In a deep pitching market, Nic...

This offseason, the free agent market for MLB starting pitching market is like a shopping mall on Black Friday. Everything you could want is available, but everyone is looking for something.

The Cincinnati Reds are participating in the deepest and the most competitive free agent pitching market in years. The Reds plan to build around the young core they have in place while some teams are looking to overhaul their rotations through free agency, others are looking to acquire an ace and others want to take fliers and buy low on flawed pitchers with upside.

“For us, can we (add) some sort of blend of quality and quantity (of innings)?” Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said. “It’s not like, ‘Hey, I want to take a shot on this guy because he could be nothing, but he could be a huge upside play.’ We need to make sure we’re bringing in quality innings to help our younger players with that upside.”

The Reds are looking at avenues through free agency and through trades that could upgrade the rotation. While their young starters have plenty of potential, none of them have been in the big leagues for more than two seasons, and only one has thrown more than 130 innings in a season.

In free agency, the Reds have a chance to balance their rotation with more experience.

“I don’t think we are the team that necessarily needs the upside guy,” Krall said. “Look at Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Brandon Williamson. All of those guys were first or second-round picks. They’ve got a lot of upside. Graham Ashcraft has come in and given us stable innings and has upside as well. Connor Phillips is a top prospect and has some upside. You’ve got upside in a lot of these guys.”

The Reds have never splurged at the top of the free agent market, but Shohei Ohtani, Yoshinobu Yamamoto and National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell lead the way at the top of this year’s free agent class. Free agents Aaron Nola, Jordan Montgomery and Sonny Gray have shown that they can be No. 1 or No. 2 starters on contenders.

The next tier of pitchers includes Eduardo Rodriguez, Lucas Giolito, Marcus Stroman and Shota Imanaga, who could all become top-half of the rotation starters on playoff teams. After that, there’s a solid group of mid-rotation starters, a collection of veteran innings eaters and a number of potential buy-low, lottery ticket type pitchers who have dealt with injuries or really struggled in 2023.

Unlike most free agent classes, the 2024 group has potential middle of the rotation starters and innings eaters who also have experience pitching out of the bullpen. As the Reds build around their young core in the rotation, one potential plan for the offseason could be adding that type of pitcher. Seth Lugo, Nick Martinez, Sean Manaea, Michael Lorenzen and Yariel Rodriguez fit that criteria.

“There are some guys out there that can do both,” Krall said. “It’s about trying to figure out how many innings we have and what that role is. Some guys like the ability to swing back and forth (between starting and relieving). Some guys want the defined role. Each guy wants something different. It’s trying to see if we have what they want here. Pair the player with the team.”

Unlike most free agent classes, the 2024 group has potential middle of the rotation starters and innings eaters who also have experience pitching out of the bullpen. As the Reds build around their young core in the rotation, one potential plan for the offseason could be adding that type of pitcher. Seth Lugo, Nick Martinez, Sean Manaea, Michael Lorenzen and Yariel Rodriguez fit that criteria.

“There are some guys out there that can do both,” Krall said. “It’s about trying to figure out how many innings we have and what that role is. Some guys like the ability to swing back and forth (between starting and relieving). Some guys want the defined role. Each guy wants something different. It’s trying to see if we have what they want here. Pair the player with the team.”

As a part of the free agent class, there’s a good collection of international pitchers from Japan and Korea. Imanaga, Rodriguez, Yuki Matsui and Naoyuki Uwasawa are expected to sign in MLB in 2024.

Krall said that Reds Pacific Rim scouting manager Rob Fidler and Pacific Rim scout Jamey Storvick give the Reds a presence in the area, and Krall said that senior director of professional scouting Rob Coughlin also plays a big role in scouting those players. Twice a year, the Reds send another pro scout or a special assistant to the general manager to cross-check scouting reports in Japan and Korea.

“We have boots on the ground,” Krall said. “We’ve got a lot of reports.”

The depth of the Reds’ pitching staff gives Krall flexibility, and the Reds have a deep class of young pitchers who could contribute right away in 2024. Greene, Lodolo, Ashcraft and Abbott have established themselves as impact big leaguers. Williamson and Phillips were top prospects who had breakthrough 2023 seasons. Lyon Richardson, Carson Spiers, Christian Roa and Julian Aguiar give the Reds more starting pitching depth in the upper levels of the farm system.

In free agency, Krall said that the Reds are looking across the board at different types of pitchers. Instead of focusing on adding one style of pitcher to fit one specific slot, the Reds can keep their options open.

“You want to be able to add quality innings to your club,” Krall said. “Having quality starters is extremely valuable. You need that all year long. It’s something we’re looking for on the open market.”