Reds Navigate Offseason Strategies After Signing Nick Martinez

As free agent Nick Martinez accepted the Reds' one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer for 2025 on November 19, he became the team's highest-paid player, raising questions about the club's remaining budget for other offseason acquisitions.

This weekend, the Reds' baseball-operations department heads to Dallas for MLB's annual Winter Meetings, where the financial picture is expected to become clearer. "We've got a little bit of flexibility right now," stated Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall on Monday.

While the exact payroll figure for the next season remains undisclosed, the Reds have indicated it will be at or above the 2024 figure of roughly $100 million. Currently, Cincinnati has about $56 million committed to contracts for Martinez, Jeimer Candelario, Emilio Pagán, Hunter Greene, Santiago Espinal, and Brent Suter. This figure does not include the salaries of club-controlled players or those eligible for arbitration. Despite Martinez's significant salary, the Reds are not ruled out from pursuing additional free agents, nor has it increased the likelihood of making trades to meet their needs.

"We're looking at both markets. We haven't ruled anything out yet," Krall mentioned. The Reds are particularly focused on adding hitters to their roster, with a preference for an outfielder over an infielder. However, Krall remains open to various possibilities, stating, "Most likely it's going to be an outfielder over an infielder, but I wouldn’t rule anything out just yet."

When asked about specific targets, Krall remained tight-lipped, emphasizing the importance of acquiring versatile players who excel both defensively and offensively.

​As the Reds approach the Winter Meetings, the team’s strategy and potential moves will be closely watched, with fans eager to see how the club positions itself for the upcoming season.