Reds set their 2025 starting rotation after latest offseason move

Despite the fact that the MLB offseason has just begun, the Cincinnati Reds ' 2025 starting rotation appears to be all but set. Jon Heyman of the New York Post is reporting that Martinez is expected to sign the qualifying offer, meaning the Reds will be on the hook for $21.05 million next season.

While some Reds fans questioned the decision to extend the qualifying offer to Martinez, Cincinnati's president of baseball operations Nick Krall was kind of in a lose-lose situation. If Martinez accepted the QO, the Reds owe him a hefty payday. But, if the right-hander left in free agency for nothing, Cincy would've received zilch in return.

Reds set their 2025 starting rotation with Nick Martinez expected to sign the qualifying offer

But with Martinez now likely to accept the qualifying offer, the Reds' 2025 rotation is all but set in stone. One can be sure that Hunter Greene will be Cincinnati's Opening Day starter next March when the Redlegs take the field, but the other four spots are a little less defined.

Martinez has quite the argument for the No. 2 spot in the rotation. After his September performance earned him Pitcher of the Month honors, it's difficult to see Martinez occupying anything other than the No. 2 or No. 3 spot in the rotation.

• Hunter Greene, RHP
• Nick Martinez, RHP
• Andrew Abbott, LHP
• Nick Lodolo, LHP
• Rhett Lowder, RHP

The other three spots belong to the left-handed duo of Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott, along with rookie hurler Rhett Lowder. Both Lodolo and Abbott ended the 2024 season on the injured list, but the lefties are both expected to be fully healthy once spring training arrives. Lowder made quite the impression over the final month of the season, and it's hard to see the right-hander being omitted from the Opening Day rotation.

Others who could be competing for a spot would include Graham Ashcraft and perhaps Connor Phillips. Both Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar would have been part of that mix as well, but suffered injuries this past season that will keep them on the shelf for 2025.

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