Cincinnati Reds: It’s time to give Scooter Gennett an extension

It’s time for the Cincinnati Reds to offer their All-Star second baseman, Scooter Gennett, the deal he deserves.

It’s been a polarizing topic of conversation all season long. Should the Cincinnati Reds offer a contract extension to their All-Star second baseman Scooter Gennett? And while there are valid arguments on both sides, it’s becoming clearer that Gennett is deserving of an extension with his hometown team.

March 28, 2017, may go down as one of the best days in the life of Ryan “Scooter” Gennett. Gennett was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Reds after the Milwaukee Brewers allowed him to walk, following a season in which he hit .263 with 14 home runs and 56 RBIs.

Since arriving in Cincinnati, Gennett has hit .304 with 44 HRs and 165 RBIs His on-base percentage is .352 and his OPS .865. This season alone, Scooter is batting .313 with a .363 OBP and a .856 OPS. He’s second on the team in homers with 17 and RBIs with 68. Eugenio Suarez leads the Reds in both categories.

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Gennett is playing a very high level for his hometown Reds. He led the National League in hitting at .326 earlier this season and was selected to his first All-Star Game along with Suarez and Joey Votto. Though Gennett’s average has dipped a little bit, he’s still in the Top 10 of the National League in batting average, hits, and offensive WAR.

But let’s throw the numbers aside. Gennett is a selfless player, who goes out every day and does his best to help the team win. Has there ever been a game where you’ve watched Scooter play and questioned his effort? Gennett is the type of player that all winning ballclubs want and need on their team.

The fact that he’s still on the team after the non-waiver trade deadline should clue fans into the idea that Bob Castellini and the Cincinnati Reds’ brass are looking to keep Gennett around. After all, while the Reds could Gennett in the upcoming offseason, his value was likely never higher than before this year’s trade deadline.

So many fans, who object to the idea of extending Gennett, will point to the fact that the Reds’ top prospect, Nick Senzel, plays the same position as Gennett and is wasting away in Triple-A. Senzel likely would’ve been called up by now, and given a chance to play at the Major League level, however, an injury to his hand prevented that from being the case this season.

Senzel had been hitting great for the Louisville Bats before his injury. His defense and ability to play multiple positions in the infield are both skills that Gennett does not have. However, let’s look back to 2010 when the Reds had a similar issue with their top prospect.

First baseman Yonder Alonso was the Reds top pick in 2008, however, for his entire minor league career he was blocked by Joey Votto. The Reds, viewing Votto as their long-term future at first base, eventually traded Alonso, along with other prospects, to the San Diego Padres in exchange for starting pitcher Mat Latos.

The Reds are in a similar situation this go-around. Senzel is loaded with talent, there’s no doubt. Some fans would even argue that he could make a move to the outfield, which may also be a possibility. However, if the Reds could trade Nick Senzel and perhaps a few other prospects for the Mets’ Jacob deGrom, I think Reds Country would be overjoyed.

There’s no doubting Senzel’s ability, and he may yet be a big part of the Reds’ plans moving forward, but starting pitching has plagued this club for years. If a player like Senzel can fetch a real No. 1 starter, I think the Reds have to make that type of move.

Let’s not forget that Dilson Herrera, Shed Long and Alex Blandino are all capable second basemen as well. The fact that the Reds have so many quality players like that in their system is a benefit. You have to think that one of them may be on the way out in the near future.

Gennett was asked by MLB.com writer Bill Ladson about staying in Cincinnati for the long haul. Here’s what Gennett said:

“I love this team. I’m willing to do anything I can to help the team win. It’s not just out there playing second base. It’s in my heart. It’s something I really care about. That’s why I’m honest and serious about me getting extended. … It’s something I’m serious about because I know I can do more if I know the team wants me around for a while. The only way to prove that is to put it in writing, lock me up. Until that happens, it’s hard for me to fully focus on the future of being a Red. It’s not real. It’s not for sure.”

Is sure sounds like Gennett wants to be playing for the Cincinnati Reds in 2019 and beyond. It’s time for Scooter and the Reds to get a deal done and make Gennett a fixture of the Reds organization for years to come.