Cincinnati Reds: 3 things Nick Krall must do first in his new role

2. Make a run at Reds ace Trevor Bauer.

Again, I know the majority of you will disagree and claim that re-signing Bauer should take top priority, but I disagree. Yes, he’s a phenomenal pitcher, but I have to believe when the Cincinnati Reds made the deal last summer to acquire the right-hander that it was for 2020, not beyond. Bauer is going to cost a pretty penny, and unless it’s for a one-year deal, the Reds should pass.

Bauer is going to sign a contract with an average annual value of at least $35M. Should he go the route of signing a one-year deal, that amount may be even more. However, Bauer’s agent recently stated that they’ll entertain all offers regardless of whether it’s a short-term or long-term deal. If it’s the latter, Cincinnati let the other teams battle for Bauer’s services.

Given how much Bob Castellini and the Cincinnati Reds ownership invested in the team last season, it’s really hard to see the club going all-in once again this winter. They’ve already got a boatload of money tied up in Joey Votto, Nick Castellanos and Mike Moustakas. Plus, fellow starting pitcher Luis Castillo is up for arbitration, and hopefully a contract extension, this winter.

The Reds have a lot of talented pitchers at the minor league level as well. Are Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene ready to make the leap The Show? That’s debatable, but Tyler Mahle, Michael Lorenzen and Tejay Antone are options to fill in as starting pitchers in 2021.

Yes, the Reds should make an attempt to re-sign Trevor Bauer. But, they should tread lightly. We’ve seen what big contracts like Votto’s have done to the Reds in the past. That said, if Bauer and the Reds can come to a deal that’s mutually beneficial, Nick Krall should make it happen.