Reds Trying For Another Massive Extension With Young Core Piece

The Cincinnati Reds are well into a rebuild, trying to piece together a young core to take them into the future. They've already locked up flame-thrower Hunter Greene for six years, and now, according to a report, are trying to do the same with Greene's rotation-mate, Nick Lodolo.

Included in the story: Nick Lodolo said that he has had contract extension talks with the Reds. “We’ll see where it goes. It’d be fun. I do believe we’ve got something here, too. We’ll see where it takes us.”

Jonathan India and Graham Ashcraft also spoke about their futures.

— Charlie Goldsmith (@CharlieG__) April 19, 2023

According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, conversations with Lodolo have begun. And the young left-hander certainly seems open to staying in Cincinnati. 

“We’ve had talks,” Lodolo told The Cincinnati Enquirer. “We’ll see where it goes. It’d be fun. I do believe we’ve got something here, too. We’ll see where it takes us.

“We have a lot of talent,” Lodolo continued. “We still got to put it together and win more games, but you can see it coming together. We all believe that we can win here. This is where we feel like we can do it.”

The 25-year-old acquitted himself extremely well in his rookie season last year, posting a 3.66 ERA in 19 starts, with 11.4 K/9 and a 1.25 WHIP. This year has been a bit of up-and-down affair, with one start where he shut down the Philadelphia Phillies for seven innings in their ballpark, striking out 12, then another start where he gave up eight runs and 12 hits in 4.2 innings against the Tampa Bay Rays. 

Lodolo got a $5.4M signing bonus from the Reds when they made him the 7th overall pick in the first round in 2019, out of Texas Christian University.

“We’re moving in the right direction,” Reds general manager Nick Krall said. “You’ve seen some of that talent. We’re very excited about that... It’s a lot of fun to start establishing that winning culture.” 

Krall is looking to build a foundation for the Reds, and it certainly seems to start in the rotation. Greene is done, Lodolo could be next, and could the other gem of the pitching staff, Graham Ashcraft, be far behind? 

Photo: Stephanie Scarbrough/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK