Reds: Penny wise, pound foolish

Bad contracts = Bad news

When you are in a market the size of Cincinnati, all payroll decisions are important. The likes of the Mets, Yankees and Dodgers can brush off and survive bad contracts. But bad contracts are crippling to a team like Cincinnati.

The Reds second highest paid player this season, Jeimer Candelario, makes $16M. Candelario is batting .130 in 79 plate appearances.

Think about the bad money spent by this franchise in recent years:

They signed Mike Moustakas to a 4-year/$64M in December of 2019. They released him in January of 2023, owing him $22M.......to go away.

They signed Shogo Akiyama to a 3-year/$21M in January 2020. They released him in April of 2022, owing him $8M....to go away.

They gave Wil Myers 1-year/$7.5M. They released him after 141 plate appearances (.189), owing him about $3.75 to go away.

They gave Mike Ford 1-year/$1.3M last May. They released him less than a month later, after 62 plate appearances (.150), owing him about $1.1M to go away.

That's about $34.85M for players NOT to play for them.

That's insanity.

And If Candelario nevers takes another swing for the Reds, they still owe him $32M!

Don't forget, to a lesser extent, Nick Martinez. He's making a team-high $21M this year, and his ERA is 6.00. Now, I'm betting he gets better this season. But the issue remain:

Talent evaluation. Asset allocation. Return on the investment.

Remember the old saying: Penny wise and pound foolish?

This franchise can't afford to continue to look foolish.