3 early contract extensions the Reds should pursue

Which Reds players might receive a contract extension in the coming weeks?

It’s not uncommon for players and teams to negotiate contract extensions at this time of year. We’ve seen Yadier Molina, Travis d’Arnaud, Jonathan Schoop, Brandon Crawford, and Lance Lynn all sign new deals since the All-Star break. The Cincinnati Reds have several players they should consider signing longterm, but these three should be atop the list.

A small-market franchise like the Reds will be looking to maximize their investment. It’s not as if every team in Major League Baseball doesn’t try to do the same thing, but the margin for error is much less for Cincinnati.

Essentially, the Reds cannot afford to miss. We’re seeing the impact this season with players like Mike Moustakas (signed a four-year/$64M contract prior to the 2020 season), Shogo Akiyama (signed a three-year/$21M contract prior to the 2020 season), and Eugenio Suárez (signed a six-year/$66M contract extension in 2018) struggling to play up to their contacts.

The result is, the Cincinnati Reds have $30M-plus this season invested in a trio of players that are collectively hitting .162 on the season. Yes, Moustakas has spent a considerable amount of time on the IL, Akiyama has been reduced to a defensive replacement, and the Suárez at shortstop experiment was a colossal failure.

The bottom line is, Cincinnati must hit the bullseye if they offer a contract extension to any of their current crop of players. The Reds have several players who are eligible for arbitration and a handful who’ll become free agents this winter. There are also a couple Redlegs who have team and or player options available this offseason. Who should be Cincinnati’s top targets to sign an early contract extension?

2. Tyler Mahle, Reds pitcher

It’s anyone’s guess as to what the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation will look like in 2022. Cincinnati has two top prospects (Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene) who are likely to join the rotation next season and every single starter currently in the rotation is under team control heading into 2022. The one pitcher who should undoubtedly be in next year’s starting rotation is Tyler Mahle.

Mahle isn’t going to wow you with his stats, but the right-hander has put together a very solid season and has the makeup of a middle-of-the-rotation starter who can be a reliable piece of the Cincinnati rotation for years to come.

Mahle is second on the team in WAR (4.3) this season, trailing only All-Star snub Wade Miley. Among the Reds’ starting pitchers, Mahle is first in strikeouts (174) and WHIP (1.180) and second in ERA (3.64), ERA+ (131), and innings pitched.

For those who want to make the argument of extending Luis Castillo over Tyler Mahle, take these factors into consideration. Mahle is two years younger than Castillo. In fact, La Piedra will be 31 years old upon entering free agency after the 2023 season.

Castillo also holds much more appeal on the trade market. With Lodolo and Green likely to be part of the Cincinnati Reds starting rotation next season, Nick Krall may have to find a new home for one or more of his current starting pitchers. Castillo was rumored to be of interest to several teams last offseason, and you’d think the same would hold true this winter.

Mahle was also not command the type of salary that Castillo would expect. What a contract extension for Tyler Mahle might look like is anyone’s guess. German Marquez, though more accomplished and younger than Mahle, signed a five-year/$43M extension in 2019 might be best comparison for the Reds’ right-hander.

3. Tucker Barnhart, Reds catcher

This one may surprise some fans, but I think it is imperative for the Cincinnati Reds and Tucker Barnhart to restructure the catcher’s current contract. The Reds face a huge dilemma heading into the offseason; should Cincinnati pick up Barnhart’s $7.5M option?

Man, that’s a loaded question, isn’t it? Barnhart is taking home $3.75M this season, which, given his defensive prowess alone, is a bargain. However, the Reds hold a $7.5M team option for next season with a $500K buyout. If the Reds allow Barnhart to walk, there’s no doubt that another franchise will pick up the two-time Gold Glove Award-winner without batting an eye.

Barnhart is a stalwart defensive catcher who’s put up solid offensive numbers this season. Barnhart’s .744 OPS is just off his career-best mark of .750 that a he set in 2017. Oddly enough, it was that season that Barnhart signed the four-year extension with the Reds.

Barnhart is a leader on this Reds’ team, but the heir apparent to the backstop position in Cincinnati appears ready to take over full-time duties behind the dish. Tyler Stephenson has been as advertised with a .285 batting average and an .812 OPS. Stephenson has also come up clutch time and again in 2021. Is he ready to take over full-time catching duties in 2022?

I’d say yes, but that doesn’t mean that the Reds won’t need a capable backup. Would Tucker Barnhart, who loves the city of Cincinnati, lives a couple of hours away in Indianapolis, and is beloved by the fanbase, be willing to restructure his current contact in order to stay part of the Reds organization?

Would Barnhart, like Scott Rolen did in prior to the 2010 season, be willing extend his existing deal and defer the $7.5M over a two-to-three year period while also lowering his yearly salary? That may be the best case scenario for both the Reds and Barnhart. Will it happen? Only time will tell.

The Reds could always exercise Barnhart’s $7.5M option as well, but that’s a lot of money to pay for a rotational catcher who provides more defense than offense. Other players the Reds should consider extending a contract to before the season ends are Nick Castellanos (though he’s unlikely to sign), Wade Miley (who also has a team-option), and the aforementioned Luis Castillo.