TJ Friedl just gave the Reds one of their best offseason wins

The Cincinnati Reds scored a huge win at last week's arbitration deadline after signing centerfielder TJ Friedl to a much cheaper contract than many experts expected. The Reds and Friedl avoided arbitration after agreeing to a $3.8 million deal, which missed MLB Trade Rumors' projection by $1.1 million.

While the Reds failed to agree to terms with all of their arbitration-eligible players — Tyler Stephenson and Graham Ashcraft will both head to arbitration hearings in the coming weeks — getting a discount on one of their key hitters from last season will surely help as Cincinnati continues to build out the roster ahead of spring training.

Securing Friedl's services for less than $4 million brings incredible value to a Reds team that's operating on a shoestring budget this winter. He was worth 2.9 fWAR last year and 4.1 fWAR in 2023, marking a remarkably high floor for the Reds' leadoff hitter. Fans should continue to expect Friedl to set the table for the Reds' lineup in 2026, and the Cincinnati faithful are hoping the front office puts that savings to good use.

Reds avoided arbitration with TJ Friedl and got a discount in the process

According to FanGraphs, Cincinnati is about $9 million below their end-of-year payroll from 2025 and still have numerous holes on the roster. The Reds re-signed Emilio Pagán and added Caleb Ferguson earlier this offswason, but must continue to beef up the team's bullpen before spring training begins next month.

Then there's Cincinnati's search for a big-time bat, which has come up short so far this offseason. Adding JJ Bleday and Dane Myers hardly qualify as significant improvements to a lineup that ranked 21st in home runs and slugging percentage last season. Maybe that extra savings from Friedl's deal can help Cincinnati find that middle-of-the-order bat they desperately need.

Not only did the Reds get a discount for Friedl's services during the upcoming season, but his contract is a big win for the future too. Barring an unbelievable 2026 campaign, Friedl's 2027 salary is unlikely to price him out of Cincinnati next winter.

Standout seasons can result in huge pay increases for arbitration-eligible players, but more times than not, the raises are much more affordable. Having this new benchmark for Friedl will only help Cincinnati negotiate lower rates with him during his next trip through the process. But the Reds wouldn't mind seeing their centerfielder put up All-Star numbers in 2026 — even if that results in a higher salary the following season.