4 Reds players who should also be signed long-term after Hunter Greene's contract extension

2. The Reds should sign Nick Lodolo to a contract extension next.

Many Reds fans took to social media after it was announced that Cincinnati had reached contract extension with Hunter Greene to express their dismay that it wasn't Nick Lodolo. Many throughout Reds Country were claiming that the team "signed the wrong pitcher".

Now I'll be the first one to tell you that Lodolo may be the better long-term investment and could have a longer and more accomplished career once all the dust has settled. That being said, in no way to the Reds make a mistake by signing Greene to a six-year contract extension.

If anything, it sets the table and the market for Lodolo. Both Greene and Lodolo are former first-round draft picks, made their major league debuts during the same month last season, and both have had similar success at the major league level.

If Hunter Greene is viewed as part of the long-term plan, you'd have to assume that Nick Lodolo is as well. The left-hander, until Tuesday's outing that saw him allow eight runs in less than five innings, Lodolo had the look of the best pitcher on this year's Reds squad.

Be patient, Reds Country. Nick Lodolo will get a deal done as well. Will it be this season? Perhaps. If not, keep an eye on Lodolo as the offseason comes around. The Cincinnati Reds appear to be prioritizing their pitching staff going forward.

3. The Reds should sign Jonathan India to a contract extension next.

This one might be the most obvious, but also the most difficult to get done. First, I think it's fair to say the talk of Jonathan India's sophomore slump carrying into his third major league season can be put to bed. India, who's in much better shape physically this season, has looked great and it the unquestioned leader on this Reds team.

So why should it be so difficult for India and the Reds to find common ground on a contract extension. Two words - Scott Boras. That's right, the Reds second baseman is represented by one of the shrewdest sports agents in the game and Boras is always looking for his clients to make it past the arbitration window and into free agency.

In the past, according to NBC Sports, Boras refers to the type of contract extension India would be signing as a "snuff contract". Why is that? Because you're dealing only with one team, and in essence, snuffing out the player's opportunity to see what he might be worth on the open market.

Now, from the agent's perspective, Boras is 100% correct. If India, or any player still under team control, were to sign a contract extension, they're only negotiating with one ball club. It can certainly lower a player's value.

However, what if India puts up numbers like we saw in 2022? Then he'd love to have that "snuff contract", wouldn't he? The Cincinnati Reds should definitely approach Jonathan India about a potential contract extension. But Reds fans should know, it just might not be in the cards.

4. The Reds should sign Graham Ashcraft to a contract extension next.

After Hunter Greene exited Monday's start following a comebacker off his right leg, and Nick Lodolo surrendered eight runs in less than five innings on Tuesday, I'm a little less than thrilled to see Graham Ashcraft go to the mound on Friday against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

But hopefully Ashcraft can continue to put up the terrific numbers that Reds fans have seen from the right-hander to begin his sophomore season in the big leagues. Ashcraft came on strong in 2022, and he's carried that level of play over to the 2023 season as well.

Ashcraft doesn't have the pedigree of Hunter Greene, nor is he as polished as Nick Lodolo. But Ashcraft is an aggressive pitcher who challenges the opposition and has a wicked cut fastball.

Ashcraft also works quick, pitches to contact, and can get deep into games. The Alabama native had been seen as more a relief option in the minor leagues, but after proving the doubters wrong during his rookie season, he's made believers out of almost everyone in 2023.

So far this season, Graham Ashcraft has the lowest ERA of any Reds starting pitcher at 1.42. While he's never going to lead the league in strikeouts, Ashcraft is not going to change his approach. He's going to come after hitters, induce ground balls, and have an attitude while doing it.

A strong argument could be made that inking Ashcraft to a contract extension may be the most cost-effective signing the Cincinnati Reds could make. Perhaps the right-hander is the next Reds player to sign a contract extension.