PITTSBURGH –– Before the Cincinnati Reds front office makes decisions on the team's upcoming team options, before they approach Nick Castellanos’ opportunity to enter free agency and before the Reds finalize a plan for free agency, general manager Nick Krall said the Reds need to determine their budget for the 2022 season.
Krall said the organization’s first step in the offseason will be finalizing the 2022 budget, which will be based on the team's revenue.
“How we use our money at the end of the day, that’s going to depend on where we are from a budget standpoint,” Krall said. “That’s going to be first and foremost, and over the next couple weeks, we’ll have that set. Then we can go forward.”
Krall said he didn’t have any set expectations for how much the budget could change, but the Reds payroll in 2022 could decide the competitiveness of next year’s team.
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The Reds have a $10 million option on starting pitcher Wade Miley and a $7.5 million option on catcher Tucker Barnhart. If the Reds lose either of them, they will have to replace their important roles on the roster.
Michael Lorenzen and Mychal Givens are free agents out of the bullpen, and the Reds could also have the opportunity to re-sign them or replace them with other potential high-leverage relievers. Castellanos has an opt-out clause in his contract, and he would have the chance to be one of the best hitters in free agency this offseason.
The biggest holes on the Reds roster will be decided by who stays and who goes in free agency.
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“We have to look at all positions and how does everyone fit best,” Krall said. “Is there a DH or not? What the budget constraints are. We have to answer those questions first before we go into the offseason and figure out how we’re going to address things."
This season, the Reds had a payroll near league average at $130 million. Before the year, the Reds got to that point by non-tendering reliever Archie Bradley, trading closer Raisel Iglesias and not signing a starting shortstop in free agency.
While Kyle Farmer emerged as a quality starting shortstop, the bullpen was the Reds biggest concern during the first half of the season. The Reds had a winning record in 2021, but a slow start and a poor finish kept the Reds out of the playoffs.
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“We’ve had some ups and downs, it’s not what we set out to do,” Krall said. “It didn’t end like we wanted to. It’s definitely disappointing. There are some moral victories out of this, but at the same time it’s not what we want to do. We’re not looking to finish just out of the playoffs, we’re looking to get in the playoffs and go deep. That’s the goal.”
SENZEL UPDATE: Since Reds infielder/outfielder Nick Senzel went back on the 60-day injured list in August with fluid in his knee, he has been rehabbing in Arizona.
Senzel was the Reds starting center fielder on Opening Day and was an everyday player before his knee injury in May. After missing most of the 2021 season, Senzel could have the opportunity to get that role back in 2022.
“He’s going to come into spring training on the roster and go from there, competing for a spot,” Krall said.
TIP OF THE CAP: Krall ended his media availability by congratulating second baseman Jonathan India for his impressive rookie season. India emerged from Minor League camp during spring training and became the Reds leadoff hitter for most of the year.
“Going into the spring, we wanted to give him an open mind and an open look,” Krall said. “We determined he was ready to start the season on this team and in the middle of spring it just became apparent he was really our best option to start at second base.”
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