Reds second baseman Scooter Gennett expressed frustration today with the lack of engagement by the organization regarding a long-term contract, as John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Saying that his side has “opened it up” in search of a dialogue this winter, Gennett says he has “heard absolutely nothing.” Previously, he and the club worked out a $9.775MM deal to cover his final season of arbitration eligibility. That’s a hefty sum, to be sure, but did fall shy of the $10.7MM that MLBTR projected.
Gennett made clear that his primary frustration isn’t the lack of a long-term deal so much as it is the club’s communication on the matter. “What I don’t like is when you’re told we’re going to have a talk and it doesn’t happen,” he said. GM Nick Krall declined to comment, citing club policy.
In the middle of the 2018 campaign, Gennett said he had reason to believe there was serious interest from the club in an extension. Things seemingly shifted this winter, though, for the Cincinnati native. President of baseball operations Dick Williams cast doubt on the possibility of a deal and Gennett even briefly popped up in trade rumors.
There’s still time for a change of course in camp, but there’s clearly no momentum toward an agreement at present. Gennett says he’s fine with the current arrangement from a financial perspective — “I’m only going to make more money going year-to-year than if I signed a long-term deal” — but would like to know what to anticipate from a personal perspective.
Looking at the subject from a roster-building perspective, it’s not too hard to see why the Reds might have hesitated. Gennett is still just 28 years of age and has now put up two-straight quality seasons, but he also has some platoon limitations and only lines up at second base defensively. While the plan is to put top prospect Nick Senzel at center field this spring, it’s also possible that he or another rising prospect could make for a compelling infield option in the relatively near term. With other needs already readily foreseeable next winter, locking into Gennett for significant money comes with some clear downside.
Gennett is clearly interested in an extension. It’s in the Reds interest to at least touch base with Gennett
Problem is Nick.
You need a place for him to play, and he is much cheaper.
You have 3rd base, 2nd base, possible SS and 1st base solid for a long time.
Thanks Scooter, but we need the money for the rotation.
The prospect could be traded for pitching too. Senzel might be good, might not. Scott Kingery was “untouchable” last spring. You already know Scooter is good. Having local talent is great for a franchise.
Have to agree with you on this. Sometimes prospects are Acuna or Soto and sometimes their Kingery or Crawford but you know Gennet is good.
Sulking publicly is a great way to get that extension lol
Actually, it usually is. Just ask JTR.
Who’s JTR?
Are you talking about realmuto??
Yes.
What did Realmuto get in his extension?
A ticket the f’ out of Miami. Not an extension, but far better move for his career, just ask Yelich.
If he doesn’t, someone else will pay him. This is a nonstory.
He has a right to be disappointed.
Hold your horses, Scoot. Good things comes to those who wait.
players at this point want an extension because of the market scooter may only see a 1 year deal. players don’t want to bounce they want to sign and live their families their.
Reminds me of Kris Davis and the A’s. Publicly stating he would take a pay cut, show the fans the loyalty they’re desperate for, and yet, the A’s show no interest.
That is completely untrue that the A’s show no interest. He is well liked in Oakland. I’m sure the A’s are trying to figure out how to keep Davis while also trying to keep Chapman and Olson long term.
Dude their payroll is like $50 mil. They can afford to sign all of those guys you mentioned. Cheap owners who only care about revenue .
Please just stop w/ the “cheap owners” narrative. It’s the hot-topic word of the year apparently, like collusion in the NFL.
But what the hell exactly should an owner care about, ya know, the OWNER OF THE BUSINESS, of course they need to keep an eye on revenue.
Of course you don’t wanna go over budget but common have you seen how empty and depressing the stadium is
There no interest in the team cause the owners don’t put a good product out for fans to enjoy and when they have had good teams they trade them for cheaper younger players and then what fans lose even more interest
There payroll is over 120 Million.
Learn before you speak.
I’m talking about the A’s their payroll is about $83 million and a lot of it is on older pitchers
Don’t be a billionaire apologist
The “owner of a business” where in 2018 MLB set a “record” for revenue!!! A big problem with MLB is that, while there is a soft cap, there is no team required minimum or floor that requires teams to spend a certain amount of revenue on payroll!!! As a fan who wants to follow a team that is constantly rebuilding and trades their stars to continue the never ending rebuild!!!
Both Khris Davis and Scooter Gennett are former Brewers. Both are complaining about contract extensions. Scooter wears #3 and Khris wears #2. 3+2 = 5. Freddie Freeman wears #5. You heard it here first folks, Brewers are acquiring Freddie Freeman
Yes. I follow. I went to saucer mountain and had two visits from Aiken. He is an alien for outer space.
But 3-2 is 1….so are the Brewers also bringing the “1 dog” Lance Johnson out of retirement?
Once again the A’s acting like they don’t have money
That’s so embarrassing to play for a team that doesn’t care about winning they are so cheap the owners should just sell if they can’t afford to run a proper team.That bs that they’re small market is getting old they play in California,they’re small market cause they don’t put exciting players on the field don’t get me wrong they always compete but imagine if they would open up payroll a bit more
IMO he’s earned an extension. From a club perspective I wouldn’t want to give him, say 6 years, but if they can find a shorter term that still saves them a little money and potentially increases his trade value I’d be all for it – particularly as the season goes on and we see if he stays on the pace he’s been on in Cincinnati.
Have a big 2019, leave a team poised to win 75 games in a tough division and leave for a better team for great money. Scooter, do you thing and everything else will fall into place.
I think the big key here is that he is disappointed that he has heard nothing from them at all. If they aren’t that interested in extending him just at least tell him you aren’t interested in negotiating a new deal. Ghosting him is not the right way to go about things.
As a Reds fan, I hope we don’t give him an extension. Use the money on extending Puig and Alex Wood. Senzel to 2B, outfield opening to Jose Siri or Taylor Trammell. Use rest of money on a TOR arm either FA or a trade and extension. Cough cough Robbie Ray is my target
You’d rather extend Puig than Gennett?? Scooter is a much better player then Puig and he also seems to have his head in the right place
Tigersfan I agree with you completely. Gennett right now is one of the best second baseman in baseball. Puig is an alright pain in the neck player who has no idea how to really play the game
Offensive he is, but the ‘D’ not so good. The problem is we need to put that 10 million elsewhere as we have good/great second basemen coming that will not require 10 million for some years. Of course, he is a good team player and has been an asset.
No need to extend Gennett when you have Senzel waiting on the wings.
Right on. And Taylor Trammell will be a fixture in CF for many years. It would be nice if he made his way this year, but certainly in 2020.
A proven bat for a local guy…..and you’d rather give the cash to a truly overdramatic and sulking player? You may be changing your opinion come August.
Local guy means nothing to me. We have guys who can play 2B, and play it better than Scooter. Expect Scooters numbers to regress a lot this season
What you’re saying makes no sense two years ago he hit 295 with 27 hrs and 97 rbis last year he hit 310 with 23 hrs and 92 rbis. He is now entering his prime at 29.On what basis do you predict a regression other than using a dartboard or just guesing
I think Senzel can get very close to those numbers starting next year and be much better defensively. You then use the money for more pressing needs. Bet Puig will have a big year. But Wood and another starter is a more pressing need than a 2B who can be replaced from the minors.
Rowsdower last year Gennet had the sixth highest batting average in all of baseball. “Assuming” Senzel can get close to that there is no way any other minor leaguer you bring up can. If you play Senzel in the of and Gennett at second base you get both players in your lineup.You spoke before of a regression. The guy you might expect regression from is Joey Votto which without Gennett would leave you with a pretty mediocre offense. Also expecting a rookie no matter how highly anticipated to put up a 310 ba and 23 hrs his first year is asking a lot. Only Acuna Soto and Andujar even approached that last year. Senzel has hit 27 hrs in 3 years in the minors so I have no idea how you can expect that from him
I’m that high on Senzels hit tool and as we both know, hitting 23 home runs when you play half of the games in GABP isn’t asking a lot. I also meant “starting next year” as 2020 when Scooter is gone so Senzel would have 2019 under his belt. So yes, I do expect him to. A small to mid market team needs to pay a player on what they’re going to do in the future, not what they’ve done in the past. Just like Brandon Phillips, said that contract was a bad move right when it happened. Sure, Votto has regressed but if there’s a guy I can count on to bounce back, it’s Joey plus his contract isn’t going anywhere so no reason to bring him up. I suspect the Reds front office agrees with my thinking, hence not reaching out for an extension. Use the money elsewhere
Lots of people said the same thing last year, and it did not happen.
That being said, I would let Scooter walk at this time, and wish him well.
If you are that high on Senzel then why not trade Gennett now and get a decent haul for him. Letting him play to either August when you trade him or the end of the year makes no sense. Either get something for him now or extend him.In August you’ll get nothing good., It never makes sense to let an all star in his prime walk. Period
Been preaching that all offseason man. I just don’t think the market is there right now. Reds historically keep players too long and get diminished value in return so…
What you’re saying could be true but it doesn’t make sense. I’m into fantasy baseball and I’m prepping for it now. Only second basemen better then Gennet right now are Altuve Baez and Whitfiels and one plays for KC and another could easily move any where else in the infield. I could see where Torres on the Yanks and Albies on Atlanta make more sense then him but thats about it.Murphy Dozier Gordon Villar Cano Schoop? Not much there
Fantasy value > real value. He’s terrible defensively and doesn’t have much trade value unfortunately. High BABIP and low walk rate equals prime candidate for regression. Real batting average is about the 76th most important measure of a player’s ability. I like Scooter and appreciate what he’s done for my favorite team but he’s expendable. Senzel is a much better defender and profiles as a better hitter in the very near future.
Last year his dWAR was 0.2 which while not great isn’t terrible. I admit I don’t live in Cincinnati so I don’t see him regularly but I’ve seen him enough to know he’s not Daniel Murphy and appears to be at least competent if not great. Explain to me exactly what you see that would suggest he is terrible when it isn’t shown in the stats. Terrible is a real strong word
If local guy is so important, Josh Harrison is still available and can also play third and outfield when necessary.
You still haven’t explained the regression statement you said about scooter
Last year Robbie Ray had a 3.93 era and a 1.35 whip.Alex Wood had a 3.68 era and a 1.21 whip. How is Robbie Ray a TOR but Alex Wood isn’t .Just a note I don’t think Alex Wood is a TOR but he’s closer than Ray
Puig is gonna frustrate the whole Reds organization I wouldn’t be surprised if he’s out of baseball in the next 2-3 years
Think about it you think the Dodgers would just give away a great player….don’t think so not worth the headache
Jose I agree. Puig makes boneheaded plays constantly and broods when not performing well. He’s a much better fantasy performer then he is in reality, The fact his already asking for more money should scare every Reds fan. His is a perfect reason you can’t always trust WAR. He had a 2.7 WAR in 125 games and like you said the Dodgers couldn’t wait to get rid of him
They didn’t just give him away. They saved money and picked up prospects for him and they obviously had to trade an outfielder
JDGoat I guess you remember this trade a little differently then I did. I remember them giving up another outfielder Matt Kemp an all star last year and a starting pitcher Alex Wood with a 3.68 era and a young infielder named Farmer and getting back an unusable starting pitcher earning 23 million dollars a year and getting back the 7th ranked prospect in the Reds minor leagues and another lower then top 10 prospect.The idea that Puig was traded for two minor league prospects is a lie. Puigs 10 million dollar salary was part of a salary dump that the Reds were willing to swallow to get rid of Bailey (dead wood) and get Wood a good starter and Kemp a decent of
Nope. The Reds took on Kemp’s deal to get Wood and Puig. Kemp is not an asset. Puig is and they certainly didn’t have to take on his money to get Kemp. You even quoted WAR for Puig yet didn’t for Kemp which would show you he’s not good.
Your hate of Matt Kemp is duly noted. His role will be to face lefties where he is a career .911 OPS. Also an .898 career OPS in Cincy’s home park. Only an .828 OPS last season against lefties but a higher number against lefty starters.
Kemp might be done, he might not be. Winker and Schebler are lefty hitters and will need a RH stick to spell them. Enter Kemp. Could be a huge asset for that team in that backup role.
It’s funny you see it that way.I’m wondering then why it says inr eports about the trade that the Dodgers were trying to ge trid of Puig since 2016 and that the management was asked about Puigs tumultuous run with the Dodgers and Friedman answered that is a very deep question and chuckled . It really didn’t sound like he was a gm upset about losing Puig but believe what you want.It also says in those articles that Puig often bewildered fans. You can check the espn article if you want.They admit he had a decentlast year but it’s veryclear they wanted to be rid of him
It’s not hate. It’s simply the fact he isn’t an NL player. He provides almost zero value, even though he has a semi decent bat still. And even with that bat, he’s one of the streakiest players in the majors.
Is it just me or does this just seem like the way the Reds typically handle things?
Gotta give Scooter credit people his whole career have done nothing but trying to have excuses to replace him and he proves them wrong. No respect , no respect at all geez . just change your name to Rodney Dangerfield lol
Must just be you….
Joey Votto…Eugenio Suarez… Homer Bailey…Tucker Barnhart
The reds are not afraid to extend their guys.
Brandon Phillips as well
The Reds are going to let him walk!
That’s Plan B. Plan A is to trade him at the deadline for a longtime pitching prospect who just had TJ surgery.
I love Scooter! He has been an unbelievable addition to their roster. I think he deserves an extension. I’ve always thought that. I think too he had a renaissance, of sorts, for going home. Maybe home cooking is truly the Best!
I really like what the reds have done this year and look forward to them being right in the thick of things. Possibly even winning it all. kudos!
no chance against the best rotation in baseball in their division…all that depth, as you say.
Who has the best rotation??!?
The Nationals are in the East
Unfortunately the reds should have traded him before spring training.. I just don’t think the market for second baseman is that strong.. Senzel should be the second basemen of the future.. the reds aren’t going to get anything at the end of the year… like what happened with cozart… scooter has been great for the team especially as a waiver claim but that money can used in a lot of other places and senzel will be just fine at second…
I think they could offer him a QO, and he wold reject it.
It’s almost as if hitting a bunch of Hrs doesn’t mean anything anymore.
At least he’s not trying to “neg” Cincinnati into an extension.
I don’t believe in (Small market) teams I only believe in cheap owners
Last time I checked there’s not one MLB team playing in Idaho North Dakota or Wyoming which I would consider small markets no offense to those states
You have teams in Florida California Ohio who say they’re small market that’s ridiculous how about trying to field a good team and maybe just maybe you’ll put fans in the seats
Is prospects just worked out automatically like everyone seems to think, teams wouldn’t have between 5 & 10 minor league teams. They should let the rookie play almost everyday the first half. If he can play, trade Scooter at the deadline.
Would like to know what an extension would look like in years and dollars. Much rather have a proven player, then a player who has been hurt/health issues and who has potential. Would hope to have both if not too expensive.
The front office has been busy as hell all offseason improving the product on the field, trying to contend, and Scooter wants to whine because they didn’t get to his long term extension yet? Come on!! Pick your battle!
Because of 1.5 “good not great” years and he wants an extension??
Bahahaha
1.5 ? Two years ago 27 hrs 295 ba. Last year 23 hrs 310 ba. Which of those is a half a year? Even three years a go he hit 263 with 14 hrs in 136 games which is far from terrible for a second baseman so exactly what are you talking about.As to good not great the sixth highest batting average in all of baseball last year with 23 hrs despite playing 141 games.I don’t know what you expect out of a second baseman but I think thats better than good
Oh 23 and 14 homers you say…playing in Cinny. I stand corrected. Lol
Did he collect most of his homers in the first half of last year? Yes
Power kinds fizzled out towards the end
Expect to see an article tomorrow about how Gennett is perfectly fine with everything… no problems here.
This is not how you run a franchise when it comes to dealing with your own players. This is just one of the reasons Cincinnati has been an absolute joke since the early 1990s. You do not tell a player you want to work out an extension and then have zero dialogue or winter I understand fancy saying they have been busy but what does it take to pick up the phone call the agent of your player and tell him we need to put this on the back burner just for now. Now the general manager refuses to comment this is again bad business practice and makes the organization look bad.
While I agree the Reds have not done whats right for Cincinnati recently you do realize they won 91 games in 2010 97 games in 2012 and 90 games in 2013 right?
I hope Senzel puts up big numbers but scooter is in his prime and raking… 4 years 45 million keeps an all star at second for the reds… same deal for puig right now and we have our team through the end of Votto with the hopes that Senzel and Trammel occupy left and center with puig… that really could be one hell of a lineup… trade other prospects for some pitching and win a lot of games 7-5!
I’m not sure there is a better hitting second baseman in baseball beyond altuve in the last 2 years so forgive me if I don’t buy into hype of prospects being better than scooter!
Scooter, 10 more homeruns a year and you can demand Machado money.
Scoots extension could hinge on Senzels ability to handle CF. If he can, they may toss him a three year deal and they have both positions solidified. If not, then next season Senzel is at second, because they aren’t dealing his young, inexpensive bat.