
Gray isn’t, wasn’t my target SP, but we need to get us one before the market gets too thin. Everyone and their brother has written an article saying it’s our number one need in 24. Get it done Mr. Krall.
Don’t hold your breath on this one. Because it is not going to happen.
LOL, Who knows what will happen, but looking at a glass and saying it’s only half full seems like a dreary way to go through life.
I’ve always been a dreamer, so I’ll never come around to that way of thinking. Things can always get better if there is a will to do it.
The Cards are ready to give Sonny Gray a three year contract and the Reds are bringing back Sanmartin and Blandino.
Sonny Gray off the board. Cardinals for three years. Snell, Montgomery, Duvall and Joe Kelly would be great additions. I digress
Congrats Sonny Gray. Reds traded you for nothing, and for no reason.
Here’s to haunting the reds. I for one can’t wait.
Chase Petty is far from nothing.
At this point he could be something or he could be nothing
I agree. First-rounder in the Twins’ system. Now one of our top prospects. Has done well thus far. Only 20 years old. Time will tell.
Chase Petty’s momma would like to have a talk with you.
Would like to see Reds make a run at Justin Turner to be the DH.
Not a bad idea.
They could also take on a piece of Giancarlo Stanton’s salary from the Yankees, and use him as DH and a very occasional right-fielder. The Yankees don’t want him, and they would be happy to get some salary/luxury tax relief. There would obviously be a TON of injury risk, but it wouldn’t cost any prospects, and a semi-healthy Stanton (who is only 34) would hit 40 HRs in GABP. (The Marlins are on the hook for another $30 million of Stanton’s contract.) Stanton has a no-trade clause, but the Reds are better right now than the Yankees.
The Mets are in a similar position with Starling Marte, who has a similar injury/aging curve risk as Stanton, but is a better defender.
The Reds probably need to move a player to make that work, but it’s not a bad idea. After the Reds traded Turner following his AA season at Chattanooga, I met him at a AAA where he was playing for Norfolk in the Orioles system. I brought my daughters “Lookouts” hat and he gladly signed it. He was really humble, genuinely surprised that I had followed his minor league time with the Reds. I would love to see him finish with the Reds.
Since the Reds aren’t going to spend a zillion dollars no matter how much we all wish they would, I continue thinking they need to focus on quantity more than quality. I would much rather see them add two dependable/decent starters (one of whom could move to the bullpen until he’s inevitably needed as a starter) and a dependable/decent reliever than one great starter and a few guys who’ve been terrible since 2018. Given the way things go for this organization, the great starter would probably develop shoulder problem during spring training and never pitch an inning for this team, or it’ll turn out he’s just not so great anymore, or he’ll be the only bright spot in an otherwise lousy rotation. All this team needed last year to make the playoffs were two decent starting pitchers who were able to pitch every fifth day instead of Weaver and “TBA.” As far as starting pitching goes, that’s probably all they really need right now. I don’t want to see this team spending $25 million on one guy unless they’re ALSO going to get a few $10-$15 million guys, and I don’t think they’ll do all of that (even if they can afford to). If they were to spend $25 million on one guy, in their minds it means they’ve “spent money” and can now settle for a couple more Weavers and Livelys and Newmans to round out the roster.
I agree. I would like to see the Reds go after Yamamoto, although I acknowledge, there will be many, many suitors. Glasnow via trade is my #2 target. Wacha, as a free agent, would be my #3 target. If they can get a solid starter (one of these or someone similar), one starter might suffice.
Then, I would like to see them add three relievers. This plan would result in the Reds having a couple of MLB-ready pitchers starting the season at AAA and ready to step in for inevitable injuries. Avoiding bullpen days (for not having an available starter) and blowout days (for not having a good starter) will go a long way to improving the record.
The Cardinals signing Gray should put a little pressure on the Reds to make a move. Even though he wasn’t a target I thought the Reds should go after, 34 years old and very injury prone.
It is always interesting to wake up in the PNW three hours behind East Coast news and see what RLN outrage over innocuous events is happening. Sorry, folks, and no offense, it’s just not wise or good to do that to one selves.
I love watching Sonny Gray pitch and remain a huge fan. He just never gives up and competes every single pitch he throws.
However, I don’t think it’s wise for us (not necessarily the Cards) to be paying Sonny 25 million plus in his age 37 season.
The Cards choose to take those risks with older guys, and they have proven capable of affording it.
The Reds, however and among other things, are still in the midst of a tear it down rebuild (see above, Votto, Joey). Meaning, they may or may not choose to spend for top shelf pitching.
Lest we forget, the Ghosts of Dick Williams Family Christmas’ Past are still rattling around the offices at GABP — the Moose, Shogo, Castellanos, Geno, Miley, and Gray signings produced only partially good results.
Further, when Sonny is 37, we will have a starting pitching core from amongst Greene, Lodolo, Ashcraft, Abbott, Williamson, Lowder, Phillips, Richardson, Stoudt, Roa, Spiers Petty, Floyd and Aguiar, while reaching their primes.
The Cards could have Sonny at 37, Gibson at 39, Mikolas at 38, Matz at 35, and just Liberatore under 30 still under contract. Arenado will be 35 and Goldschmidt will be 38.
Sunrise, sunset.
And, no, we didn’t give away Sonny for nothing. Chase Petty and a player used to pilfer Will Benson are not nothing.
Is it competitively necessary to add some degree of reliable starting pitching? Everyone out there in the BaseballVerse says yes.
Is it necessary to avoid Mike Minor deals? Also yes. They are wasteful.
Is it wise to add higher end pitching for 2024? Depends on who you ask.
Win now fans say YES!
Stick to The Plan fans say NOT SO FAST.
Count me among the latter. A Seth Lugo on a contract we can flip in 25 or 36 sounds just about right,
The Reds are sticking to the plan. The plan of keeping their payroll in the bottom five of baseball. After the 2025 season, three of the following will be traded for a few 18 year olds : Elly, McLain, Marte, Friedl, Abbott, Steer and CES. The following year two more will be dealt way.
The Reds have a two year window before the next fire sale. Then it’s Welcome to Reds Rebuild 2026!
The Castellinis have shown us over and over who they are. It’s amazing so many refuse to believe them.
Bet you’re fun at parties.
Why shouldn’t they peel off the lesser of this year’s 1st and 2nd year players after 3 seasons and replace them with even more up and coming talent? Seriously. Because fans get attached to their faves? You won’t give a good answer because you can’t. Just more from the outrage machine.
It would be near criminal malpractice for the Reds to spend like drunken sailors as Texas did this year, to essentially purchase a World Series, or like the Dodgers, Yankees, Red Sox, Padres, Angels, Braves, Mets, Phillies, etc seem to do almost every year.
Look, I still think Big Bob taking a victory lap around the stadium in his golf cart for his anniversary a season or two back, in far worse times than this year, was as disgraceful as Phil (Where else are you going to go) and his arrogance. Their ethical practices to the fans as team owners are an outrage. They should sell the team, in the best interest of the team, the city and area, the players and, most importantly, the fans.
Screaming at the top of your lungs is not unwarranted. But in not signing a guy to a risky deal or allowing your all time favorite player to exit at the end of his career are both reasonable, prudent operational moves. You can call them business moves but they really are not. They are making best use of the resources available. That is managing operations, not greed or cheapiosity. Those are character flaws, of which, the Castellanis have many, many large ones.
V4L, the Reds payroll as it stands is bottom 5, but before now, have they every had a payroll in the bottom 5?
I don’t believe it will be bottom 5 in April.
Let’s keep the Cardinal’s moves in context. Gray is a fine acquisition for them, no doubt. However, They are also planning on Lance Lynn, and Kyle Gibson for their rotation. So, if you like the Cardinal’s signing of Gray, ensure you can support the full strategy. Lynn and Gibson would only make the Reds because they were free-agent acquisitions and would be given a couple of months to prove themselves. They are not better than the Red’s five best starters; arguably they aren’t better than #6 (Phillips). So, with no signings, I believe the Reds have a better rotation than the Cardinals.
Castellanos, Miley, and Gray worked out well. Suarez was great until his shoulder injury from his swimming pool, but was still solid the past two seasons in Seattle.
Assuming that even half those pitchers/prospects you listed will be average or above average ML starting pitchers in two years is a long shot. Look at the “Big Three” we’ve seen for the past two seasons. All three have spent substantial time on the IL. Abbott faded mightily down the stretch and his advanced metrics show possible regression coming next year. The Reds had one of the worst rotations in the majors this year.
What exactly is the “plan” you speak of? Hoping enough of the young talent stays healthy over the course of a season to taste the playoffs, then start another rebuild when De La Cruz and company start costing Bob big money?
Haha, ok, I’ll bite … The Plan.
Create sustainable competitive performance windows, in particular:
Acquire elite talent
Develop elite talent.
-Develop and implement a top to bottom pitching development program
-Develop and implement a top to bottom hitting development program
Utilize elite, controllable talent at the ML level
Secure elite talent vis (early) contract extensions covering peak years.
Evaluate club and individual performance via advanced analytics
Provide continuous performance improvement opportunities for players and staff
Glean under-performers comparable to salary grades,
Replace with continuous pipeline of *see above* elite talent.
This ain’t grandpa’s boxscore hot stove league no more.
Example 1:
Trade Castillo for two elite hitting prospects. Instruct them in the club’s particular use of analytics, in game video for at bat evaluations, and long term use of video to swing corrections or development. Promote within system over lesser performing ‘established’ players, rewarding skill, ability and performance. See Steer, Marte over Senzel, for example
Example 2. Draft Greene, Lodolo, Ashcraft, Abbott, Diaz, Rowder, Richardson, Roa, Aguiar, Floyd; trade for Phillips, Williamson, Petty, Stoudt; sign free agent amateurs, i.e. Spiers. Instruct them in the club’s particular use of analytics, in game video for per inning evaluations, and long term use of video to delivery corrections, and –especially– data based pitch development. Promote within system over lesser performing ‘established’ players, rewarding skill, ability and performance. Abbott over Stoudt, for example.
It’s not hard to see. I did this in about ten minutes, just from what I’ve read and seen. You do, however, have to get away from your grievances.
Got to give it to the Crybirds. They added three starters to their rotation and showed a commitment to the players on their team that they want to win. What kind of commitment is the Reds front office showing so far? And yes, I hope I am wrong and that the FO is going to make a surprise push into free agency, but I just don’t see it.
Are they really going to go “dumpter diving” again as some call it on here? When you have a chance to make the playoffs, you need to go for it. Are they even going to try knowing that the Brewers, Cards and Cubs may be better teams in their estimation or something? Why spend the cash?
I really hate the dumpster diving metaphor as we are discussing people, but are you really saying you wanted the Reds to sign Lynn and Gibson?
You are correct. I should have used “bottom of the barrel” instead. They needed a 4th and 5th and got what they needed. Plus if they can go 175 innings or more each, they just improved their bullpen.
Well, I’m glad that the Reds didn’t sign either pitcher. Both were well below average last year and will pitch in their age 36/37 seasons next season–expect continued regression as their expected ERA/FIP weren’t good either. I want to see the Reds sign the right players, not just make headlines. As I said above, the Reds have a better rotation even after the three Cardinal signings.
Reds won’t spend money or trade prospects. What you see is what you get.
Funny, you don’t see too many “put up or shut up” comments here these days.
V4L. I’m still here, and yes it’s put up or shut up time. The 3 starting pitchers added by StL don’t scare me. In fact it may well help force the Reds to do more. Several of the cheap fall back options are off the board, and StL has done most of what it’s gonna do.
I just don’t feel the need to say it day after day after day.
Apparently, Reds tried to get Gray back. He chose the Cardinals. Tyler Glasnow still a possibility….
https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/11/reds-reportedly-pursued-sonny-gray-interested-in-tyler-glasnow.html
The implication is that Tampa Bay would want a younger pitcher for Tyler Glasnow.
Would the Reds trade Graham Ashcraft and another prospect for Tyler Glasnow?
Or would you select another young starting pitcher that the Reds have?
Would this be an upgrade?
No, it would not be an upgrade. Glasnow has never pitched more than 120 Innings and averages 11 starts per year. Even Richardson by himself would be an overpay.
See if they can pull it off, he only has 1 year left, so the prospects will be a bit much.
I still think they need to go after E-Rod
Amarillo< exactly right you are. Glasnow has never started more than 21 games in a season has has not pitched more than 120 innings. Why on earth would anyone want to pay him $25M next season. If and when (and like many of you I am leaning toward if at this point) the Reds sign a pitcher it will more than likely be someone like Wacha for 2 yrs/$32M.
Personally, I would rather see them sign Nick Martinez and Jacob Junis. Let them compete for the rotation spot and the other goes to the bullpen.
I always liked Gray in GABP. I’d have liked to see him back. I will be sad to see him pitching here again with the birds. But I think it’s time to talk silver linings. The Reds say or suggest they are committed to a sort of ‘Rays way,’ where the roster turnover moves faster, but the team stays more competitive (theoretically). This means that giving up draft capital is maybe more of a downside than to other clubs.
Also, Gray proved that he wasn’t going to be cheap. While it ain’t my money, and if they want help spending theirs I’m available, we live with the reality that the Reds aren’t running out a 200M team. Better deals are better; especially when it comes to aging pitchers. Gray was good last season, but as has been pointed out here, it was an overperformance on the end of several injury shortened seasons. Doesn’t mean it won’t be a good deal for the Cards, but it certainly carries a higher amount of risk.
Lastly, I like the idea of the Cards striking first with one mostly desirable signing and a couple absolute head-scratchers. Those guys are next years Mike Minor-in-waiting, and I like that the market has taken the cheaper, last resort type options away from the FO. Even if it costs more in prospects or cash, the market has been set, and now they must move with some degree of urgency to get a difference maker.
Agree. The Cards have indeed signed 3 pitchers. They have in some ways pulled the bottom out of the market. The Reds will be forced up.
Or sideways.
The Gray contract was only $35 million total if I am reading it right ($10 mil per plus a bonus). He must have really wanted to sign there. I mean, are the Reds in a pickle where due to their small park they have to pay a bit more or something? Would he not been worth something like 3 years and $45 mil at least? Would that have gotten him to sign? I wonder if the Krogers even really tried?
3 years $75 million
Thats a lot a for 34 yo undersized guy who lasted 2 innings and gave up 5 runs in an elimination game and is only getting older
Its a lot but I think the Reds should have gone for it. It is probably the best combination of performance for length of contact. The good starters that are younger are going to get much longer contracts.
And the ones that are league average probably aren’t worth what they are going to get on the market.
Going to be interesting to see if the Cardinals strategy of 5 older veteran starting pitchers holds up over a season. I doubt the Cardinals are done.
Thanks for the clarification. I really need a new pair of glasses. 🙂
Agree with Old-School. Was excited to see that game with Sonny in the playoffs. It was only one game but in a clutch situation late in the season with a beyond veteran pitcher it’s significant. I also believe that with relief pitchers, you use as few as possible on any given night and pay big to get the best. As for starters, you spread middle money all around because the failure rate is high. Get 2 or 3 guys for the Gray money and hopefully 1 or 2 of them will stay healthy and committed.
@ Reds vol. I’m torn on Sonny. Love his competitiveness and he gives 100% max effort all the time. Glad he did well in Minnesota. I would have given him 2/40 but that third year at age 37….yikes. He was on the IL I think 4x in 2021 with soft tissue strains and groans from last to groins to low back…. Went to that huge series against the Brewers out of the AS break against Corbin Burnes and game was over before it started. He hit 2 guys including Tellez to walk in a run in the first inning and Burnes was in Cy Young mode and a Reds 8-1 ish loss. Sonny isnt worth 3/75 but reasonable people can disagree.
I’m with Old School on this – figured it would be 3/60 and really hoping for performance in the final year. Basically a 2 year deal for 30/yr and free if he makes it into the 3rd year. Cards paying 15M more – much as we complain about “the budget”, 15M is serious. Still, they better spend that on something – no reason to be under 75M for the team budget this season, and should increase to 100+ next season. Then they can talk about trading arb-eligibles and stocking prospects.
It’s 3 years 75Million, so 25MM per year.
Tyler Glasnow is the pitcher that I think the Reds should try to get. I am alright with not getting Gray.
I just don’t see how Glasnow can be a realistic target for the Reds. He just threw a career high of 120 innings, meaning he is injury-prone. Plus, in addition to the whopping $25 million he is owed, it will cost prospect(s?) to acquire him for just one season. Gray would have been straight salary, no prospects required.
All valid points. There are always going to be pros and cons no matter what direction they take. His injury history concerns me, too, but in all fairness only Ashcraft among Reds pitchers threw for more than 120 innings in 2023. I am more concerned about the prospects that might have to be relinquished. As far as the salary, I would insist on a contract extension (like with Sonny Gray when they traded for him) before agreeing to any deal with the Rays. One thought: Would you maybe give up someone like Brandon Williamson (and another lower-level prospect) for Glasnow (with extended contract)? I think I would seriously consider that. We’ll see what happens.
Sonny Gray has been a popular Redleg but his results were inconsistent being very influenced by injury. At Gray’s age it’s just as well the Reds didn’t sign him as a stabilizer for their young starting pitching staff. The market for an established starter seems pretty thin to me. We’ll see what happens from Nick Krall.