Headlines

  • Cardinals To Select Jordan Walker
  • Mets Option Brett Baty, Mark Vientos
  • Luke Voit Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With The Brewers
  • Mets Sign Dylan Bundy To Minor League Deal
  • Reds Acquire Will Benson From Guardians
  • Cardinals Sign Miles Mikolas To Two-Year Extension
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • Top 50 Free Agents
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Arbitration Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Reds To Exercise Club Option On Cueto, Buy Out Hannahan And Ludwick

By Jeff Todd | October 29, 2014 at 1:45pm CDT

2:21pm: The Reds have also declined Ludwick’s $9MM option, instead paying him a $4.5MM buyout, Cotillo tweets. The 36-year-old’s down 2014 season made that salary excessive, though the steep buyout tag and Cincinnati’s outfield needs made it a closer call than it might have seemed at first glance.

1:45pm: The Reds have kicked off their offseason with two unsurprising moves, deciding to exercise a $10MM club option over starter Johnny Cueto and decline a $4MM option for utilityman Jack Hannahan, according to Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com (Twitter links). Cincinnati will pay Hannahan a $2MM buyout rather than taking him back for 2015.

Both moves were widely expected. Cueto, 28, put up a Cy Young-worthy campaign (243 2/3 innings with a 2.25 ERA) and is an unquestioned bargain at that rate. The only question seems to be whether the club will take a crack at working out another extension or, if that is not an option, will listen to trade offers.

Meanwhile, the 34-year-old Hannahan did not play to expectations with the Reds and saw only 50 plate appearances last year. Across 212 trips to the plate over the previous two seasons, Hannahan slashed an anemic .209/.294/.278.

Cincinnati still has a slightly more difficult decision to make on Ryan Ludwick, whose club option — like Hannahan’s — comes with a buyout that reaches 50% of its value. In his case, the club can either pick him up at $9MM or buy him out for $4.5MM.

Share 22 Retweet 51 Send via email4

Cincinnati Reds Newsstand Transactions Jack Hannahan Johnny Cueto

AL West Notes: Iwakuma, Young, Astros, Peacock
Main
Outrighted: Kalish, Valaika, Vitters, Meek
View Comments (31)

Comments

  1. DippityDoo

    8 years ago

    Ludwick’s been negative WAR for two season’s now, let him go. No point paying an extra 4.5 Million for replacement level production.

    Reply
    • Melvin Mendoza, Jr.

      8 years ago

      So it’s better to pay him 9 million?

      Reply
      • LayerCake

        8 years ago

        Wait what?

        Reply
        • Melvin Mendoza, Jr.

          8 years ago

          If they “let him go,” they’re on the hook to pay him the full $9M he’s owed, instead of the 4.5m buyout

        • Devern Hansack

          8 years ago

          It definitely doesn’t work that way unless they pick the option up and then release him.

        • Melvin Mendoza, Jr.

          8 years ago

          It’s a mutual option, which Ludwick will surely pick up

        • Ron Fulton

          8 years ago

          Not a mutual option

        • Lefty_Orioles_Fan

          8 years ago

          Not that’s it’s a big deal, but DD in the original post did type, no point paying ‘an’ extra……..

        • Ron Fulton

          8 years ago

          No if they don’t pick up his option, he becomes a free agent ant the buyout is 4.5M

  2. Dave Pierce

    8 years ago

    Jack Hannahan’s 2M buyout is larger than any 1-year salary he ever made in the majors. I wouldn’t be shocked if this has happened before but it is definitely very rare.

    Reply
  3. daveineg

    8 years ago

    Ludwick joins a growing list of once productive hitters who’s production cratered after reaching 35 in recent years. That’s why the Brewers would be foolish to pick up Ramirez’ option which would cost them an extra $10 million.

    Reply
    • Seamaholic

      8 years ago

      There are plenty of counter-examples though.

      Reply
    • oh Hal

      8 years ago

      I’d go for it if its one season. Its hard to imagine what Melvin would do otherwise.

      Reply
  4. Seamaholic

    8 years ago

    Cespedes for a SP trade seems like it makes a ton of sense here. Or some other LF. Reds are really hurting for competent hitting outfielders.

    Reply
    • Dennis

      8 years ago

      I have to disagree. His power is great, along with his arm strength, but the Reds don’t need more power. They need someone to get on base in front of Votto(if healthy), Bruce, Frazier, and Mesoraco. Cespedes isn’t that. Home runs are great, but they won’t cure the problems this team has.

      Reply
    • Ron Fulton

      8 years ago

      Not if they go to AA

      Reply
  5. Metsfan27

    8 years ago

    What a bargain for Cueto.. If he stays healthy again in 2015, he’ll be one of the best “bang for your buck” players.

    Reply
    • oh Hal

      8 years ago

      That’s a big if.

      Reply
      • slasher016

        8 years ago

        He’s gone at least 156 innings every year of his career except one. And that shortened year he still managed 1.4 bWAR.

        Reply
        • oh Hal

          8 years ago

          156 isn’t exactly monumental. He’s also had a half dozen or so trips to the DL for a sole shoulder. I think its a moot discussion regardless. I’d guess they won’t trade anyone and go for it next season.

        • slasher016

          8 years ago

          The 156 was one year. Every other year was 171 or above. And he has not been on the DL with a sore shoulder “half a dozen times.” His DL trips were mostly for an oblique issue.

        • oh Hal

          8 years ago

          DL for shoulder – 09, 11, 04/13, 06/13 and DTD in 11. That doesn’t include oblique, finger, neck, elbow and forearm problems. Your point stands that he’s a bargain, but if Vegas allowed over/under bets on, lets say 160 or so, I’d take the under especially given the workload last season.

  6. Daniel Morairity

    8 years ago

    Even if ludwick and hanahan do go where will they go

    Reply
  7. 123Redsox

    8 years ago

    Who could be some options to take Ludwick’s spot?

    Reply
  8. Anthony Joseph Ziegler

    8 years ago

    The Reds need guys who can get on base. They already have the guys that can drive them in. The Reds seemingly have their leadoff man. Now all we need is a 2 hole hitter that can help Hamilton put more pressure on the defense.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.
Log in Register

ad: 300x250_1_MLB

    Top Stories

    Cardinals To Select Jordan Walker

    Mets Option Brett Baty, Mark Vientos

    Luke Voit Opts Out Of Minor League Deal With The Brewers

    Mets Sign Dylan Bundy To Minor League Deal

    Reds Acquire Will Benson From Guardians

    Cardinals Sign Miles Mikolas To Two-Year Extension

    Keston Hiura Will Not Make Brewers’ Roster

    Rhys Hoskins Diagnosed With Torn ACL, Will Undergo Surgery

    Jed Lowrie Announces Retirement

    Jose Altuve To Miss About Two Months Due To Thumb Surgery

    Rockies Sign Jurickson Profar

    Braves Option Vaughn Grissom, Braden Shewmake

    Jose Altuve Leaves WBC Game After Hit By Pitch

    Edwin Diaz Undergoes Surgery To Repair Patellar Tendon

    Out Of Options 2023

    Cade Cavalli To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Edwin Diaz Helped Off Field With Right Knee Injury

    José Quintana Out Until At Least July Due To Rib Surgery

    Trevor Bauer Signs With NPB’s Yokohama DeNA BayStars

    Craig Stammen “Highly Unlikely” To Pitch Again Following Shoulder Injury

    Recent

    Cardinals To Select Jordan Walker

    Nationals Announce Several Roster Cuts

    Guardians Acquire Steve Hajjar From Reds To Complete Will Benson Trade

    Joey Votto May Begin Season On Injured List

    Rockies To Select Mike Moustakas, Ty Blach, Harold Castro

    Mets Option Brett Baty, Mark Vientos

    Cardinals Select Taylor Motter; Option Juan Yepez, Génesis Cabrera And JoJo Romero

    Twins Release Six Players

    Robert Suarez Likely Headed To Injured List

    Giants To Select Roberto Pérez

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Offseason Outlook Series
    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Go Ad-Free
    • Projected Arbitration Salaries For 2023
    • 2022-23 MLB Free Agent List
    • 2023-24 MLB Free Agent List
    • MLB Player Chats
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    ad: 160x600_MLB

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • Feeds by Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    hide arrowsFOX Sports Engage Network scroll to top
    Close

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version