2025 Cincinnati Reds Thread

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under this new announcement, in market games will be blacked out on MLBTV. I believe previously, going through MLBTV, they wouldn’t have.
True, but instead of subscribing to MLBTV, people will finally be able to stream the games directly through the Fan Duel Sports app with a direct subscription to FDS instead of having to have a cable/TV package. Previously no DTC option existed.
 
Major league baseball and their teams just amaze me with their tone deafness to the fans. And this just further proves to me they don't need you. Now many of us who love baseball will jump through whatever hoops necessary to watch the Reds, I'm sure I will. But the issue is not that, it's making your produce EASY to consume, not hard. Baseball has a major image problem and the leaders in baseball don't care. Most of the "non-internet, non-computer crowd is older people who just happen to be the biggest demographic for baseball fans. So they are shutting their doors on their longest, most loyal fans. It's reverse marketing.
 
Lost in the excitement of the OSU championship is the fact that Santander signed with the Blue Jays. :( Not that I really expected the Reds to sign him, but it was fun to think about the possibility. Jays got him for less than $20M per year, for 5 years. The Reds could have done that and been really close to last year's total payroll. Disappointing once again...
 
Major league baseball and their teams just amaze me with their tone deafness to the fans. And this just further proves to me they don't need you. Now many of us who love baseball will jump through whatever hoops necessary to watch the Reds, I'm sure I will. But the issue is not that, it's making your produce EASY to consume, not hard. Baseball has a major image problem and the leaders in baseball don't care. Most of the "non-internet, non-computer crowd is older people who just happen to be the biggest demographic for baseball fans. So they are shutting their doors on their longest, most loyal fans. It's reverse marketing.
I'm a life long Reds fan but I will not pay any extra money to watch games. I will listen on the radio, catch highlights on youtube(free) and still go to a few games, but not paying extra for tv. That also goes for the Bengals, XU basketball, etc. Don't see the need.
 
I'm a life long Reds fan but I will not pay any extra money to watch games. I will listen on the radio, catch highlights on youtube(free) and still go to a few games, but not paying extra for tv. That also goes for the Bengals, XU basketball, etc. Don't see the need.
I figure as much as I was paying for cable last year, I'm already saving a ton with YouTube TV, I can put some money to a Reds streaming package.
 
Zero context here. What do you imagine that you are you telling us?

If I had to guess, I suspect that you were trying to brag about the Reds management and their team salary. But if you think Miami's total payroll is $5M for the 2025 season, or the Reds is $132M, or the Dodgers is $1.46B, you need to get a better understanding of numbers. I'm pretty sure that the MLB minimum salary is $760K for 205. Do you think Miami only has 7 players? What are you telling us?

If I had to guess, this chart might be the total value of all long term guaranteed contracts, so the long-term mega deals for Ohtani, Soto, Yamamoto, etc. are driving the Dodgers and Mets into the stratosphere. The future value of Greene and Candelario contracts drives up the Reds number to $132.

Both the Mets and Dodgers are around $300M for the 2025 season. With a few arbitration cases pending, the Reds are 23rd in the MLB at around $86M for the 26 man roster. Sadly, $36M of the Reds $86M in salary for 2025 is tied up in Martinez and Candelario. That alone should be an embarrassment to the Reds. 40% of your team salary is tied up in those two guys?

Use the link below if you want salary info. And don't share numbers without context. Numbers are not your thing - you have shown that many times over the years.

 
Here’s the actual tweet that the above chart was lifted from. It’s free agent money spent the past two offseasons. Which, of course, needs a bunch of context in itself because certain teams are much more fortified internally — e.g. Braves team had already been put together with key internal players extended — than others (Reds).
 
Here’s the actual tweet that the above chart was lifted from. It’s free agent money spent the past two offseasons. Which, of course, needs a bunch of context in itself because certain teams are much more fortified internally — e.g. Braves team had already been put together with key internal players extended — than others (Reds).
Aha thanks.

So the Reds total includes the signings of Montas, Martinez, Pagan, Suter and Candelario. Give them credit for trying I guess. But at this point they are 1 for 5 on those signings (Martinez). Maybe Candelario can be salvaged. Here is hoping.
 
Well, he did not say "no" or "never", but he sure danced around it. What I would have hoped to hear is "those discussions are on-going".
When the CEO/owner who controls the purse strings says that type of financial commitment falls to the decision-making of the GM, that tells me everything I need to know.
 

Good ol’ Pauper Phil essentially admitting here that there will be no attempt to extend Elly De La Cruz.
Ok, so here's another crack at this. Let's look at this from a best and worst case senario standpoint.

worst case scenario - You and many others want Elly to get extended. The Reds announce before next season Elly has been extended to 2035 for $500 million dollars. Elly is good, but not great, you've locked most of your money in one player and now his trade value is gone, not at that contract. This was the Joey situation the last 5 years.

best case scenario - Elly stays here and plays his tail off, becomes one of the best players in all of baseball. Face of the franchise. You're NOT ever going to be able to sigh him anyway, the Dodgers/ Yankees/ Phillies ect. will out bid you at every turn. So what if, you get to 2028, or depending on where the franchise is at, you deal Elly to get a BUNCH of top prospects from another team.

My point is extending Elly now will be very expensive, and it may not pay off and gives you very little flexibility.

But make no mistake, if nothing is done, he's here for another 4 years!!
 
Reds sign Wade Miley to a minor league deal. Miley recovering from Tommy John, due back mid season.
 
Ok, so here's another crack at this. Let's look at this from a best and worst case senario standpoint.

worst case scenario - You and many others want Elly to get extended. The Reds announce before next season Elly has been extended to 2035 for $500 million dollars. Elly is good, but not great, you've locked most of your money in one player and now his trade value is gone, not at that contract. This was the Joey situation the last 5 years.

best case scenario - Elly stays here and plays his tail off, becomes one of the best players in all of baseball. Face of the franchise. You're NOT ever going to be able to sigh him anyway, the Dodgers/ Yankees/ Phillies ect. will out bid you at every turn. So what if, you get to 2028, or depending on where the franchise is at, you deal Elly to get a BUNCH of top prospects from another team.

My point is extending Elly now will be very expensive, and it may not pay off and gives you very little flexibility.

But make no mistake, if nothing is done, he's here for another 4 years!!
14Red is not responding to me but y'all can read his nonsense and determine for yourself how little he understands about baseball contracts and best/worst case scenarios.

There is no guarantee that Elly is here until he becomes a UFA. The worst case scenario is Jazz Chisholm. The Marlins had a very talented player that everyone envied. The Marlins shipped him off to the Yankees last year because they knew that his next 2 arbitration years would be more than they wanted to spend. His UFA year is 2027.

It is quite possible that the Reds go uber-cheap on Elly, like the Marlins did with Jazz. They have already started down that path with him, by not already offering an extension. So Elly, one of the 5-10 best players in baseball, has a 1-year contract at 800,000, basically the league minimum. He is still pre-arbitration next year, and I'm sure the Reds will stay uber-cheap with him then as well. Then 2027, 28, 29 are the 3 arbitration years.

Assuming Elly plays near his 2024 level in 2025 and 2026, his arbitration salary will skyrocket in 2027. It would not shock me if the Reds traded him before that. Because they are cheapskates who care nothing for their fans. Just like the Marlins did with Jazz. THIS IS THE WORST CASE SCENARIO.

They are damaging the relationship with Elly and his agent by playing the lowball game. I proposed last year an early extension that pays Elly more properly now, and gives the Reds a discount in the future. Example:
2025: $4M
2026: $6M
2027: $8M (arb 1)
2028: $10M (arb 2)
2029: $12M (arb 3)
2030: $20M
2031: $24M
2032: $28M (age 30)
2033: $32M
2034: $36M
2035: $40M (age 33)

That is $220 million total for 10 years, not the ridiculous $500 million that 14Red spouts.

Why would Elly do this?
- Because he makes so much more money NOW, and in the first 5 years of the contract, than he does otherwise.
- He is financially set for life at age 23.
- He gets to stay on a team he seems to really enjoy, and in a city where he is beloved by the fans.

As payback to the Reds, he earns a little less in years 6-10, but is still earning megabucks and wants for nothing. Both sides win in this scenario. The Reds have their superstar at well under superstar prices. THIS IS THE BEST CASE SCENARIO.

Maybe the numbers are negotiated a little higher, but the concept works. See Hunter Greene. The Reds are damaging the relationship with Elly and his agent by not offering something like this yesterday. Each passing month the numbers that I laid out would be higher. Waiting until 2027 it becomes impossible, we have lost any leverage at that point.

Just letting Ellie go in 2029 (or sooner) is not a "best case scenario" unless you are a mentally challenged person who accepts losing. Truth hurts.
 
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I think adding Austin Hays pretty much ends the Reds career of Will Benson. The outfield looks like Friedl, Fraley, Steer, Hays, Lux, possibly McLain, Fairchild.
 
Singer, Lux, Trevino, Hayes, Rogers, plus a minor league courtesy contract to Wade Miley is a decent off season for Krall and the Reds. Throw in Terry Francona as manager and better luck and health for the rest of the squad, maybe the 2025 Reds can finish above .500 and be in the playoff discussion past Labor Day. Hope springs eternal.
 
Singer, Lux, Trevino, Hayes, Rogers, plus a minor league courtesy contract to Wade Miley is a decent off season for Krall and the Reds. Throw in Terry Francona as manager and better luck and health for the rest of the squad, maybe the 2025 Reds can finish above .500 and be in the playoff discussion past Labor Day. Hope springs eternal.
Of course Francona is the highlight of the off season. Arguably the best manager in baseball over the last couple of decades is very welcome.

Singer and Lux are quality additions and they should be significant contributors.

Trevino, Hayes and Rogers are less exciting IMO. They are all average MLB vets that could help, but nothing in their history indicates that they are big difference makers. I hope they all have great years.

As you say, hope springs eternal. The biggest hope remain much better team health. The keys are if McLain, Marte and Encarnacion-Strand play to the levels of their talent. The offense has to be better than it was last year, and those 3 guys are key.
 
Of course Francona is the highlight of the off season. Arguably the best manager in baseball over the last couple of decades is very welcome.

Singer and Lux are quality additions and they should be significant contributors.

Trevino, Hayes and Rogers are less exciting IMO. They are all average MLB vets that could help, but nothing in their history indicates that they are big difference makers. I hope they all have great years.

As you say, hope springs eternal. The biggest hope remain much better team health. The keys are if McLain, Marte and Encarnacion-Strand play to the levels of their talent. The offense has to be better than it was last year, and those 3 guys are key.
I like Francona but he has nothing on Bruce Bochy or Tony La Russa
 
If any of you are inclined to place sports bets, the Reds over/under for wins this year is around 78, 78.5 on most sites. Considering that they won 77 last year with a terrible manager and a truckload of injuries, I expected that number to be 81 or so, given the additions of Francona and Singer, and assuming better health.

Got my money in yesterday betting the over at 78.5. This feels like at least a .500 team. Certainly the Cubs are favored in the division, but Reds should be in the hunt for 2nd and a wild card.
 
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