Nick Krall's response to belittling question suggests Reds' approach may be different

So many Cincinnati Reds fans are excited about the upcoming season, especially with the addition of Terry Francona as the team's new manager. But there's a lingering question that surrounds, not only the Reds, but other small market clubs every winter; how much money is available to be spent?

The latest hurdle for the Reds and other organizations has been the unsettled dispute with regional sports network. The lack of revenue brought in through television contracts can oftentimes have a domino effect when it comes to offseason spending. But perhaps things will be different for the Reds in 2025.

Nick Krall's response to belittling question suggests Reds' approach may be different

The GM Meetings wrapped up this week, and while no major transactions were announced, this is more of a starting point for team executives and agents. The MLB Winter Meetings, however, that's a different story. That event will occur shortly after the Thanksgiving holiday and is sure to be littered with rumors, trades, and free agent signings.

How aggressive will the Reds be at this year's MLB Winter Meetings? If Nick Krall's comments to reporters during the GM Meetings are any indications, perhaps more than you might think.

A pool of reporters were speaking to the Reds' President of Baseball Operations about the team extending a qualifying offer to Nick Martinez. One media member seemed quite baffled that the Reds would even consider paying Martinez $21 million if he signs the qualifying offer.

That reporter asked, "Are you prepared for him to accept?" When Krall said, yes, the reporter followed up, "It's a lot of money for Cincinnati." Krall's response was refreshing. "It's kind of the starting pitching market, right?" the Reds top decision-maker said. The Reds shelled out $16 million for an underperforming Frankie Montas last offseason; it's safe to say that handing Martinez a $21 million paycheck after a fantastic season is relatively fair.

How much money will the Reds spend this offseason?

While the Reds are oftentimes mocked for not spending money, fans and pundits quickly forget that Cincinnati spent over $100 million in free agency last offseason. Prior to 2020, the Reds added over $150 million in free agent deals after agreeing to terms with Mike Moustakas, Nick Castellanos, Wade Miley, and Shogo Akiyama.

The Reds don't have a budget just yet, but you can bet that Krall and Co. will now how much they're capable of spending once the MLB Winter Meetings arrive. The upcoming settlement with Diamond should help offer some clarity, and if Martinez's officially accepts the qualifying offer (as he's expected to do), the Reds will have a much better picture of their 2025 payroll.

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