Reds' Sal Stewart: Should be ready for spring training
Rotowire
Stewart (wrist) was swinging a bat in October and should be fully ready for spring training, Baseball America reports.
He injured his wrist in an off-field accident in mid-July and was working his way back from the injury at the Reds' spring training complex before injuring it further and needing surgery. Stewart is a bat-first prospect who makes good swing decisions and a lot of contact with burgeoning power. He might be able to handle third base or second base but could also slide to first base/designated hitter.
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Reds' Rhett Lowder: Opening Day status uncertain
Rotowire
The Reds currently have at least six starters who could be on the Opening Day roster following the Brady Singer trade, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports. In addition to Singer, there's Hunter Greene, Nick Martinez, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott and Lowder.
Greene, Singer and Martinez are shoo-ins for three rotation spots, and after that it's a little less certain. Both Abbott and Lodolo have health concerns, and Lodolo for that matter is coming off of a rough season. Lowder posted a 1.17 ERA and 1.27 WHIP over six late-season starts after roaring through the Reds' minor league system. It's plausible that they could decide he needs more time to develop, especially if Lodolo and Abbott are ready to go.
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Reds' Brady Singer: Dealt to Cincy
Rotowire
The Royals traded Singer to the Reds on Friday in exchange for Jonathan India (ankle) and Joey Wiemer.
After posting a 5.52 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in 2023, Singer bounced back nicely with a 3.71 ERA and 1.27 WHIP to go along with a 170:54 K:BB in 2024. Now in Cincinnati, the 28-year-old shouldn't have much trouble securing a spot in the Reds' starting rotation, which is currently headlined by Hunter Greene.
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Reds' Santiago Espinal: Inks deal with Cincy
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Espinal and the Reds agreed to a one-year, $2.4 million contract Friday to avoid arbitration, Jon Heyman of the New York Post reports.
Espinal was traded from the Blue Jays to the Reds in March and had a .246/.295/.356 slash line with nine home runs and 11 steals in 118 games during 2024. He should fill a utility role for Cincinnati again in 2025.
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Reds' Tyler Callihan: Added to 40-man roster
Rotowire
The Reds selected Callihan's contract from Triple-A Louisville on Tuesday.
Callihan has only played four games above Double-A, so he probably won't be up in the majors early this season, but he had a strong showing last year in the upper minors. A utility player who moves between second base, left field and first base, Callihan slashed .276/.359/.429 with nine home runs and 22 steals in 73 games, primarily at Double-A.
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Reds' Luis Mey: Protected from Rule 5 draft
Rotowire
The Reds selected Mey's contract from Double-A Chattanooga on Tuesday.
Mey has a big-time fastball and impressed in the Arizona Fall League, where he did not allow a run while striking out eight and saving six games in 8.2 innings for Glendale. He has really struggled with his control at every stop besides this small AFL sample (16.4 percent walk rate at Double-A, 18.8 percent walk rate at High-A last year), so Mey probably won't be ready for high-leverage work in the big leagues anytime soon.
Martinez accepted the Reds' $21.05 million qualifying offer for 2025 on Sunday, Francys Romero of BeisbolFR.com reports.
The right-hander declined his $12 million player option with the Reds for 2025, but he'll remain with the organization after being extended the qualifying offer. Martinez started in 16 of his 42 appearances in 2024 and had a 3.10 ERA, 1.03 WHIP and 116:18 K:BB across 142.1 innings. Given the salary bump he should begin 2025 working exclusively as a starter.
Jackson signed a minor-league contract with the Reds on Friday.
Although Jackson managed to record a career-high 155 plate appearances with the Rays in 2024, he continued to struggle at the plate, slashing just .122/.201/.237 with 12 RBI. However, his OPS jumped up to .855 at Triple-A Durham, so the Reds will take a flier on him and likely send him to Triple-A Louisville to begin the 2025 campaign.
Pagan exercised his $8 million player option for 2025 on Saturday.
Pagan was forced to sit out the first half of the season due to a lat injury, and he accumulated a 4.50 ERA across 38 innings upon returning in mid-August. Given his decline in performance, it was unlikely he'd receive an offer close to $8 million in free agency, so the 33-year-old righty will return to Cincinnati and likely fill a high-leverage role out of the bullpen.
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Reds' Brent Suter: Remaining with Cincinnati
Rotowire
Suter signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract with the Reds on Friday.
The deal includes a $3 million club option for 2026. Suter's previous contract included a $3.5 million club option for 2025, which the Reds bought out for $250,000 before agreeing to terms on his latest deal. The 35-year-old southpaw was an effective middle reliever for the Reds in 2024, putting up a 3.15 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across 65.2 innings.
