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3 most pressing contract extensions for Reds after Bobby Witt Jr. news

Bobby Witt Jr. signed a massive contract extension with the Kansas City Royals on Monday.

By Drew Koch |
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz
Cincinnati Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz / Emilee Chinn/Cincinnati Reds/GettyImages
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The Cincinnati Reds are one of the most exciting young teams in baseball. After graduating several of their top prospects to the big leagues in 2023, the Reds will look to their young core to lead the way heading into 2024 and beyond.

But these players will only be "cheap" for so long. Once players reach arbitration eligibility, those players who were playing for the league-minimum become more expensive. Jonathan India was making the league-minimum a year ago, and will be making over $3 million in 2024.

3 most pressing contract extensions for Reds after Bobby Witt Jr. news

The Kansas City Royals, similar to the Cincinnati Reds, operate in one of the smallest markets in Major League Baseball. However, earlier this week, the Royals agreed to terms on a massive contract extension with KC's budding superstar, Bobby Witt Jr. The Royals signed the shortstop to an 11-year, $288.7 million contract.

This will inevitably lead to speculation among the Reds fan base. Should the Reds sign any of their young talent to a similar contract? If so, who should get that type of deal? Let's look at the three most pressing contract extension candidates the Reds should target after the Royals just dropped the bag on Witt.

Extending Elly De La Cruz offers the Reds high-risk/ high-reward

This conversation stops and starts with Elly De La Cruz. One of the most electric players in Major League Baseball, De La Cruz is must-see TV. De La Cruz possesses freakish athleticism, top-notch speed, and out of the this world power. The young shortstop has the potential to be the best player in baseball.

The keyword, of course, is potential. De La Cruz, while impressive at times during his rookie season, also showed some flaws. After bursting on the major league scene midway through the 2023 season, De La Cruz fizzled out down the stretch.

It wasn't just his bat either. While De La Cruz was posting a strikeout-rate over 30% at times last season, he was also quite lackadaisical with his glove. De La Cruz, who's arm strength is elite, committed over dozen miscues in 2023.

But if you're looking for a player who'll put fans in the stands, no one one the Cincinnati Reds roster can match Elly De La Cruz. If he reaches the lofty potential affixed to him by scouts, pundits, and fans alike, then there's no question that De La Cruz is the top player to receive that type of contract extension.

A contract extension for Matt McLain is the Reds' safest bet

Elly De La Cruz offers all the glitz and glamour that comes from being a high-touted prospect. His ceiling is sky high. But if you're a fan of the blue-collared approach to the game of baseball, you might prefer to see the Cincinnati Reds sign Matt McLain to a contract extension.

McLain offers, arguably, the highest floor of any player currently on the roster. With McLain, what you see is what you get. While De La Cruz has game-changing speed, massive pop, and a cannon for an arm, McLain is no slouch in any of those areas either.

McLain missed the final month of the 2023 season with an oblique strain, and that could have been the difference between the Reds making the postseason and missing out by the smallest of margins. He was that good during his rookie campaign.

The issue with extending a player like McLain is whether or not the team believes he can get much better than what we saw in 2023. McLain has 30/30 potential, but is that enough warrant to a massive contract extension when a player like De La Cruz offers 40/60 potential?

Extending Matt McLain instead of a player like Elly De La Cruz is the safe bet. The UCLA product looks like he could be a solid contributor for the next decade, and no one throughout Reds Country would bat an eye if he were signed to a long-term deal. But will the Reds be looking to play it safe or hit a home run?

The Reds could offer Noelvi Marte a contract extension before his rookie season

When comparing the Cincinnati Reds young core to Bobby Witt Jr., it's important to understand that none of them have the same level of success and experience playing at the highest level. Witt completed this second full major league season in 2023, and has proven to be an exciting young player.

While Witt's signing is what prompted this conversation, extending Noelvi Marte could be the Reds best course of action. Rather than comparing Marte to Witt, the Reds' third baseman would be better compared to Colt Keith, who just signed a nine-year, $82 million deal with the Detroit Tigers.

Marte will still be considered a rookie in 2024. A former top prospect in the Seattle Mariners organization, Marte plowed through both Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville in 2023 en route to making his major league debut late last summer.

While both Elly De La Cruz and Matt McLain earned a year of service time last season, Marte did not. The 22-year-old won't reach free agency until after the 2029 season, and won't be arbitration eligible until 2027.

Unlike De La Cruz and McLain, Marte is not one of Scott Boras' clients. While Boras prefers to take his clients through their arbitration years and into free agency, Marte's representation has worked out contract extensions for Cleveland Guardians' third baseman Jose Ramirez and former Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Castillo.

All three of these young players represent the core of the Reds franchise moving forward. While Reds fans would love to see all three develop and lead this club for the next decade, that seems unlikely. With baseball contracts getting bigger and bigger, Cincinnati's ownership group may want to act fast and lockup one or more of their young stars for the long haul.

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