%20%20--%3E%0A%3Csvg%20version%3D%221.1%22%20xmlns%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%22%20xmlns%3Axlink%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F1999%2Fxlink%22%20x%3D%220px%22%20y%3D%220px%22%0A%09%20viewBox%3D%220%200%201294.2%20200%22%20style%3D%22enable-background%3Anew%200%200%201294.2%20200%3B%22%20xml%3Aspace%3D%22preserve%22%3E%0A%3Cstyle%20type%3D%22text%2Fcss%22%3E%0A%09.st0%7Bfill%3A%23CC0934%3B%7D%0A%09.st1%7Bfill%3A%23231F20%3B%7D%0A%09.st2%7Bfill%3A%23FFFFFF%3B%7D%0A%3C%2Fstyle%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Template%22%3E%0A%09%3Cg%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M89.6%2C0H24.8L14.2%2C22.7h9.1L0%2C154.8h62.3c5.3-4.5%2C8.2-7%2C13.5-11.5l8.6-48.5c-3.7-4.5-5.7-7-9.4-11.4h0l0%2C0%0A%09%09%09c5-5.5%2C8.9-9.7%2C14.2-15.4l10-56.5C95.4%2C7%2C93.3%2C4.5%2C89.6%2C0z%20M54.6%2C132.2H27.1l6.5-36.8l28.9-8.4L54.6%2C132.2z%20M66.8%2C63.2l-28.9%2C8.4%0A%09%09%09l8.6-48.9h27.5L66.8%2C63.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st1%22%20points%3D%22139.8%2C0%20114.1%2C0%20103.5%2C22.7%20112.6%2C22.7%2089.3%2C154.8%20155.5%2C154.8%20159.4%2C132.2%20116.5%2C132.2%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M260.6%2C0h-64.9l-10.6%2C22.7h9.1L173%2C143.4c3.7%2C4.5%2C5.7%2C7%2C9.4%2C11.5h50.9c5.3-4.5%2C8.2-7%2C13.5-11.5l23.3-131.9%0A%09%09%09C266.4%2C7%2C264.3%2C4.5%2C260.6%2C0z%20M225.6%2C132.2h-27.5l19.3-109.5h27.5L225.6%2C132.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st1%22%20d%3D%22M350.1%2C0h-64.9l-10.6%2C22.7h9.1l-21.3%2C120.7c3.7%2C4.5%2C5.7%2C7%2C9.4%2C11.5h50.9c5.3-4.5%2C8.2-7%2C13.5-11.5l13.6-77.3%0A%09%09%09h-37.7l-4%2C22.7h14.6l-7.7%2C43.4h-27.5L307%2C22.7h27.5l-3.3%2C18.6h23.1l5.3-29.9C355.9%2C7%2C353.8%2C4.5%2C350.1%2C0z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M400.7%2C0l-10.6%2C22.7h9.1l-23.3%2C132.1h23.2l10.5-59.5l16.8-4.9l0.2%2C64.4h23.1l-0.2-71l1.4-0.4%0A%09%09%09c5-5.5%2C8.9-9.7%2C14.2-15.4l10-56.5c-3.7-4.5-5.7-7-9.4-11.4H400.7z%20M442.7%2C63.2l-28.9%2C8.4l8.6-48.9h27.5L442.7%2C63.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22479.4%2C22.7%20488.6%2C22.7%20465.2%2C154.8%20531.4%2C154.8%20535.4%2C132.2%20492.4%2C132.2%20500.1%2C88.7%20543%2C88.7%20%0A%09%09%09547%2C66.1%20504%2C66.1%20511.7%2C22.7%20554.7%2C22.7%20558.7%2C0%20490%2C0%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M636.6%2C0h-64.9l-10.6%2C22.7h9.1l-23.3%2C132.1h62.3c5.3-4.5%2C8.2-7%2C13.5-11.5L646%2C11.4C642.3%2C7%2C640.2%2C4.5%2C636.6%2C0%0A%09%09%09z%20M601.5%2C132.2h-27.5l19.3-109.5h27.5L601.5%2C132.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%22717.9%2C100.9%20716.2%2C0%20686.7%2C0%20676.1%2C22.7%20685.2%2C22.7%20661.9%2C154.8%20685.1%2C154.8%20696.7%2C88.9%20700.6%2C154.8%20%0A%09%09%09716.1%2C154.8%20743.3%2C88.7%20731.6%2C154.8%20754.8%2C154.8%20782.1%2C0%20755.1%2C0%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M840.2%2C0h-44.5l-10.6%2C22.7h9.1l0%2C0l-33.1%2C132.2h23.2l12.3-49.2l20.8-6l-5.7%2C55.2H835l14.8-144.2%0A%09%09%09C846.1%2C6.5%2C843.9%2C4.1%2C840.2%2C0z%20M802.8%2C81.4l14.7-58.7h7.9l-5.5%2C53.8L802.8%2C81.4z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpath%20class%3D%22st2%22%20d%3D%22M905.2%2C132.2h-27.5L897%2C22.7h27.5l-3.3%2C18.6h23.1l5.3-29.9c-3.7-4.5-5.7-7-9.4-11.4h-64.8l-10.6%2C22.7h9.1%0A%09%09%09l-21.3%2C120.7c3.7%2C4.5%2C5.7%2C7%2C9.4%2C11.4h50.9c5.3-4.5%2C8.2-7%2C13.5-11.4l5.3-29.9h-23.1L905.2%2C132.2z%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%221006.6%2C63.2%20977.7%2C71.6%20990.3%2C0%20964.6%2C0%20954.1%2C22.7%20963.2%2C22.7%20939.9%2C154.8%20963%2C154.8%20973.5%2C95.3%20%0A%09%09%091002.5%2C86.9%20990.5%2C154.8%201013.6%2C154.8%201040.9%2C0%201017.8%2C0%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%221043.4%2C22.7%201052.5%2C22.7%201029.2%2C154.8%201052.4%2C154.8%201079.7%2C0%201054%2C0%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%221129.3%2C92.8%201122.1%2C0%201092.6%2C0%201082%2C22.7%201091.1%2C22.7%201067.8%2C154.8%201091%2C154.8%201107.3%2C62%20%0A%09%09%091114.6%2C154.8%201141.6%2C154.8%201168.9%2C0%201145.7%2C0%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st2%22%20points%3D%221246.6%2C22.7%201250.6%2C0%201181.9%2C0%201171.3%2C22.7%201180.4%2C22.7%201157.1%2C154.8%201223.3%2C154.8%201227.2%2C132.2%20%0A%09%09%091184.3%2C132.2%201191.9%2C88.7%201234.9%2C88.7%201238.9%2C66.1%201195.9%2C66.1%201203.6%2C22.7%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%09%3Cpolygon%20class%3D%22st1%22%20points%3D%221272.1%2C9.1%201242.5%2C176.8%203.7%2C176.8%206.1%2C199.8%201238.4%2C200%201250.1%2C200%201263.6%2C188.5%201294.2%2C15.2%20%09%09%22%2F%3E%0A%09%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3Cg%20id%3D%22Layer_2%22%3E%0A%3C%2Fg%3E%0A%3C%2Fsvg%3E%0A)
Free agent reliever Carlos Estévez has emerged as a hot name on the open market. After the Los Angeles Dodgers agreed to a four-year, $72 million contract with top relief pitcher Tanner Scott, the market has now zeroed in on Estévez.
The Reds were linked to the former Los Angeles Angels' closer earlier this offseason, with both Cincinnati and the Toronto Blue Jays seen as the top suitors for Estévez's services. But with Scott off the board, numerous teams who were interested in signing the newest member of the Dodgers' pitching staff have now shifted their focus to Estévez.
In addition to the Reds and Blue Jays, the Chicago Cubs have entered the Estévez sweepstakes. The Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees have been mentioned as possible landing spots as well.
Increased interest in free agent reliever Carlos Estévez may see Reds fall short yet again
It's hard to imagine the Reds outbidding the likes of the Cubs, Jays, Red Sox, or Yankees for Estévez. Not only will the Reds' lack of spending come back to bite them in their pursuit, but few pitchers enjoy spending half their season in the hitter's paradise that is Great American Ball Park. Estévez isn't exactly a ground ball pitcher (32.2% ground ball rate), so maybe this wasn't the Reds' best free agent target to begin with.
Carlos Estévez’s free agent market is intensifying, following the Tanner Scott and A.J. Minter signings in recent days.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) January 19, 2025
The Blue Jays and Cubs — both of whom had interest in Scott — are among several teams pursuing Estévez.@MLBNetwork
Scott's average annual value (AAV) comes out to $18 million, and recently signed reliever A.J. Minter inked a deal worth $11 million per season. It's a safe bet that Estévez could secure a deal somewhere in the middle after posting a 2.45 ERA in 54 outings with 26 saves in 2024. Estévez is probably seeking something in the neighborhood of a three-year, $45 million deal on the open market.
That seems far too rich for the Reds' blood, especially with so many other glaring holes on the roster. Cincinnati would be better off re-signing Buck Farmer or Jakob Junis and then using any extra funds to upgrade third base and the outfield.