Report: Reds’ Nick Martinez Accepts Qualifying Offer
Following a successful inaugural campaign with the Cincinnati Reds, right-hander Nick Martinez is slated to return for a second go-around next season.
The 34-year-old hurler has reportedly accepted the $21.05 million qualifying offer he received from the organization earlier this off-season, according to Spanish reporter Francys Romero. All players have until 4 p.m. ET on Tuesday to accept their QOs.
MLB Network’s Jon Heyman and Mark Feinsand confirmed Romero’s report Monday morning, signalling Martinez’s impending return to Cincinnati.
Martinez joined the Reds last winter on a two-year, $26-million contract with a $12-million player option for 2025, which he declined earlier this month. He had spent the previous two campaigns with the San Diego Padres before both sides declined the final season of his three-year deal.
While Martinez delivered a quality performance in his first season with Cincinnati, recording a 3.10 ERA and 3.21 FIP over 142.1 innings, the Reds surprised many throughout the industry by offering the veteran righty a $20-million-plus qualifying offer.
The 6-foot-1 hurler split last season between the club’s starting rotation and bullpen, utilizing the versatility he’s displayed since returning from a four-year stint in Japan. He made 16 starts, earning a 3.84 ERA and 3.48 FIP, but saw improved results as a reliever, boasting a 1.86 ERA and 2.75 FIP across 26 relief appearances.
Additionally, Martinez posted higher strikeout (22.5% – 19.1%) and ground-ball rates (42.8% – 33.7%) in a reliever role than as a starter.
Even with those modest bumps, Martinez finished with a measly 20.4-percent strikeout rate, ranking in the 28th percentile – while his 23.1-percent whiff rate placed in the 29th. He also ranked bottom third in ground-ball rate, with his 37.7-percent clip in the 22nd percentile.
However, he excelled at limiting free passes and hard contact, as his 3.2-percent walk rate and 30.5-percent hard-hit rate placed in the 99th and 96th percentiles, respectively. Adding to his value, he also finished second on the Reds in innings pitched and fWAR (3.5, career-high), trailing only Hunter Greene.
That last part was especially valuable for Cincinnati, whose young rotation saw key arms like Greene, Andrew Abbott and Nick Lodolo all miss significant time due to injury in 2024. On top of those concerns, it’s unclear if top prospect Rhett Lowder will be ready to emerge onto the big-league scene at the start of next season.
Having Martinez return, even at a lucrative price, affords the Reds’ pitching staff slightly more certainty for 2025. At the same time though, bringing back their swingman – who briefly discussed a two-year contract extension before receiving a qualifying offer, per the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Gordon Wittenmyer – likely reduces the franchise’s off-season spending pool.
Once Martinez officially signs his QO, Cincinnati’s projected ‘25 payroll will rise to approximately $101.2 million, according to FanGraphs’ Roster Resouce. That puts them slightly above where they finished last season at around $100 million.
Assuming the Reds don’t have the resources to blow past those figures, team president Nick Krall may have to become creative to improve the rest of the roster with needs in the outfield and bullpen.
-Thomas Hall
Twitter: @Hall_Thomas_
Photo: redlegsfan21. This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.