CINCINNATI -- Ahead of Thursday's deadline for clubs and arbitration-eligible players to exchange salary figures, the Reds reached an agreement on one-year deals with eight players to avoid hearings.
According to sources, infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer and the club agreed to a $4 million contract. Utility infielder Gavin Lux agreed to a $5.525 million contract. Center fielder TJ Friedl avoided arbitration with a $3.8 million contract, and outfielder Will Benson will make $1.725 million. Just before the 8 p.m. ET deadline, second baseman Matt McLain came to terms on a $2.3 million contract.
Starting pitchers Brady Singer and Nick Lodolo and reliever Tony Santillan also agreed to contracts. Singer will get $12.75 million while Lodolo will earn $4.725 million. Santillan will get $1.8 million.
After overcoming a first-month slump as he recovered from a 2024 right shoulder injury, Steer batted .238 with a .723 OPS, 21 home runs and 75 RBIs in 146 games while playing mostly first base. He was eligible for arbitration for the first time after earning $750,000 last season.
Lux, who was acquired in a trade with the Dodgers on Jan. 7, 2025, batted .269 with a .724 OPS, five homers and 53 RBIs in 140 games. While making $3.325 million, he split most of his time in the lineup among left field, second base and as the designated hitter. Lux is in his third year of eligibility, and he can become a free agent after the 2026 season.
In his first year eligible for arbitration, Friedl batted .261 with a .742 OPS, 14 homers and 53 RBIs in 152 games. He made $750,000 last season, as did Benson, who is first-year eligible. He batted .226 with a .708 OPS, 12 homers and 41 RBIs in 90 games.
Acquired in a Nov. 22, 2024, trade from the Royals for Jonathan India, Singer was 14-12 with a 4.03 ERA while making $8.75 million. He led the rotation in starts (32), innings (169 2/3) and strikeouts (163). He was the only starting pitcher for the club to not go on the injured list. Third-year arbitration-eligible, Singer can become a free agent after the upcoming season.
Lodolo, who was second-year eligible, was 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA in 29 games including 28 starts while making $1.975 million. He threw 156 2/3 innings with 156 strikeouts -- both career highs.
Santillan, who was eligible for the first time, emerged as the club's eighth-inning setup man last season and posted a 2.44 ERA while second among Major League relievers with 80 appearances. He had 75 strikeouts over 73 2/3 innings.
After a strong 2023 rookie year, McLain missed all of 2024 because of left shoulder surgery. While making $742,500 in 2025, he endured a down season, batting .220 with a .643 OPS, 15 homers and 50 RBIs over 147 games.
Arbitration-eligible players who did not come to terms before the deadline are reliever Graham Ashcraft and catcher Tyler Stephenson. In the exchange of figures, Stephenson filed at $6.8 million while the club countered with $6.55 million. Ashcraft filed $1.75 million while the team filed at $1.25 million. According to a source, they will likely head to arbitration hearings. Hearings are scheduled anywhere between Jan. 26-Feb. 13.