Ever since Nick Martinez accepted the Qualifying Offer, it sure seems like the Cincinnati Reds, whom are already losing their guaranteed $55,000,000 payment from Diamond Sports Group, has had a pretty big monetary “problem.” Now, I’m not suggesting Nick Martinez is a bad investment, because the reality is…he’s not. I am, however, suggesting that the Reds can turn him into a smart one. Let’s get into it.
As mentioned above, the Cincinnati Reds are losing a guaranteed $55M+ from DSG since they opted to bypass their deal & part ownership stake (sold for $1.00) last month. Their payroll currently sits at a projected $90,588,333 per Spotrac and we’ve been tipped off by Nick Krall & the Reds’ new COO Doug Healy that the Redlegs ‘will be at or near their 2024 payroll when it’s all said and done,’ which totaled $100,254,855. That was good for 25/30 in MLB, by the way. If you look at this roster as currently constructed, ladies and gentleman, we’re in trouble. You can’t get a good bat for $10M a year, and we still have issues in the bullpen.
How Do We Fix This?
Well, it’s actually pretty simple. And it starts with the gaping hole we have right now monetarily, and that is Nick Martinez. We have to restructure this deal. We have to extend him to buy time, and we know the market, now, for these guys of his caliber. Frankie Montas just signed a 2 year, $34M deal, Matt Boyd signed a 2 year, $29M deal. One of those guys, Frankie, is a Boras client much like Nick. Nick is 4 years older than Frankie. Let’s extend Nick to buy some time to get more cash flow in the building, let’s bring back out this graphic I did last month when we found out Nick was signing the QO, but adjust it to what other folks are getting around the league.
Nick Martinez – 34
Total: 3 years, $35,500,000 Gtd, potential $42,750,000
2025: $13,500,000
- 130 IP $500,000
- All Star Game $250,000
2026: $18,500,000
Mutual Opt (’27) ($3,500,000 buyout)
2027: $10,500,000
Why would this make sense for both sides? For the Reds, this gives them a desperately needed $7,500,000+ additional to play around with for 2025 when they will rely on Major League Baseball to pay them for revenue. For Nick Martinez, this gives him an extremely competitive offer knowing it’ll be his last contract. $35.5M guaranteed at 34 years old headed into year 36 will not be beat, as evidenced by him signing the QO, and if he and Boras believe it to be beaten, the mutual option in ’27 can pay him an additional $3.5M to test the waters for himself.
I know $7.5M doesn’t sound like a lot for the Reds, but trust me, it is. That’s going to get you a player like Michael Conforto for 2025. Something that’s desperately needed. It could potentially put you in the running for Teoscar Hernandez. Joc Pederson. Long story short, this needs to be something that’s done. This Reds team as is is not good enough. Nick Krall has to get creative for 2025, there’s no time to waste, there’s no more seasons to waste. Elly De La Cruz departs in 2028, maybe earlier, if you fail. Enough said. Get to work.
