Cincinnati Reds: 5 players to lock up with a contract extension

4. Amir Garrett, Reds relief pitcher

How long do the Reds want to count on AG? Amir Garrett put up great numbers in 2020 and will certainly be given a nice pay increase as he heads into next season. According to MLB Trade Rumors, Garrett can expect to take home between $900K-$1.4M next season. Might the Reds look to extend their lone left-handed reliever.

This is a tricky one for me as the life of a reliever is inconsistent from year to year. That said, Amir Garrett has done nothing but get better each and every season. Garrett’s ERA has gone from 4.29 in 2018 to 2.45 last season. His K/9, according to FanGraphs, has gone from 10.14 in 2018 to 12.76 in 2020.

Perhaps most impressive is Garrett’s strikeout-rate which has gone from 31.7% in 2019 to 37.7% this past season. His WHIP even dropped from 1.41 in 2019 to 0.93 last season. Amir Garrett is getting better each year and that should scare opposing left-handed batters in the National League Central.

Against left-handed hitters, Garrett allowed a paltry .043 batting average and .258 OPS. That is flat-out dominant. However, against right-handed hitters, Garrett gave up four home runs and allowed right-handed batters to put up a .807 OPS against him. That is an area he must improve upon heading into 2021.

Garrett is a fringe extension candidate for me because of the position he plays. Amir Garrett can shut down left-handed bats, something that is needed in every bullpen. However, his niche for getting out left-handed hitters may not be as valuable as other positions on this team. If Garrett shows the ability to handle right-handers, then he could be a future close for the Reds.