Reds reach deals with all 8 arbitration-eligible players
CINCINNATI -- Ahead of Thursday's deadline for Major League teams to exchange salary proposals with their arbitration-eligible players, the Reds agreed to one-year contracts with all eight of their eligible players and will not face any hearings next month.
Tyler Stephenson and Cincinnati agreed to a $4.925 million contract for 2025. In his second year of arbitration eligibility, the catcher received a significant raise after he made $2.525 million last season.
An even bigger raise came for closer Alexis Díaz after he agreed to a $4.5 million deal for 2025. D¨ªaz, who was eligible for arbitration for the first time this offseason, made $760,000 in ¡®24.
Right-handed starting pitcher Brady Singer, who was acquired from the Royals in a November trade for Jonathan India, got the biggest salary boost of all when he agreed to an $8.75 million contract. That is a $3.9 million raise from the $4.85 million Singer earned with Kansas City last season.
Second baseman Gavin Lux settled on a $3.325 million contract that includes an awards bonus package. Lux, who was traded from the Dodgers to the Reds on Monday, made $1.225 million in ¡®24.
Left-handed starting pitcher Nick Lodolo agreed to a $1.975 million contract. Lodolo, who was arbitration eligible for the first time, made $760,000 last season.
Outfielder Jake Fraley and the club reached a deal for a $3.125 million contract. Fraley, who is in his second year of arbitration, made $2.15 million in ¡®24.
Lefty reliever Sam Moll agreed to a $1,007,500 million contract after he earned $760,000 last season.
In November, the Reds and infielder Santiago Espinal signed a $2.4 million contract to avoid arbitration.
Any clubs and players who did not come to an agreement before Thursday's deadline had to exchange salary figures and schedule an arbitration hearing for February. In their recent history, the Reds have often ceased to negotiate with players once numbers are exchanged.
In 138 games last season, Stephenson batted .258 with a .782 OPS, 2.4 WAR, 19 home runs and 66 RBIs. He set career highs with 127 games caught, (112 starts) and 1,001 innings behind the plate. Since debuting in 2020, Stephenson is batting .267 with a .770 OPS and 50 homers.
Over three seasons with Cincinnati, D¨ªaz has a 2.93 and 75 saves in 190 games. He became the team's full-time closer in 2023 and went to the All-Star Game that season. He was less effective in '24 as he posted a 3.99 ERA and 28 saves in 60 appearances while his strikeout rate decreased.
In 32 starts and 179 2/3 innings for Kansas City last season, Singer was 9-13 with a 3.71 ERA. In five big league seasons, he is 36-44 with a 4.28 ERA over 127 games, including 124 starts.
The left-handed-hitting Lux is under club control through 2026. He batted .251/.320/.383 with 2.1 WAR, 10 home runs and 50 RBIs over 139 games for Los Angeles last season.
Since his 2022 debut, Lodolo is 15-14 with a 4.52 ERA, but has been limited to 47 starts and 253 innings over his three big league seasons because of a litany of injuries. In 2023, he was limited to seven starts with a 6.29 ERA because of a fractured left tibia.
In '24, Lodolo was 9-6 with a 4.76 ERA over 21 starts but endured four stints on the injured list with four different injuries.
Over 116 games last season, Fraley batted .277 with a .716 OPS, five home runs, 26 RBIs and 20 steals. During his three seasons with Cincinnati, he is batting .265 with a .764 OPS, 32 homers and 1.9 WAR.
In 48 appearances last season, Moll had a 3.35 ERA and 1.09 WHIP while pitching 37 2/3 innings. Since arriving at the 2023 Trade Deadline from the A's, he has a 2.31 ERA in 73 games.