5 offseason questions Reds must answer after Francona hire

This story was excerpted from Mark Sheldon’s Reds Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

SAN DIEGO -- The Reds solved their biggest offseason question in expedient fashion by hiring Terry Francona less than two weeks after firing David Bell. Francona's hiring was a clear signal that Cincinnati intends to contend for the postseason in 2025 after a disappointing '24.

Still, many other issues remain, as president of baseball operations Nick Krall needs to give Francona an improved roster to work with after Cincinnati finished with a 77-85 record in 2024.

"We have to figure out how to upgrade our defense, we’ve got to figure out how to upgrade our offense," Krall said on Tuesday. "There’s a new-manager aspect to this, but also how we can use our players better too."

Here are five key questions facing the Reds this offseason.

1. What is the payroll situation?

A meeting with ownership about the 2025 payroll is set for around the end of October.

“We don’t have a budget yet. We’re still working through that," Krall said. "Obviously, there’s a lot of stuff going on. We’ll have one before we get to the GM Meetings.”

Several factors could come to affect how much Krall can spend this winter, but Francona didn't appear concerned about the club's ability to field a competitive team.

"I hope you never hear me talk about payroll and things like that," Francona said. "And there will never be an excuse when we play a game or lose a game on our youth or our payroll."

2. What will happen with the corner-infield spots?

At first base, Ty France is arbitration-eligible and would get a raise from his $6.755 million salary. France did a nice job after arriving from the Mariners in late July, but he could be a non-tender candidate if Cincinnati doesn't have a payroll fit.

With a 100-point drop in his OPS to .707 in 2024, Jeimer Candelario had a rough season in the first-year of his three-year, $45 million contract. Christian Encarnacion-Strand batted only .190 with two homers in 29 games before missing the rest of the season with a broken right hand.

At third base, Noelvi Marte's first full big league season was a disappointment in every sense. It started with an 80-game suspension for PED use, followed by poor performance offensively and defensively.

Santiago Espinal was a superb utility player while playing well at third base often, especially late in the season.

"Some guys are going to have to come to Spring Training and actually earn spots," Krall said. "They’re not going to be given spots. We’ll see what happens with the offseason."

Krall and general manager Brad Meador also noted that Jonathan India could get opportunities at first and third base. Matt McLain is expected to be healthy after missing all of 2024 due to left shoulder surgery, and he should be the Reds' second baseman. Spencer Steer, who was moved from the infield to the outfield before this season, could also return to third base.

3. Can a big bat be added?

It's hard to say now, since the payroll hasn't been figured out (see above), but there is a clear need to score more runs. All three hitting coaches were fired after the lineup ranked 26th in team batting. The Reds also had 16 shutout losses and a 15-28 record in one-run games.

"I think, at the end of the day, we have to figure out how to upgrade this club in whatever way we can," Krall said. "I don’t want to put that as the most important or this as the most important."

4. Does the rotation need to be bolstered?

Krall was asked if the Reds had enough starting pitching for next year.

"Do you ever?" Krall replied. "This year, they’re more established, but we still have holes in the rotation."

Injuries ransacked what was perceived to be a deep rotation in 2024. Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Andrew Abbott are expected back, but all three have durability issues. Nick Martinez is a good bet to opt out of his contract. Julian Aguiar and Brandon Williamson have elbow injuries that will likely keep them out all of next season.

No. 2 prospect Rhett Lowder was superb after his callup, and he will be a candidate. Graham Ashcraft, who struggled and then got injured, will have to earn his spot back, Krall said.

5. Can Francona and his coaching staff improve discipline and cut down on self-inflicted mistakes?

At his introductory press conference on Monday, Francona made it clear that he will indeed have expectations. Playing loose and free is OK, but he demands the game be played correctly.

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"The goal is for our ballclub to play aggressively and intelligently. One without the other doesn’t really work very well," Francona said. "Spring Training will probably have a priority on doing those types of things and getting to know each other.

"I think players like being coached. I think they like working hard. But you’ve got to be organized. And we will be."