As soon as Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson heard a report that right-hander Nick Martinez would likely accept the one-year, $21. 05 million qualifying offer to return in 2025, he fired off a text to the pitcher to see if the report was accurate. Martinez texted him back and then confirmed it to the players’ group text.

Advertisement“I didn’t know what was going to happen, you never know with this stuff,” Stephenson said Tuesday. “But the value he brings to the team and what he did last year, he deserves it and I’m excited that he wants to be back with the team. ”Martinez said he’s just as excited to return to Cincinnati, where he went 10-7 with a 3.

10 ERA this season and earned the team’s Johnny Vander Meer Most Outstanding Pitcher Award and finished the season as the National League pitcher of the month for September. “I believe in the guys we have. I believe in this core group of young players we have,” Martinez said Tuesday.

“I think we can do something special with this group. ”In his first year with the team, Martinez not only fit in with the group of players in the Reds’ clubhouse, he quickly established himself as a leader. Second-year lefty Andrew Abbott said, “You watch him and say, ‘That’s what I need to be.

’”Martinez’s return helps solidify the Reds’ young rotation, along with Abbott, Hunter Greene and Nick Lodolo atop the rotation, joined by 2023 first-rounder Rhett Lowder, who impressed in his short call-up at the end of the season. Carson Spiers could also battle for a roster spot, in addition to some of the team’s younger pitching prospects like Connor Phillips and Chase Petty. Because there’s never enough pitching, Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said Tuesday that the team could still look for more starting pitching this offseason.

“You’re always looking to add starting starting depth and quality,” Krall said. “We’ll just continue to work through the offseason to see what’s out there and how we can make the club better. ”Catcher Tyler Stephenson and pitcher Nick Martinez enjoyed their working relationship in their first season together.

(Kareem Elgazzar / Imagn Images)While the Reds dished out more than $100 million worth of contracts to veterans (including Martinez) last offseason, Martinez’s raise from $14 million last year could signify the biggest expenditure. Earlier in the week, Doug Healy, the Reds’ chief operating officer and chief financial officer, told MLB. com that Krall’s budget for the upcoming season would be “at or above 2024 (payroll).

” The Reds’ payroll on Opening Day was roughly $100 million. AdvertisementWith Martinez’s pay bump and projected raises for the team’s seven arbitration-eligible players, the payroll is roughly $90 million, which puts a large focus on Healy’s “or above. ”Friday is baseball’s non-tender deadline.

The Reds outrighted both Ty France and Nick Martini, both of whom refused their assignment and elected free agency. When asked about the decision earlier this month, Krall said he didn’t expect the team to tender a contract to either, so he wanted to give them a head start on their free agency. The seven players eligible for arbitration are Stephenson, Lodolo, closer Alexis Díaz, utilityman Santiago Espinal, outfielder Jake Fraley, right-handed reliever Ian Gibaut and left-handed reliever Sam Moll.

With the additions of infielder Tyler Callihan and right-hander Luis Mey to the 40-man roster Tuesday, the team’s 40-man roster is at 39. There are other ways to create payroll flexibility including trades and extensions. Last year the Reds signed second baseman Jonathan India to a two-year extension before his case went to arbitration, allowing the team to spread out his expected raises over two seasons.

One of those who would be open to a longer contract is Martinez. Krall said the team had discussed longer-term deals with Martinez’s agent, Scott Boras, before Tuesday. Instead, Martinez accepted the qualifying offer, but he could still sign a longer contract.

“Accepting the qualifying offer doesn’t limit us from talking, so I’m definitely still open to it if that helps mitigate costs for this year or sign more guys,” Martinez said. As Krall noted, $21. 05 million is market rate for Martinez, who at 34 is coming off his best season in the big leagues.

Martinez was ranked No. 25 on The Athletic’s Free Agent Big Board. The Athletic’s Tim Britton projected Martinez to receive a three-year deal worth $40 million on the open market.

AdvertisementAlthough he split his time between the bullpen and rotation, Martinez’s 142 1/3 innings were the second-most on the team, trailing only Greene. After starting the season 1-3 with a 3. 19 ERA in 11 games and five starts, Martinez moved to the bullpen full-time.

In 20 games from May 26 to Aug. 2, he was 4-2 with a 2. 25 ERA.

He then moved to the rotation and was 5-2 with a 2. 42 ERA in 11 starts to finish the season, including a complete game in his final start, a 1-0 loss. Martinez said as the season went along, he got more comfortable with the Reds and the coaching staff and working alongside Stephenson.

“There was a little bit of growing pains,” Martinez said. “Once I really honed in on the scouting reports and the communication, we really got grooving. That definitely played a factor in coming back.

”Stephenson said Martinez helped him get better, too. “He’s the definition of a pro,” Stephenson said. “I truly feel like a bunch of my growth has come from him.

He’s got so many pitches, how he talks about pitching and how to set guys up. I feel like that can translate to some of these other guys, too. ”Stephenson said Martinez was the only one of the Reds pitchers to use the pitch-calling function of PitchCom.

Stephenson said they didn’t always agree, but it allowed Stephenson to think along with Martinez and use that in his overall game. “You could tell he was always engaged and thinking a couple of pitches ahead,” Stephenson said. “Once we got on the same wavelength, it was a blast to catch.

I’m really excited to be able to catch him again next year. ”(Top photo: Benny Sieu / Imagn Images)This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.