Cincinnati Reds agree to deals with several arbitration-eligible players

The Cincinnati Reds agreed to several one-year deals with a slew of arbitration eligible players before today’s deadline.

Today was the deadline for arbitration eligible players and their representatives to exchange numbers with their respective teams. The Cincinnati Reds came to terms on several one-year deals with some of their most prominent players.

Scooter Gennett, Anthony DeSclafani, Michael Lorenzen, Yasiel Puig, Tanner Roark, and José Peraza all agreed to one-year contracts for the 2019 season.  All six players are expected to make big contributions in 2019. The Reds were unable to come to terms with only one of their newly acquired players; left-hander Alex Wood

One of the biggest paydays is going to Gennett, who will make $9.775M this coming season.  That seems like a bargain for the 2018 All-Star second baseman. This is Gennett’s final year of team control. Unless he in the Reds reach a contract extension before next off-season, Scooter will become a free agent.

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Peraza, who enjoyed a very successful 2018 campaign, will be making $2.775M next season. Peraza has two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, and many fans are curious if the Reds may look to sign their shortstop to a long-term extension this offseason.

Starting pitcher Anthony DeSclafani will get a bump in pay. Disco made his comeback midway through the season last year and is slated to be a big part of the team’s starting rotation this coming year. DeSclafani and the Reds settled on a one-year deal worth $2.125M.

Puig, newly acquired in the trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers earlier this offseason, is expected to bring a lot of power to the middle of the Cincinnati Reds lineup. Puig’s one-year deal is worth $9.7M. This is Puig’s final year of arbitration eligibility, meaning he’ll be a free agent after this season unless he and the Reds come to a deal before the end of the season.

Tanner Roark, also in the final year of team control, signed a one-year/$10M deal. Roark was acquired from the Washington Nationals on the last day of the Winter Meetings in December and is expected to be a solid addition to the Reds rotation this coming season.

Finally, the Reds also signed a one-year deal with pinch-hitter/relief pitcher Michael Lorenzen. Lorenzen may find a very interesting role on next year’s  team depending on how new manager David Bell plans to use his muscular right-handed reliever.

In all, the Cincinnati Reds avoided arbitration with six of their seven arbitration-eligible players. Alex Wood was the lone holdout and is projected to make in the neighborhood of $9M. Checking off six salaries as the Reds offseason continues is a great move by the front office, the players, and their representatives as well.