Reds notes: The value that the Reds see in Nick Martinez's $21 million contract

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — Last September, as I was researching for my Cy Young Award vote, I texted a source who knows a lot about pitching for his thoughts on who should be on the ballot. The first text from the source named seven of the most well-known pitchers in baseball: Chris Sale, Zack Wheeler, Paul Skenes, Chris Sale, Hunter Greene, Shota Imanaga and Logan Webb.

Then, the source sent a follow-up text.

“... Nick Martinez???”

Martinez didn’t end up being on my Cy Young Award ballot or any others. He’s not viewed by fans as a frontline starting pitcher. When the Reds offered Martinez the one-year, $21 million qualifying offer, there was some outside skepticism about making Martinez the highest paid player on the Reds.

“He’s highly underrated,” Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson said. “If you were ever around him, you’d realize how valuable and really special he is.”

Last year, Martinez ranked 16th in all of baseball in pitching WAR, slotting in ahead of Logan Webb and Aaron Nola. Martinez was elite at limited hard contact, limiting walks and a generating swing and miss.

Even though Martinez spent about half of the season in the bullpen, he still ranked 80th in MLB in innings pitched last year (142 ⅓). Only 11 pitchers in MLB last year threw more innings than Martinez and also had a better ERA than him.

Only six of those pitchers were in the NL (Sale, Wheeler, Greene, Imanaga, Michael King and Martinez). Maybe Martinez should have gotten a closer look on Cy Young ballots.

“Nick exemplifies pitching to the highest standard,” Nick Lodolo said. “As a pitcher, he’s great. He pitches. He exemplifies what a pitcher is. He’s not just blowing it by you. He’s playing the game, moving the ball around and changing speeds. He does it really well.”

During the offseason, the free agent pitching market saw high price tags for veteran pitchers. Frankie Montas signed a two-year deal with the Mets for $34 million. Luis Severino inked a three-year, $67 million deal with Oakland. Nathan Eovaldi will make $75 million over three years in Texas.

These long-term deals for pitchers in their 30s carry some added risk as they get further away from their primes.

When you compare those contracts to Martinez’s, the one-year, $21 million contract looks pretty good.

“Nick is the epitome of what a pitcher should aspire to be,” Johnson said. “His work, the way he approaches things and the way he thinks about his craft. What he does to prepare himself. This guy is as locked in with every aspect of his game as anyone I’ve ever seen.”

There was some surprise around baseball when Martinez accepted the qualifying offer. He could have tried to capitalize on his career year by hitting the open market, but Martinez’s style is to bet on himself. He has always signed short-term contracts that give him flexibility.

Heading into the 2024 season, he signed a two-year deal with the Reds for $26 million with an opt-out after the first year. Martinez opted out of his $13 million deal for 2025 at the end of last season. The qualifying offer ended up getting him an $8 million dollar raise.

“From a mental standpoint, I was committed to coming here for two years,” Martinez said. “And for my second year, I got a raise. That’s a good deal for me.”

He also felt that a strong young core plus Terry Francona was a good formula for an exciting season.

“This team is clearly in the direction that they want to win,” Martinez said. “Not only with hiring Terry, but with the additions they brought on. We’re showing fans we’re going to try to win the division.”

Martinez is 34 years old, but he’s a real late bloomer. Four years ago, he was pitching in Japan and was trying to get back to the big leagues. He went into the pitching lab, got a certification in pitch design and reworked his changeup. It’s now one of the best changeups in baseball, and it has made all of the difference for Martinez. He’s also one of the best athletes on the Reds.

While Martinez is more than willing to fill the same hybrid role than he had in 2024 and has shown that he’ll pitch whenever the team needs him in whatever role that the team needs, he looks slotted in as the Reds’ No. 3 starter entering 2025. This season could be his first year as a full-time starting pitcher.

Martinez said that he feels like he’s just entering his prime, and his teammates say the same thing.

“He’s the whole package,” Brady Singer said. “He has a lot of pitches. He’s just smart out there. He knows the situation and never lets it get too big.”

Hunter Greene ready to go

The starting pitchers on Cactus League Opening Day usually aren’t headliners. It’s usually the guy who reported to camp built up and is most ready to go, regardless of where he lines up on the depth chart. It’s typically a pitcher who’s competing for a roster spot.

Reds’ Cactus League Opening Day starters of years past include Carson Spiers, Brandon Williamson (before he made his big league debut), Nick Lodolo (before his debut), Jose De Leon and Tanner Roark.

When Francona managed the Guardians, it was typically a similar story. His final few spring training Opening Day starters with Cleveland were journeymen Cal Quantrill, Tanner Tully and Adam Plutko.

This year, the Reds’ Cactus League Opening Day starter is Hunter Greene. One of these names is not like the others.

“The guys that are ready (pitch the first game),” Francona said. “Guys are at different stages. The first things we ask them when they come in is how many bullpens they’ve had. Then, you have to face live hitters. (Greene) lives out here. He was coming over to the complex. He’s advanced in his preperation. That’s a big reason why you’re seeing that.”

Francona on accountability

Francona says that accountability isn’t “embarrassing somebody through the media.” The Reds’ new manager will hold players accountable through closed door conversations.

“What I say to a player sometimes, 98% of the time no one ever knows if I’m doing it right,” Francona said. “My biggest goal is when somebody makes a mistake not to do it again. I learn quickly that if you meet him on the top step of the dugout and they’ve got some adrenaline going and you’re pissed off, that’s not going to be a good ending. It’s different with everybody, and part of my challenge is to understand what to do. Some guys you pat on the back, some guys you kick in the (tail) because you don’t want it to happen again. That’s the goal.”

For more of Charlie’s coverage of spring training, stay posted here. Also, look out for some upcoming features with Cincinnati Magazine.