Reds bullpen uncertainty makes one extension idea suddenly intriguing

While the Cincinnati Reds did a decent job shoring up the bullpen over the winter with low-cost options, the long-term stability of the unit is open for debate. Re-signing Emilio Pagán was the most impactful move, while the acquisitions of Brock Burke and Caleb Ferguson brought necessary left-handed depth into the fold.

However, when compared to the starting rotation, the upside of the unit is not nearly as great, nor is the consistency. Looking forward, things could destabilize quickly, as Pagán can (and likely will with a strong season) opt out at the end of the year.

Maintaining a foundation is important, as is keeping costs controllable. So while the Reds have mostly shied away from the growing trend of locking up pre-arb and early arbitration players, they would be wise to reconsider that position in some cases. For instance, in the bullpen, ensuring Tony Santillan is around and under a team-friendly deal for the foreseeable future might be a wise course of action.

Reds should consider building bullpen stability by extending Tony Santillan

Last season, the big right-hander established himself as a workhorse while ascending to a high-leverage role setting up for Pagán. Santillan made 80 appearances, second only to soft-tossing submariner Tyler Rogers, and logged 73⅔ innings while posting a 2.44 ERA.

Looking ahead to 2026, Santillan is ready to do even more. If needed, the 29-year-old is ready and willing to up his workload even more.

"Ninety-five percent of the times, I felt really good. When I said I was good to get the ball, I genuinely meant that,” Santillan said earlier this spring.

“Hopefully, if things all go well, everyone gets to share the love,” he added. “Everyone is around the same workload, and we’re all feeling fresh come October baseball. Then, we go on a run and win the whole thing. Regardless, I had a good offseason. I’ll be ready.”

Prior to Pagán rejoining the fold, there were some thoughts that Santillan could ascend to the ninth-inning role. Another strong season and a Pagán opt-out, and that might become the most likely scenario for 2027.

The Reds typically avoid long-term contracts for relievers

That's why the Reds need to think long and hard about this. If and when Santillan gets regular work as the closer, his future price tag will balloon if he performs. By getting out in front of an extension now, Cincinnati would cut off that leverage in contract negotiations before it has a chance to build steam.

There are always risks with extensions, and even more so with relievers. For as good as Santillan was in 2025, he was not completely immune to the volatility that plagues most relievers. In addition, if he carries another heavy workload, the chance of injury becomes greater.

Still, if it's for an affordable deal, an extension would be a gamble worth taking. In the best-case scenario, the Reds lock up a rubber-armed workhorse who could be their closer of the future and pay below-market rates. In the worst-case outcome, he's hurt and ineffective but doesn't completely hamstring the budget.

It seems like the kind of calculated risk Cincinnati should be taking. The club doesn't have a ton of money to spend, and given the importance of other positions, splurging on a reliever will typically be a luxury it can't afford.

Santillan still has three years of control remaining, but if he starts getting saves in the boxscore next to his name, the arbitrators will start awarding him more cash. A setup man type of extension will be more affordable than paying arbitration money for a closer, so the Reds would be wise to lock him up on the cheap while they still can.