The Reds announced their full slate of option decisions for the 2025 season this afternoon. Right-hander Nick Martinez turned down his $12MM player option for next season. The Reds held a $3.5MM club option on lefty reliever and Cincinnati native Brent Suter, but rather than exercising it they’ve signed him to a new one-year contract with a club option for the 2026 season. He’ll be guaranteed $2.25MM and the option is worth $3MM, MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reports. Gordon Wittenmyer of the Cincinnati Enquirer adds that the Reds first paid the $500K buyout on Suter’s $3.5MM option for the upcoming season before re-signing him to the new terms.
Meanwhile, Cincinnati declined a $3.5MM option on catcher Luke Maile in favor of a $500K buyout, while right-hander Jakob Junis declined his end of an $8MM mutual option. He’ll be paid a $3MM buyout. Each of Martinez, Maile and Junis are now free agents.
Martinez, now 34, has shown a strong willingness to bet on himself when it comes to contracts. After pitching in Japan from 2018 to 2021, he has returned to North America and continually signed deals with opt-outs that he has triggered.
Going into 2022, he signed a four-year, $25.5MM deal with the Padres with the ability to opt-out after each season. He eventually triggered his first opt-out and re-signed with the Friars for 2023, a $26MM guarantee over three years with a convoluted club/player option structure. After the 2023 season, the Padres turned down a two-year, $32MM club option and then Martinez turned down his two-year, $16MM player option. He then signed a two-year, $26MM deal with the Reds that again allowed him to opt out after one season.
With the Padres before and with the Reds in 2024, Martinez oscillated between the rotation and bullpen. He got into 42 games this year, including 16 starts, tossing 142 1/3 innings with a 3.10 earned run average. His 20.4% strikeout rate was a bit below average but his 3.2% walk rate was elite. Among pitchers with at least 140 innings pitched this year, only George Kirby gave out free passes at a lower rate.
Both with the Padres and Reds, his results have been better out of the bullpen. This year, he had a 3.84 ERA as a starter but a 1.86 mark as a reliever. Whether he’ll be viewed as a reliever or starter will likely differ from club to club, but he should be able to top $12MM on the open market, making his decision to opt out a logical one.
Now the Reds will be able to issue him a qualifying offer and it has been suggested in some circles that they will consider it. Though Martinez is a solid contributor, it would be a bit of a surprise to see him offered a $21.05MM QO.
None of his previous contracts have had an average annual value higher than $13MM, so he would likely accept such an offer. The Reds have generally had payrolls just a bit above $100MM in most recent years, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts, so Martinez accepting the QO would take up something approaching a fifth of their payroll. That’s a lot of money to commit to a swingman.
Suter, 35, has been a steady performer in the big leagues for close to a decade now. Debuting back in 2016, he now has a 3.45 ERA in over 500 career innings. He signed with the Reds in the offseason and gave them 65 2/3 innings with a 3.15 ERA. His strikeout rate wasn’t great but he demonstrated excellent control and his usual propensity for limiting damage. His average exit velocity and hard hit rate were both in the 96th percentile, according to Statcast.
His previous deal came with a $2.5MM salary for 2024 and a $500K buyout on a $3.5MM club option for 2025. As mentioned, the Reds gave him that buyout and worked out a new salary for the upcoming season, also securing a club option for ’26.
Maile doesn’t hit much but has a strong reputation as a defender and game-caller. That continued to be the case this year, as he slashed .178/.268/.252 but with solid work behind the plate.
The Reds are moving on today but could perhaps circle back to Maile at a lower price point. Tyler Stephenson is the only backstop on the 40-man roster now, so they will need to find a backup, whether that’s Maile or someone else.
Junis, 32, has generally had solid results in his career. However, his 2024 was largely held back by injury. He signed with the Brewers in the winter, a $7MM guarantee broken up into a $4MM salary and a $3MM option.
He went on the injured list early in the year due to a right shoulder impingement. His return from that injury was delayed when he was struck by a batted ball during BP. He eventually tossed 67 innings on the year with a 2.69 ERA, getting flipped from the Brewers to the Reds as part of the deadline deal that sent Frankie Montas to Milwaukee.
Going back to the start of 2021, Junis has thrown 304 1/3 innings with a 3.99 ERA, 22.6% strikeout rate and 5.2% walk rate and should be able to secure himself a solid deal in free agency.
This one belongs to the Reds
Are they that hard up that they had to do that to save $1.25 million?
Big Red Machine
With the $500k buyout, the savings is only $750k lmao
earmbrister
Well I guess sometimes it’s harder to come up with a complaint than others.
The important thing is that you came up with a complaint.
In the meantime, the Reds re-signed Brent Suter very early in the process.
Armaments216
And they added a very reasonable option for 2026. Just speculating but if there’s a 75k buyout on the new option then it’s break even for Suter.
Big whiffa
Reds are gonna spend. Might as well free up what u can
mrkinsm
Don’t count on it. They’ll blame it on the tv contract too.
This one belongs to the Reds
They aren’t going to spend. History shows that.
Big whiffa
They spent last year, have a young core, and signed a manager that’s expecting them to improve their roster. History says they gonna spend too
This one belongs to the Reds
I hope your hopes are realized, and they do it wisely.
mrkinsm
No they did not, they simply replaced the payroll they lost. In fact I’m all but sure their end of year 2024 team salary was below the same figure 12/24/36 months prior.
Big whiffa
I get your point but it’s still spending
Big Red Machine
Not sure what city you are from, but they did not “spend” last year in comparison to other teams.
Big Red Machine
It is not. It is literally not spending a dollar if you save $30M and replace $30M.
Patriot12992
Why wouldn’t you save the 750k? I’m not sure I follow.
Big Red Machine
Is this Nick Krall commenting? Haha
Patriot12992
I’ve been smoked out! Gotta hop on a burner before anyone else notices…..
AMiCk ĐOGEron
Might not be the smartest deal ever, but if he produces they basically get him for 2 full seasons for $5.75 mil including the buyout. That’s not terrible.
Martinez walking sucks. We have a lot of pitching talent but he was a great addition and all those young guys stay injured. Maybe he’s open to a return around $15 mil or so.
Riffaxe
I hope they resign Martinez as well. I’ve seen projections of 40 mil over 3 years. They might extend a qualifying offer to him, which would be 21 mil, but that would be a pretty steep price to pay.
Alan Horn
Yes, the qualifying offer is steep, but I think I would make it. It is only for one year and if he declines, you get the draft pick. 21 million is an over pay however.
yeasties
Seems like being overpaid also makes him harder to flip, in case the season goes south again.
Gwynning
“Harder” for Bobby to write the check, not impossible to flip.
Riffaxe
I agree
Reds2024
I like the Suter deal. He’s very underrated. Junis was obviously gone and I am so happy they declined Maile option. Couldn’t hit a beach ball but I thought the Reds may pick up his option since he was decent behind the plate and has a past relationship with Tito.
This one belongs to the Reds
Like the Suter deal too, they will need long relief especially with Lodolo a 4-5 inning guy.
As far as Maile, I will wait to see who the second catcher is before I cheer or jeer.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Junis back at a friendler deal.
Big whiffa
Let Lodolo co-close. He’s the second coming of hader
This one belongs to the Reds
Lodolo and Ashcraft might both end up setting up Diaz. I have no problem with that backend of the bullpen, but they’ll need to add Gray and someone else (Martinez hopefully) to the rotation.
AMiCk ĐOGEron
Call me crazy, but…
With Lodolo and Ashcraft’s consistent injuries, why not have them be co-starters?
Each responsible for 3-4 innings both both scheduled for the same day. Who starts is based on opposing lineup.
For example:
Greene
Martinez (if he accepts QO)
Lodolo/Ashcraft
Abbott
Bauer (a man can dream lol) or FA signing
It doesn’t exactly suck.
Big whiffa
If we can only get so lucky with new manager ! Rest of league does it, but reds are typically last to party !
Big whiffa
I like the idea of giving Martinez a QO. Reds have the payroll flexibility and it’s hard to think he’d pass on making 20 mil next season while being bound to a comp pick
HiredGun23
“He got into 42 games this year, including 16 starts, tossing 142 1/3 innings with a 31.0 earned run average…”
VegasSDfan
He is solid, i wish we could have him for 2025 on a 1 year deal.
alphabravo619
I’d love to see Nicky “Tight Pants” Martinez make a reunion with the Pads. Brown and Gold
Dumpster Divin Theo
Playing a little fantasy baseball, eh?
This one belongs to the Reds
The off season IS fantasy baseball…then reality sets in, especially for small market teams.
Dumpster Divin Theo
The Suter family a crafty one. His bro Bruce deploy the forked ball, Brent the forked tongue