[Heyman] The Reds’ Nick Martinez is expected to accept the $21.05M qualifying offer.

16 comments
  1. On one hand, I’m glad Martinez is coming back because he was good last year. On the other hand, seems like a lot of money for someone who might immediately decline because he’s 34.

    If ownership spends elsewhere, I’ll be thrilled.

    If they’re like “we paid for Martinez, what else do you want?” I will be considerably less thrilled.

  2. Starting the year with Greene-Lodolo-Martinez-Lowder-Abbott will be absolute fire if they can all get 20-25 starts in a piece. With Burns, Petty, Spiers waiting we’ll hopefully be pretty solid in the rotation.

  3. This is not great for 2025. I think it was possible for the Reds to get a similar arm for 10 million less and have more available to help in other areas (backup C, outfields, bullpen, etc)

    From some of the rumors, take them for what you will, him accepting the QO was not what they wanted. They were still trying to negotiate a 2-3 year contract. And there’s still a chance that is eventually where they end up. But the QO was more them trying to at least get draft comp if he walked.

  4. He was good. Reward some guys that are good for you. Hopefully he can have another couple good seasons. As much a right move for the clubhouse as it is for his play right?

  5. Ultimately this would represent a 7 mil bump from last season so year over year only adds 7 mil to Martinez number from last season. It’s not taking on 21 mil in new money from last year’s budget, it’s taking on 7 mil.

    That is the same number Ty France, for example, was likely looking at in arb. If you ask yourself whether you’d rather have the risks that come with a 14 mil dollar free agent arm (for one year or having to take on more than one year to get the deal done) and Ty France, or Martinez for one more year, feels like the answer is pretty clear.

    Now, could you do better than France + Mystery arm for 21 mil? Maybe. But that would invoke risk on multiple contracts and for a small market team when you put risk of multiple contracts (including the possibility some of the contracts would be multi year deals) up against a known known you get from a guy like Martinez, the thinking makes a whole lot of sense.

  6. Whatever, it’s not my money. Being willing to keep him and bringing in other people *does* make me more likely to spend my money on the Reds, though. They should take note.

  7.  Can’t believe he didn’t go for a multi year deal from somebody.  As pitching starved as every team is, and how great he pitched in September, I can’t believe he’s not jumping ship for more money from someone.

  8. Ryan Ludwig 2.0 at least it’s only one year. It’s just 4 million less than votto made and we were hamstrung with his salary. GET A REAL OUTFIELDER! sell the team bob

  9. Well, that would be ok if Martinez accepted it, but that likely blows the budget for the offseason. Not likely to get an upgrade in the OF.

  10. Martinez is kind of in that perfect spot of good enough to get a qualifying offer, but not necessarily good enough to decline it. Getting him at 1yr/21M is definitely better than not tagging him at all.

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