The Reds have plenty on their plate this offseason, and one of the quieter decisions might end up being one of the more telling ones. Pierce Johnson is in line for free agency, and Spotrac has him pegged for a one-year deal worth $3.927 million.
That puts Cincinnati in a familiar spot: deciding whether a veteran arm is worth the price tag when the roster already has holes and the budget never seems to stretch very far. Johnson is not a flashy name, but he’s the kind of bullpen piece teams can use. The question is whether the Reds want to pay for that kind of stability.
Johnson’s 2024 season was solid enough to keep him in the conversation, but not strong enough to make him a must-keep. He appeared in 56 games and finished with a 4.62 ERA. He was dependable in terms of workload, but the swing-and-miss stuff that usually helps a reliever survive rough patches just wasn’t there enough this year, and the ERA showed it.
Cincinnati also has bigger roster questions to sort through, with free agents like Brady Singer and Tyler Stephenson in the mix. Stephenson is someone the Reds will likely want back in the Queen City, while Singer could leave. That leaves the front office weighing not just who to keep, but where the money should go.
The Reds could afford Johnson if they decide he fits into their plans, but that’s not always how this organization tends to operate. With roughly $4 million to spend in free agency, it wouldn’t be surprising if they lean toward cheaper internal options and minor league arms on pre-arbitration-level deals instead of paying a veteran reliever.
Johnson should still have a market. He may need to show he’s ready again in Spring Training, but there’s a good chance another team gives him the contract he’s looking for. Whether Cincinnati is the one that does it is another matter.
In Other News...
Reds Suddenly Face A Bullpen Reset With Big Money Decisions Ahead
The Reds spent the first week of the offseason making a clear financial statement, declining the 2027 contract options for Emilio Pagan, Eugenio Suarez and Pierce Johnson. It is the kind of move that instantly reshapes the pitching picture and trims future commitments, even if it leaves a few familiar names suddenly on the open market.
Pagans situation is the one that stands out most, since he has handled closing duties for Cincinnati over the past two seasons and is now positioned to test free agency after turning down his $10 million option. Suarez and Johnson are also free agents after the club passed on their mutual options, with Johnsons exit including a $1 million buyout, and the Reds now have a bullpen reset to manage while bigger money decisions loom ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Just Created Flexibility That Could Reopen A Familiar Question
The Reds spent the early part of the offseason clearing some immediate payroll and roster space, and the latest moves only sharpen that picture. Cincinnati declined the mutual contract options on right-hander Pierce Johnson and infielder Eugenio Suarez, while Emilio Pagan announced he will decline his $10 million option, leaving the club with a lighter 40-man roster and a little more financial breathing room heading toward 2027.
For a team that has spent plenty of time balancing present needs against future flexibility, that kind of maneuvering matters. It also reopens a familiar question about how aggressively the Reds want to pursue help in the infield and on the mound, even as two recognizable names now head into free agency and the front office keeps its options open. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Could Have A Cheaper Rotation Answer This Winter
The Reds were linked to Nick Martinez last winter before choosing to add Eugenio Surez instead, and the right-handers name is back in the conversation as another offseason arrives. Martinez is expected to hit free agency again after his run with the Rays, but the market projection around him suggests Cincinnati would be looking at a pricier rotation piece than it may want to chase this time around.
That is why Aaron Civale has surfaced as a more realistic fit for the Reds if they want to add a starter without pushing too far into the upper tier of the market. Civales recent performance and free-agent status make him an appealing alternative on paper, especially for a club that has shown interest in shoring up the rotation while keeping its spending flexible. [Read more 🡒]