Reds have a clear Andrew Abbott extension blueprint and should act before Opening Day

As small-market teams like the Athletics continue being proactive, locking up their young core with affordable extensions, it's easy to see the Cincinnati Reds falling behind the curve.

The Reds, despite their tight budget, have extended precious few of their top players, leaving them vulnerable to salary spikes as this cohort moves through arbitration, while also threatening looming departures. Cincinnati should be ready to change its ways after learning the hard way what procrastination gets you with Elly De La Cruz.

If they've taken that lesson to heart, they should also realize where the strength of their team lies. The Reds' starting rotation is not only one of the best in the National League, it's among the best in baseball. Yet, of all the talented hurlers, only Hunter Greene is signed long-term.

Keeping a running mate for Greene should be a top priority, and while Andrew Abbott's breakout 2025 campaign wasn't flawless, it was more than good enough to prove that he's a guy the Reds need to keep around.

Mike Axisa of CBS Sports has the perfect comp for an Abbott extension, recommending the Reds look to the deal their cross-state rival, the Cleveland Guardians, gave Tanner Bibee last March.

The Reds need to get an Andrew Abbott extension done now, and should use the deal the Guardians gave Tanner Bibee as a roadmap

As Axisa pointed out, Bibee had four more years of team control at the time he signed his extension, which is the exact point the Reds are at now with Abbott. Bibee signed a five-year, $48 million contract that buys out one year of free agency, while also giving the Guardians a club option for an additional year at $21 million.

Abbott and Bibee have a lot of similarities to their games, with both striking out batters at about an average clip, while also mastering the art of weak contact to induce outs. To date, Abbott has a slight edge over Bibee in production and is a bit more of a rare commodity as a southpaw, but would also be about a year older at the time of a deal should it come during spring training.

All of that means Cincinnati might have to add a bit more on top to get a deal through. Still, coming in at five years for $55-$60 million would keep things manageable.

Abbott has emerged as one of the league's better No. 2s, so the value of keeping his raises through his arbitration year in check is important. As for the free-agent year, Cleveland will be paying Bibee $21 million in 2029. If we assume something similar for Abbott, it might seem like the final year gets expensive.

However, with where the starting pitching market is now, it would still be a decent discount compared to what these hurlers are landing in free agency. Last offseason, the Los Angeles Angels agreed to pay Yusei Kikuchi $21 million a year for three years, despite him coming to them with a 4.46 career ERA at the time that contract was signed. The Houston Astros just agreed to a deal that could be worth up to $ 21 million per season with Tatsuya Imai, who has yet to throw a pitch stateside.

Paying that price for Abbott while he'll still be in his prime, and having another option year at similar money, would be an underpay, if anything. This is the kind of move that smart teams make, and if Nick Krall wants to build a sustainable winner, extending Abbott before the regular season kicks off should be a must.