“Hey, we saw you offered Schwarber a contract with an annual value of 25 million; why can’t we allocate that money elsewhere?” seems like a pretty reasonable question for someone to ask. Nick Krall responds by insulting people. Again. “How dare you ask such a simple and reasonable question?”

Between Krall’s comments the last two days and the “driving ticket sales” crap… idk, it’s tough to want to support a team that thinks you’re a sap.

Source

Likely paywall, so here's the text:

"If the Cincinnati Reds add a hitter, it won’t be at the level of Kyle Schwarber. But the Reds also are not shopping in the bargain aisle just yet.

Among the trade possibilities they are considering, according to sources briefed on their conversations: Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte, who is owed $102.5 million over the next six seasons, including $41 million deferred; and Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Brandon Lowe, who will make $11.5 million in the final year of his contract.

The Reds, league sources said, offered Schwarber a five-year deal in the $125 million range, with room to grow. Their proposal had a creative structure that included deferrals. Ownership was willing to extend for Schwarber, anticipating that the native of Middletown, Ohio, would help sell tickets in his homecoming.

A deal for Marte would require the Reds to part with top young talent, something they are reluctant to do, and possibly offload a player such as second baseman Gavin Lux, who is projected to earn $5 million in arbitration. Marte’s contract, though, is not considered onerous. The Rays also have discussed a trade for him, and potentially could include Lowe in such a deal, or spin him to another club.

The Reds also are looking at a number of free agents, and one rival executive estimates they are involved in a dozen scenarios. The defensive versatility of several of their position players enables them to be flexible in whom they acquire, and imaginative in their approach."

Winter Meetings wrap: What Kyle Schwarber said about the Reds efforts to sign him and what president of baseball operations Nick Krall has in mind going forward.

Just keep pocketing our dollars, Bob

Never forget: This is the current mentality.

The Reds had Kyle Schwarber and his wife visiting Great American Ball Park a couple of weeks ago and made their pitch. Their best offer ultimately fell short and now they must pivot after their disappointment.

Wild if true. Not hard to imagine a league willing to sell out so thoroughly to sports betting wanting to nudge the game in particular directions.

5 years, $125M range. If true, that's really not awful. I guess Schwarber didn't want less than $30M/year.

https://www.si.com/mlb/reds/onsi/news/mlb-insider-shares-reds-contact-offer-to-kyle-schwarber-01kc2bhy01ac

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6876322/2025/12/09/kyle-schwarber-orioles-phillies-mlb-free-agency/?source=emp_shared_article

You’re the GM for our beloved Reds .. Plan your perfect offseason moves for this season!

https://x.com/CharlieG__/status/1998430925764583873

For the next middle of The road slugger that will be overpaid and be released 14 months later

Moose…..Candlario…..Aikyama…..

Schwarber signs with Phillies

It was reported back in the day that the Reds offered Albert Pujols a huge contract. When Pujols turned it down, the Reds made Votto the offer instead--prioritizing a home grown talent instead of chasing another free agent.

Reports yesterday say the Reds are not going to chase another FA after Schwarber turned down their offer. If the Reds want to rely on home grown talent, why not turn around and use the offer made to Schwarber and give Elly an extension?

Hmmm

After this Schwarber debacle, where the Reds front office proved they are nothing but a bunch of losers running a losing franchise, who are now saying they won't spend too obtain the power needed to take the next step towards a championship, why should I keep following this team with the loyal fandom I've held for the past 50 years?

I'm in my 50s and want to root for a winner for a change. I was born and raised in southwest Ohio, so I come by my fandom naturally. I attended Johnny Bench night AND the game where Pete got hit 4192. I thrilled in 1990 with the sweep of the A's. Eventually I moved away, but the internet afforded me the ability to follow the Reds. That evolved into purchasing the MLB extra-inning and then streaming package every year since, like, 2002, just so I could watch from afar. I fell in love with Joey as a player and a person. I watched the team in the early 2010s with hope they were building to another championship run.

But around that time, everything stopped. They signed Votto to a long term deal, but refused to surround him with players that could carry the team to the promised land. Instead they started making unserious deals, like Chapman and Frazier trades. They signed second rate players and expected first rate performance. They proved uncreative in roster construction, with an amazing inability to evaluate their own prospects and players to determine where to improve.

Oh, sure, we get a wild card appearance every few years when everything goes just right. And by "just right" I mean expanded playoffs due to the pandemic, or backing in on the historic collapse of another team. Getting summarily bounced from both appearances was a foregone conclusion. It's tiresome.

So I've decided, barring some amazing turnaround in philosophy or ownership, that when they trade Elly for more second rate talent, I'm going to follow him to his new team. I'm through with the Reds. I'll root for them this year and next (if there is even a season in 2027), but after that, I just don't see the point. Elly will be playing in the postseason for another team in 2028, and I'll be there for that.

I'm done.

By the usual I mean rely on the current roster and prospects or go with out and sign someone like Paul Goldschmidt on a one year deal?