The Reds don’t have a ton of room to make noise in free agency, which is exactly why Nick Martinez makes so much sense. Cincinnati is staring at a rotation problem that’s only getting bigger, and the easiest way to patch part of it might be to bring back a pitcher it already knows well.
Martinez is on the biggest stage right now, set to start Game 1 of the World Series for the Tampa Bay Rays. The right-hander was a major piece of the Reds’ staff over the past two seasons, then turned himself into an All-Star in Tampa Bay this year. Once the World Series ends, he’ll be back on the market.
This season looked a lot like the version of Martinez the Reds came to trust: steady, efficient, and hard to square up. He finished with a 32.9% hard-hit rate and just a 3.6% walk rate, while leaning more heavily on his sinker and changeup and pulling back on his fastball and slider.
The formula worked. He made 31 starts, logged a career-high 180 innings, and matched the 3.10 ERA he posted for Cincinnati in 2024.
At 36, Martinez is going to cost more than the $12 million he played for this year with the Rays, but his age likely keeps him well below the $23.1 million he made with the Reds in 2024. A middle ground deal - something like two years and $35 million, or $17.5 million per year - could be enough to get it done.
And from the Reds’ side, it’s not hard to see the appeal.
Reports after the regular season suggested Nick Krall had interest in a Martinez reunion last winter, but ownership reportedly preferred a bigger bat, which sent Cincinnati toward Eugenio Suárez on a one-year, $15 million deal. Whether that was a real push or just a convenient cover story for the front office, it does show Martinez was already on the radar not long ago.
That interest should only be stronger now. Brady Singer is set to hit free agency next month, and after a brutal final two months of the regular season, the idea of a qualifying offer has been described as laughable.
Hunter Greene, meanwhile, is out after undergoing Tommy John surgery in August. That leaves a rotation picture that includes Chase Burns, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, Rhett Lowder, and Brandon Williamson, with four of those five having spent time on the injured list in 2026.
Martinez gives the Reds something they badly need: a dependable starter who can also handle relief work if the situation calls for it. Terry Francona praised his team-first attitude before Martinez signed with the Rays last winter, and there’s no reason to think Francona wouldn’t welcome him back in Cincinnati.
The Reds’ 2027 budget hasn’t been revealed, though it probably won’t climb past the $129 million the club spent this season. Even so, the $19.55 million coming off the books when Singer and Tyler Stephenson reach free agency should leave enough room for a move like this.
If Cincinnati is going to make just one real splash in free agency, Martinez should be right near the top of the board.
In Other News...
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Dane Myers gave the Reds something useful in his first season in Cincinnati, appearing in a career-high 117 games and batting .257 with eight home runs while giving the lineup a right-handed option who could hurt lefties and come off the bench in key spots. Acquired from the Marlins in December 2025, he settled into a role that made the trade look sensible almost immediately, especially with the way he handled pinch-hitting duties and gave the club another layer in center field.
Now the Reds have a health issue to monitor heading into 2027 after Myers had to deal with a bruised left shoulder and follow-up surgery on the AC joint. The expectation is that hell be back around Spring Training, but for a player whose value is tied as much to matchup flexibility as everyday availability, even a short interruption can create a real question for how the Reds want to shape their outfield mix. [Read more 🡒]
Reds Pitching Search Just Got Tougher After A Brutal 2026 Regression
The Reds search for help on the mound just got a little more complicated. Cleveland Guardians pitching coach Carl Willis is expected to remain with the Guardians, despite earlier speculation that he could be a fit in Cincinnati, and Guardians manager Stephen Vogt also is reported to be staying put. For a Reds team trying to regroup after a rough 2026 regression, that removes one of the more obvious veteran names from the board at a moment when the club is trying to stabilize its pitching infrastructure.
Cincinnati is still sorting through a broader overhaul after Derek Johnsons departure, with two pitching-related openings to fill for 2027. Bullpen coach Oscar Marin and assistant pitching coach Matt Tracy are among the internal options, while outside candidates such as Matt Blake and Connor McGuiness could also enter the mix. The challenge now is finding the right combination of voices to guide a staff that needs both direction and continuity, and the list of possible fits only seems to be growing more complicated. [Read more 🡒]
Former Reds In The World Series Could Affect Cincinnati's Offseason
A World Series run by either Tampa Bay or Milwaukee would put an unexpected Reds wrinkle on the championship stage, because both clubs are carrying former Cincinnati players whose performances have helped shape the postseason picture. Joe Boyle, Gavin Lux, Casey Legumina, Jake Bauers, Ryan Vilade and Nick Martinez all have ties back to Cincinnati, giving the Reds another reminder of how much roster churn can matter when October arrives and the market for pitching and depth pieces starts taking shape.
For the Reds, the more interesting part may come after the confetti falls, when those familiar names and their roles this fall feed into offseason planning. Martinez in particular stands out as a possible free-agent fit if Cincinnati looks for rotation help, while the rest of the group underscores how players moved out of the organization can still circle back into the clubs thinking when its time to build the next roster. [Read more 🡒]