Connor Phillips struggles could make Reds' potential free agent loss hurt even more

The Cincinnati Reds made three relatively large signings this past offseason. Jeimer Candelario, Frankie Montas, and Nick Martinez all agreed to contracts worth at least $10 million per season. Candelario has been hot-and-cold this year, and Montas is no longer in Cincinnati. Martinez, however, has been a fine addition to the Reds' pitching staff.

Martinez will take the ball tonight for Reds manager David Bell, looking to extend Cincinnati's winning streak to five games. And while Martinez has filled in admirably after the Reds traded Montas to the Milwaukee Brewers, questions about his future in Cincinnati remain.

Reds RHP Nick Martinez can opt out after the 2024 season

Martinez signed a two-year deal with the Reds this offseason, but his contract contains an opt-out after 2024. That means that the veteran can re-enter the free agent market this winter, and there's probably a 50/50 chance that Martinez exercises that right. Martinez's impending offseason decision only magnifies the impact of Connor Phillips' struggles this season.

Phillips was pulled from his Triple-A assignment this season after battling control and command issues through the first-half of the 2024 season. The Reds' right-hander is currently at the team's training complex in Goodyear, Arizona and hasn't appeared in a game since mid-June.

Phillips was supposed to be competing for a spot in the Reds rotation during spring training. The former Seattle Mariners' farmhand pitched six scoreless innings while in Goodyear this spring, but ultimately fell short of making the Reds Opening Day roster and was optioned to Triple-A. With Brandon Williamson starting the year on the IL, it was assumed that Phillips would be the next man up at some point this season as an injury replacement or spot starter.

But instead, Phillips went 2-6 with a 10.11 ERA in 14 starts for the Louisville Bats this season while walking nearly as many batters (50) as he struck out (53). Phillips, for all intents and purposes, is nowhere near ready to make it back to the big leagues.

Connor Phillips was supposed to be part of the Reds rotation this season

The Reds have a strong stable of young starters with the trio of Hunter Greene, Andrew Abbott, and Nick Lodolo. But Phillips (along with Williamson) was supposed to help fill out the rotation this season and into the future. Instead, the Reds have had to rely on Martinez and Carson Spiers.

While both Rhett Lowder and Chase Burns will be making a push to join the Reds rotation at some point, neither one is quite ready to make that leap just yet. Phillips' abysmal 2024 campaign makes Martinez's offseason decision all the more intriguing.

Reds fans have seen how important it is to have that veteran swingman in the organization, and the majority of the Cincinnati faithful hope that Martinez decides to stay. The final month-plus of Martinez's 2024 campaign could be the deciding factor in his commitment to stay in Cincy or re-enter the free agent market this winter.

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