The Cincinnati Reds and breakout slugger Sal Stewart have not yet engaged in formal negotiations, but both parties have signaled a willingness to explore a long-term contract. Stewart, who has quickly become a focal point of the Reds’ offense, expressed his openness to a deal based on his positive relationship with the organization and his desire to remain in Cincinnati.
President of baseball operations Nick Krall echoed this sentiment, though he noted that any eventual agreement would depend on finding a mutually agreeable valuation. While no substantial talks have occurred to date, the prospect of a Sal Stewart Reds extension has emerged as a key storyline during the early-season window when teams often seek to lock up young talent before their market value peaks.
At 22 years old, Stewart has transitioned from a high-ceiling prospect to a legitimate middle-of-the-order threat. Since his promotion late last season, he has posted a batting line of .311/.393/.649 across 84 plate appearances, including seven home runs and four doubles. His approach at the plate has been notably disciplined for a rookie, maintaining a 11.9% walk rate against a 21.4% strikeout rate.
Beyond the surface statistics, Stewart’s batted-ball data suggests a power profile rarely seen in players with such limited major league service time. He is currently averaging an exit velocity of 95.5 mph, supported by a 19.6% barrel rate and a 55.4% hard-hit rate. These metrics place him in a tier of power hitters that the Reds have historically struggled to develop from within their own farm system.
The Financial Landscape and Market Precedents
Stewart is represented by MVP Sports Group, the same agency that handled Joey Votto’s landmark 10-year, $225 million deal—the largest in franchise history. While a contract of that magnitude is unlikely for a player with Stewart’s current service time, the agency’s experience with high-value extensions provides a strategic framework for the negotiations.
Recent MLB trends show a growing appetite for “pre-arbitration” extensions, where teams pay a premium upfront to secure years of club control. However, the Reds have been relatively conservative in this area. In the last decade, the only long-term deal they have reached with a pre-arbitration player was a six-year, $53 million contract for pitcher Hunter Greene. The team did make a club-record offer to shortstop Elly De La Cruz last spring, but that deal did not materialize.
To determine a potential asking price for Stewart, analysts look at a narrow set of comparable deals for position players with less than one year of service. These range from Ceddanne Rafaela’s eight-year, $50 million deal to Julio Rodríguez’s massive 12-year, $210 million pact in Seattle. Due to the fact that Stewart’s offensive ceiling is viewed as higher than Rafaela’s, but his resume is not yet as decorated as Rodríguez’s, his valuation likely sits in the middle of that spectrum.
| Player | Team | Terms | Service Time Context |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samuel Basallo | Orioles | 8 years, $67M | Signed days after MLB debut |
| Jackson Chourio | Brewers | 8 years, $82M + 2 options | Zero big league service |
| Colt Emerson | Mariners | 8 years, $95M + 1 option | Zero big league service |
| Corbin Carroll | Diamondbacks | 8 years, $111M | Similar PAs to Stewart at signing |
Reds’ Payroll Flexibility and Strategic Constraints
From a budgetary standpoint, the Reds are well-positioned to absorb a long-term commitment. The team’s current long-term obligations are relatively light. Hunter Greene is signed through 2028, with a guaranteed total of $41 million from 2026-28, potentially rising to $60 million if a 2029 club option is exercised. Ke’Bryan Hayes is under contract through 2029 for a total of $36 million, including a buyout for a 2030 option.
Outside of these deals, the Reds have very few guaranteed commitments beyond 2027. Backup catcher Jose Trevino is on a two-year, $11.5 million deal, and closer Emilio Pagán is guaranteed through 2027, though he possesses an opt-out clause after this season. This leaves the organization with a projected annual liability of no more than $42 million over the next four years, excluding arbitration raises.
Because early-career extensions typically structure the first few years to mimic a player’s projected arbitration salaries, a deal for Stewart would likely not create a significant immediate cash drain. The higher-salary years of such a pact would typically kick in after the club’s control windows for Greene and Hayes start to close, allowing the Reds to manage their cash flow effectively.
The “Middle-of-the-Order” Necessity
For the Reds, the motivation for a Sal Stewart extension is as much about roster stability as it is about finances. The club has spent years searching for a consistent, homegrown power bat to anchor the middle of the lineup. Stewart, a former third baseman now operating as the primary first baseman, fits the physical and statistical profile of the slugger the organization has lacked.
The risk for the player in these deals is signing too early and underselling their true peak. The risk for the team is committing a large sum to a player who may struggle to sustain “comical” hard-hit rates over a full 162-game schedule. However, as Stewart noted, the emotional tie to the city and the organization’s early trust in him may bridge the gap between the two sides.
“I’m definitely open to it,” Stewart said, citing the organization’s support. “…I’m open to it because they took a chance on me when I was young, and I want to do it for this city. This city means a lot to me, and they’ve become my family.”
The next phase of this process will depend on whether Nick Krall and the front office decide to move from “mutual interest” to a concrete offer. As the season progresses and Stewart continues to accumulate plate appearances, his leverage will likely increase, making the coming weeks critical for any party seeking a deal based on current metrics rather than future projections.
We invite readers to share their thoughts on whether the Reds should lock up Stewart now or wait for more data in the comments below.
