The Reds are in the midst of a youth movement, with a number of key young players within their years of team control. Despite that reality, the only player they’ve managed to secure a long-term extension with who fits that description is right-hander Hunter Greene, who agreed to a six-year deal back in 2023. Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reported yesterday that the club is unlikely to add another extension alongside Greene’s this spring after an offseason where the club focused on creating depth in hopes of avoiding a campaign derailed by injuries like they suffered in 2024.
“We certainly have guys in that service-time range,” general manager Brad Meador said (as relayed by Wittenmyer) when asked about extensions. “We’ve talked about some of it. We haven’t gone into real specifics with anyone. It’s been pretty vague with the agents.”
In particular, Wittenmyer notes three players who have expressed interest in getting a longer-term extension done with the Reds: veteran right-hander Nick Martinez, who reportedly discussed an extension with the Reds before accepting their Qualifying Offer back in November, as well as youngsters Spencer Steer and Tyler Stephenson. Those extension talks between Martinez and the Reds fizzled out once the right-hander accepted the QO, while Wittenmyer notes that both Steer and Stephenson expressed openness to the idea of an extension but there have not been talks between them and the Reds about the matter to this point.
Stephenson would appear to be the more urgent extension target should the Reds have interest. The 28-year-old was a first-round pick by the Reds back in 2015 and has five seasons in the majors under his belt. He rebounded from a down season in 2023 to establish himself as one of the better offensive catchers in the game last year, hitting .258/.338/.444 in 138 games. A free agent following the 2026 season, it wouldn’t be a shock if another solid offensive season from Stephenson put him outside of the Reds’ financial comfort zone as an extension target, though the 2026-27 free agent class features a number of interesting catching options as discussed by MLBTR’s Darragh McDonald last week. That could make Steer a more logical candidate for an extension in the long run, given that he’s under team control through the end of the 2028 season.
Speaking of Steer, the right-handed slugger received a cortisone injection in his ailing shoulder yesterday as he attempts to combat continued soreness after playing through the issue last year. While a timetable for his return remains unclear, manager Terry Francona emphasized his desire to avoid Steer playing through the issue again this year like he did in 2024, and did not shut the door on the possibility of a trip to the IL to open the season for Steer, as noted by Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
“We need to discuss the next few days or the next week,” Francona said, as relayed by Sheldon. “Everybody points to Opening Day, and I get it, myself included. I’m not saying he’s not going to be ready, but we’ve got to do what’s right for him.”
If Steer is out of action to begin the season, that could open up more playing time for youngster Christian Encarnacion-Strand at first base early in the year. It could also benefit infielder Santiago Espinal by way of opening up third base in the event that Jeimer Candelario shifts across the diamond to cover first.
In more positive injury news, Wittenmyer relayed earlier today that southpaw Andrew Abbott threw his first bullpen session of the spring. Abbot had been behind in camp after a shoulder strain cut his season short last year, but Abbott told reporters (including Wittenmyer) after his bullpen session that it was a “big step” in his progression and that he believes he still has time to be ready to pitch in the first turn through the rotation when the season begins later this month. That would be welcome news for the Reds, particularly given the fact that right-hander Rhett Lowder also entered camp behind schedule. If healthy, Abbott figures to slot into the club’s rotation alongside Greene, Martinez, Brady Singer, and Nick Lodolo.
At this point would anyone be surprised if no extension is done with Elly and he goes to the dodgers or Mets like 5 or 6 years from now
Elly does love Othani. Can see that totally happening.
Red Sox: Rafael Devers– 10 years, $313.5MM. Signed 1-4-23. Reds: Joey Votto – 10 years, $225MM
De La Cruz will get more than the combined amount of Votto’s 10 year deal and Griffey Jr.’s 9 year deal.
Robert Castellini, the CEO of the Cincinnati Reds, has a net worth of $400 million
Do the math.
@MLB Top 100
Castellini owns about 15% of the Reds. The math regarding his net worth, as you say, is irrelevant.
If he mantains or keep improving his performance, the sky is the limit.
Elly has got to be one of the guys the Reds lock up. It would be a shame if not one of these guys gets extended.
They should have locked him up before this offseason. Now with the Soto contract, it is probably too late.
This management team is more short sighted than Mr. Magoo.
“Dodgers or Mets”..I’m assuming you’re a fan of the Reds, although it’s very hard to tell. As long as you’re just randomly predicting events, why not predict something positive?
It’s not like any team needs yet another “Debbie Downer” or “Gloomy Gus”. Especially, being negative about things that may or may not happen “5 or 6” years from now.
Reality isn’t being a Debbie Downer, if you root for small market clubs, it’s a fact of life.
“IF” he turns out as most seem to predict, the Reds will not be able to afford him. Reality… reality that is all speculation at this point.
As a Reds fans, I just hope for improved fielding, improved eye at the plate, and improved judgment on when to have fun on the field. If that doesn’t happen, he could play himself back into the Reds price range before long.
All of you think the reds need to extend elly and are cheap if they don’t. The reds don’t have a chance to resign him. His agent is Scott boras and if you know anything about him and who he represents, he ALWAYS takes his players to free agency. Not just some of the time. All of the time. And elly said LA is what he considers home since he first arrived there and played there on video games. He also is big city personality and we can’t pay him 950 mill in a few years if Soto got 765 now. Everyone knows he is gone in a few years.
@KD
ALWAYS? Jose Altuve, Xander Bogaerts, Stephen Strasburg, Elvis Andrus, and Carlos Gonzalez would like to have a word.
Strasburg made it to FA and then signed with the nats again and andrus and cargo weren’t superstars (and maybe even Xander)
Exceptions, as you point out, are rare. None were with Cincinnati.
Exactly mariners fan. When I said boras always brings his people to FA, I obviously meant superstars and not every single client he represents. Jbryant doesnt get that. While bogaerts, andrus, and even Gonzalez had a couple/few good years, bogaerts never reached the ceiling everyone thought he would. And as good as they were in their prime, none of those players i listed are close to prime elly de la Cruz, or Bryce harper, Gerrit Cole, juan soto,A ROD (2x), etc.. (also, just double checked and bogaerts signed with Padres in FA for his 280mil contract) Strasburg pre injury and altuve were the exception, with me forgetting altuve was a boras client. Nonetheless jbryant, the points above I made still remain true. Elly will get taken to FA where the reds won’t be able to compete. Boras doesn’t do hometown discounts, takes *nearly all face of the mlb superstars* to FA, elly loves LA, and the reds can’t afford his next contract if soto is 765 this year barring something crazy coming from the impending 2026 lockout.
I think we’d all be surprised if he didn’t
Hate to say it but as a reds fan we all know unless something happens to Bob we aren’t keeping Elly or McLain
“Hate to say it”…No, you don’t. You love having some to $itch and complain about. That’s why you’re reaching 5+ years into the future to complain about things that haven’t even happened yet.
You obviously have no concept if how anyone outside large market teams have to operate in this fouled up system.
Elly’s agent is boras
So forget abt extension. 5 yrs from now he’ll ask for soto $
Another young superstar SS is gunnar, also repped by boras… so if you’re reds or O’s you have 4 or 5 more yrs to W before they head to NY or LA
@cr4 & chasingtime..”Reality isn’t being a Debbie Downer”…That’s the whole point, my friend, it isn’t “reality” until it actually happens.
I guess some people don’t know that probably at least half of MLB teams struggle to keep their best players when they get very expensive.
Didn’t we just watch the ultra rich New York Yankees lose an important player because they didn’t offer as much as someone else?
Complaining about things that haven’t even happened is an ultra desperate attempt to stay negative. Baseball is supposed to be entertaining and when it isn’t you shouldn’t partake in it.
Elly is picking up too many bad habits by trying to turn into a power hitter this spring. He’s up there swinging for the fences and his drive through the zone isn’t where the Reds need it to be. He’s looking for bank but having a good Spring isn’t going to translate and may actually wind up costing him money.
Are you that guy which places emphasis on S.T. Win-Loss records? The majority of players are simply focusing on timing and execution over results especially this early on S.T.
Picking up bad habits? Elly has always swung for the fences. Hitters hitting homers and pitchers getting k’s are who gets paid in today’s game.
Lol he’s hitting like .538 wtf are you talking about
The Reds will get as far as they can with Elly, then with one year left they’ll trade him for a haul of prospects. Reds have no hope of signing him long term because he would cost half to 3/4 of the entire payroll. Hopefully they can get a few top tier prospects in the deal.
The most he’d ever cost is $40 million annually, and if that’s ever 3/4ths of your favorite team’s entire payroll, it’s time to find a new favorite team.
Right, only 40 million. The best player in MLB will only be worth 40 million in 5 years. That’s what Vlad wants this year and he couldn’t hold Elly’s jock. By the time Elly is a FA he’ll probably be worth 70-75 million a year. So I have no idea where you get 40 million.
I hope his value can grow that high, but he is not currently the best player in MLB by any measurement. He might be the most entertaining, but even that goes to Ohtani.
A pitcher who cannot pitch? A fielder who cannot play the field is the best player in MLB? Maybe the best DH in baseball, but not the best player.
Elly doesn’t even make the top ten yet, and you are arguing about Ohtani MAYBE being the best DH. Tell me you only watch your local team without telling me lol
My local team is the Tampa Bay Rays, so you lost that bet. Where are you watching from, Mars? Not in the top ten. Can’t argue with a know it all, have a nice day
Elly and McLain will sign with the Dodgers. A little over a Billion combined with 900 million deferred.
Reds will get 4 blue chip prospects who never see the Majors.
I’ve seen this before. Over 50 years being a Reds fan. Turns out like the George Foster trade to the Mets.
They also paid votto market value then homer over market value at the same time. They might surprise you
50 years and you couldn’t come up with a better joke…
reds need to win now. Increase ticket sales and viewership by winning more games. Then try to land a tv deal that gives them some leverage if they make a bad extension. They build some momentum like that, Elly will come in play.
This Elly speculation is the definition of insanity. Just enjoy watching a dude that stole 3 bases over a 2 pitch span just 2 years ago and he is getting better every day. Reread that last sentence as many pitches times as needed until the lockout in 2027 when the CBA is completely gutted and rewritten, sheesh. Then if the economics of the game are still the same you can complain about him being traded to the Dodgers or Yankees when it is actually imminent. Live in the moment for one moment.