A revealing report earlier this week opened up more than a few cracks inside the Cincinnati Reds’ operation, including the strained relationship between the front office and owner Bob Castellini. One of the most interesting parts of that story centered on what happened after the Reds missed out on Kyle Schwarber.
Cincinnati eventually turned to Eugenio Suárez on a one-year, $15 million deal. But according to people briefed on his thinking, Nick Krall wanted to use that money on free-agent pitcher Nick Martinez, who signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Tampa Bay Rays instead. The twist, though, is that ownership reportedly pushed for a slugger because fans like home runs.
That’s where the story starts to smell a little too neat.
Suárez, for all the uneven results, did finish strong. Since August 1, he’s hit .227/.362/.504 with 11 home runs, 33 RBI, and a 136 wRC+. That late push helped salvage his year to a degree, even if the season as a whole didn’t land the way anyone hoped.
Martinez, meanwhile, has clearly been excellent in Tampa. In 2025, he appeared in 40 games, made 26 starts, threw more than 165 innings, and posted a 4.45 ERA with a 4.33 FIP. This season, he has made 30 starts, logged almost 180 innings, and put up a 2.94 ERA and a 3.96 FIP.
No one would argue the Reds couldn’t have used that kind of production. But the bigger question is whether Cincinnati was really looking to add another starter at that point. Heading into the offseason, the loudest demand from the fan base was for a big bat, not another arm.
And that makes sense when you look at the lineup. The Reds finished 21st in home runs and slugging percentage last season, even while playing in one of the most homer-friendly parks in baseball. That’s why the Schwarber pursuit mattered so much, and why there was so much anticipation around the team’s involvement before he went back to the Philadelphia Phillies.
Once that door closed, the Reds did pivot - just not toward pitching. They stayed in the power-bat lane and eventually landed Suárez.
The idea that Krall truly wanted Martinez over Suárez also gets harder to swallow when you look at the rotation already in place. Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Brady Singer, Rhett Lowder, Chase Burns, and Brandon Williamson were all in the mix, and if Martinez had been added with everyone healthy, Burns would have opened the year in the minors.
With hindsight, the Martinez route looks brilliant. Suárez has had a rough year, and Martinez has been outstanding.
But that’s exactly why the claim feels convenient now. If the Reds had chosen Martinez and passed on Suárez, Krall would look like the smartest guy in the room.
Instead, this leak reads like an easy way to shift blame back toward the Castellinis. They’ve earned plenty of criticism, no question. Still, this specific version of events feels awfully tidy.
Unless the Castellinis publicly confirm that internal debate, fans are left to decide what to believe. However they land, the Martinez angle sure looks like a handy escape hatch for Krall.
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