Reds Beat: Nick Krall Winning The Offseason So Far For The Reds

CINCINNATI — The Reds are so far keeping their promise to transform critical parts of the organization and roster to be ready to hit the ground running once pitchers and catchers report in February.

There was the managerial change in October that had Terry Francona taking over the reins from David Bell. With that, came a surgical replacement of certain parts of the coaching staff that included names like hitting coach Chris Valaika and bench coach Brad Mills.

That process took a huge step forward this week with the return of Nick Martinez, the 34-year-old right-hander who proved to be one of the most valuable and versatile pitchers on the staff last year. Martinez, who was in line to hit the free agent market, accepted his qualifying offer and signed a one-year, $21 million deal for 2025. While the money seems significant, a one-year deal is not nearly as risk-laden as a three or four-year deal where that number expands to nine figures.

“It was a pretty good win-win (situation),” Krall said.

For a team like Cincinnati, one-year deals with a proven commodity like Martinez are gold, and Martinez, sensing Cincinnati’s commitment to compete was an commitment he was more than willing to make in return.

“I think a couple things, one he took the ball whenever you wanted him to,” Krall told me. “He had no issues with whatever role you know you put them in you put an opener in there and you say, ‘I’m gonna use this guy to open and he’s gonna come in the second or third inning and he’s gonna go six after that throw bulk innings and then he was perfectly fine with it.”

Martinez appeared in 42 games, made 16 starts, posted a 10-7 mark with with 3.10 ERA. He posted the only complete game on the staff. His 1.026 WHIP was the best among starters on the staff.

“We started with a role where he was a starter at the beginning of season. And he took the ball he did whatever the team asked him. He was a great team guy and a good teammate, a really good guy in the clubhouse. But he was a “lead by example” guy that you really, really just want to watch and he goes out and does his work. It’s the way he goes about working out, making sure that he’s ready to go whenever you need him and whatever role you need.”

Then Krall pulled the trigger Friday on a deal that unclogs the middle of the infield and gives the Reds another starter for their rotation. Krall dealt 2021 NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India and outfielder Jody Wiemer to Kansas City for right-handed starter Brady Singer.

Singer, 28, set career highs for the Royals in 2024 with 32 starts, 179 2/3 innings, and 170 strikeouts. Since his Major League debut in 2020, he’s posted 124 starts and 685 1/3 innings. Singer held right-handed batters to a .208 batting average last season, ninth-best in the American League. He went at least five innings in 30 of 32 starts and pitched to a 3.71 ERA.

The Reds are acquiring a former first-round pitching talent who made it to the bigs in two years from being drafted out of Florida, the same school that produced India. In 2018, he was named SEC Pitcher of the Year and earned the Dick Howser Trophy as college baseball’s top player.

The Reds are giving up a player that was a leader in their clubhouse and well-respected for his approach and attitude. India, 27, batted .253 with 63 HR and 42 stolen bases in four seasons with the Reds. India appeared in 133 games at second base in 2024, and batted leadoff 105 times.

Wiemer, 25, appeared in 2 games for the Reds after he and RHP Jakob Junis were acquired from Milwaukee on July 30 in a trade that sent RHP Frankie Montas to the Brewers.

In adding Singer and bringing back Martinez, the Reds now have a slew of candidates for their staff behind Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott. With Martinez, Singer, Rhett Lowder and Brandon Williamson, the Reds have four established arms competing for two spots, not including Carson Spiers and Connor Phillips and other moves that could be coming in the offseason or a prospect or two rising up in spring training. It’s a great position for the organization to be in.

“Last year we had 15 (or) 16 pitchers on our staff that started games. So just getting someone with some durability and some longevity that’s had quality in the big leagues that we feel it can shore up the rotation. It’s just those two guys have a chance to really add impact and length to to our team,” Krall said.

Krall said Friday that the team is in a good place going into February in terms of its starting pitching. “Yeah, I feel pretty good about the staff as we are right now. And, I think we’re just going to continue to look to improve the prove the team. It’s tough to obviously trade Jonathan India off this team. He’s a great player. We drafted him as a college guy, really good person, good family. But, we felt this was something that really could help us sure up our pitching staff.”
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As for the other benefit, the Reds now don’t have to worry about where to fit India into their position puzzle. Last year, going into the season there was the speculation of India playing the outfield, first base or DH.

Earlier Friday, with the non-tender deadline approaching at 8 p.m. ET, the Reds made several more moves, most significantly, deciding to bring back their best utility player from 2024, infielder Santiago Espinal.

In his first year with the Reds, Espinal took about two months to warm up, getting his bearings in the infield as he was moved between second and third. His work at the plate didn’t really take hold until July but when he did, he took off for two months, batting around .400 for July and August.

Espinal signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal, thus avoiding arbitration. It’s another wise move by Krall, given the low risk and high value of a player who can play all over the diamond and at a reliable level.

Friday’s move returns a player acquired in a trade with Toronto last March and represented Krall wisest offseason move heading into last season. The deal came about out of strict necessity when Matt McLain went down injured in spring training and Noelvi Marte was suspended.

On Friday, the Reds non-tendered reliever Ian Gibaut and he’s now a free agent, joining Ty France and Luke Maile.

These are the moves of a baseball executive that knows he’s got to work with the limited resources of a market like Cincinnati. He’s not going to get to spend $500-600 million on Juan Soto, or nine figures on Alex Bregman or Corbin Burnes.

But that doesn’t mean Krall doesn’t have more moves to make to add to the 2025 roster. He needs a back-up catcher. He knows the roster could use another right-handed bat or two, and perhaps a veteran influence in the clubhouse to help Tyler Stephenson with leadership duties.

The last week has demonstrated to Reds fans that 2025 has the potential to be much different and much better than last year’s disappointing and disjointed ride.