Former Reds pitcher emerges as timely solution after Nick Martinez's exit

Most of the attention this offseason will be on how the Cincinnati Reds fill the power void in the lineup and solve the back end of their bullpen, but there's another glaring hole on the pitching staff that needs to be addressed.

The Reds likely got burned last winter when Nick Martinez accepted the $21 million qualifying offer, and while his performance in 2025 was a step back from what he did in 2024, he was still a crucial cog working in a very specialized role.

Over the past two seasons, Martinez gave the Reds 308 innings of work via 42 starts and 40 relief appearances, which is some truly rare versatility. In addition to his fluidity between the rotation and the bullpen, Martinez gave the club a weapon who could be used for multiple innings in relief if called upon. During the grind of a 162-game season, having an arm like that can save the rest of the pen from wearing down, and is a huge advantage.

However, despite a 4.45 ERA overall on the season, Martinez is predicted to get a pretty healthy payday. Jim Bowden projects a one-year, $11 million deal for Martinez, while Spotrac pegs his market value at two years, $28.5 million. For a club with payroll constraints like Cincinnati, that's simply too high a price to pay for a swingman.

Fortunately, there's an alternative on the market, and he's someone the Reds have some familiarity with. Jakob Junis didn't spend a long time in Cincinnati, but now a return makes a lot of sense.

The Reds could look to Jakob Junis as the perfect Nick Martinez replacement

Acquired at the 2024 trade deadline in exchange for Frankie Montas, Junis became a solid contributor for the Reds down the stretch. He made five starts and 19 total appearances while logging 41 innings to the tune of a 2.85 ERA.

With Martinez accepting the QO last offseason, Junis would've been a redundant piece, and as a result, he moved on to in-state rival Cleveland, where, in 2025, he was used exclusively in relief. Junis made 57 appearances and hurled 66⅔ innings for the Guardians, posting a 2.97 ERA along the way.

Last season marked Junis' third consecutive season with an ERA under 4.00, and the second straight year that he posted a sub-3.00 mark. It may have taken a while for things to click, but now, in his 30s, he's become one of the better swingmen in the game.

Junis might not have the same chops as a starter that Martinez does, but the fact that he can make a start in a pinch is a nice thing to have. Additionally, he can provide the same bullpen-saving length as a multi-inning threat out of the pen.

Junis is projected by Spotrac to get a one-year, $3.9 million deal, making him infinitely more affordable than Martinez. At that price, the Reds would be wise to snatch him up and not look back.