Andrew Abbott is forcing Reds into a decision they can’t delay much longer

The Cincinnati Reds have a golden opportunity sitting right in front of them with their left-handed pitcher Andrew Abbott. Now in just his second full big-league season, Abbott is doing more than simply holding down a rotation spot — he’s emerging as a bona fide frontline starter.

Through his first seven starts in 2025, the soon to be 26-year-old southpaw boasts a sparkling 1.80 ERA, a 3–0 record, 43 strikeouts in 35 innings, and a WHIP of 1.11. These aren’t just promising numbers; they’re the kind of results that suggest sustained dominance and growth. The advanced metrics back it up. A 30.3 percent strikeout rate, 2.25 expected ERA, and a hard-hit rate of just 26.5 percent all point to a pitcher whose performance is not a fluke.

Abbott has turned in one impressive outing after another. He carved up the Cleveland Guardians for five scoreless innings on May 18. Five days earlier, he limited the Chicago White Sox to just one run over six innings with no walks and seven punch outs. Against the Atlanta Braves on May 6? Five shutout innings, eight strikeouts, and total command. And he’s proven that he can really dominate when everything is working — like his April 18 start at Camden Yards, where he struck out 11 Baltimore Orioles over six innings.

This kind of production is why the Reds must seriously consider extending Abbott now — before arbitration years ramp up his salary and before free agency inevitably enters the conversation.

The Reds should strike while the iron’s hot and sign Andrew Abbott to a contract extension

Abbott made his MLB debut in June 2023 and currently has just over one year of service time. That means the Reds have him under team control through the 2029 season — including three more years of arbitration, with free agency coming after the 2029 campaign. For now, he's making just $770,000 — a steal given when you consider his performance. But that will change quickly once arbitration hits.

This is precisely the window teams like the Reds — with mid-market budgets and a need to build sustainably — should be targeting to lock up young, ascending players. We’ve seen this movie before. The Reds gave Hunter Greene a six-year extension in 2023 worth just under $9 million annually. Abbott, yet another young Reds arm with a high ceiling, should be next.

From the Reds’ perspective, a long-term extension for Abbott offers immediate and long-range benefits. First and foremost, it provides cost certainty for a pitcher who’s quickly proving he can anchor a rotation. Instead of gambling on the unpredictable nature of arbitration, the Reds can lock in a reliable arm at a manageable, below-market rate.

The Reds need to show a long-term commitment to Andrew Abbott (and the rest of the clubhouse)

It also signals a strong organizational message — a commitment to investing in homegrown talent. That kind of stability matters not only for future roster building but also for fan engagement. In a city that’s longed for a sustained contender, keeping a rising star like Abbott in Cincinnati is a move fans can get behind.

For Abbott, the appeal lies in long-term security. A multi-million-dollar deal would solidify his financial future before arbitration ever takes hold, protecting him from the year-to-year uncertainty that many pitchers face — especially when injuries or fluctuations in performance can derail any leverage. And it’s not as if such a deal would block him from cashing in down the line.

Even with a six- or seven-year extension, Abbott would still reach free agency before age 32 — plenty young enough to pursue a second, potentially larger contract if he continues to ascend. For both sides, the timing couldn’t be better.

Yes, there's risk involved. But isn’t there always? Pitchers get hurt. Command can waver. But this is the kind of calculated gamble smart organizations make — and often win on.

If the Reds wait too long, Abbott’s price tag only goes up. Worse, they could find themselves in the all-too-familiar position of watching elite talent walk out the door when free agency arrives. But by acting now, they can lock down a rotation cornerstone through the rest of the decade — and maybe even kick off a new one in the 2030s.

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