Nick Krall Has Message About Reds' Rookie of the Year

First baseman Sal Stewart is coming off a huge rookie season for the Cincinnati Reds, and the questions now are about what comes next.

President of baseball operations Nick Krall talked about Stewart at the GM Meetings in Las Vegas on Tuesday, one day after Stewart was named the National League Rookie of the Year.

Stewart played all 162 games in 2026, hitting .263 with 32 home runs, 112 RBIs and a .787 OPS, and he was the only player listed on every Rookie of the Year ballot while picking up 20 first-place votes.

MLB.com also noted that he was the first rookie to play all 162 games since Delmon Young in 2007.

He moved around the field a lot, too, with 110 starts at first base, 33 at third base, 11 at designated hitter and seven at second base, and he lost around 25 pounds to help his defense.

Stewart is also a Silver Slugger finalist at the utility spot, and the winners are set to be announced on Tuesday, Nov. 17.

As of Tuesday, the Reds had not had any talks with Stewart's agent, Dan Lozano, about a contract extension.

When Krall was asked if those talks could be coming, he said he was not sure right now, according to MLB.com.

Krall sounded much more certain about Stewart's glove.

When he was asked if Stewart could see more time at third base, his natural position in the minors, Krall pointed to the work Stewart has put in.

"As long as he continues to stay athletic, he has got a chance to be a good Major League defender wherever you put him. I'm really excited about that and about his work ethic."

That flexibility helps the Reds plan their roster as Krall works through the team's offseason needs.

FOX19 reported that Stewart is an option at both first and third base, depending on where the team needs first baseman Spencer Steer and what it gets from third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes, who needs to get healthy after dealing with back issues.

The Reds have already shown they will lock up young talent, signing pitcher Chase Burns to a seven-year, $105 million extension in July, and I think Stewart should be next.

He is still years away from a big payday, but the price goes up with every big season he has, and a deal now would give both sides peace of mind.

As MLB.com pointed out, winning Rookie of the Year likely means a deal will cost more, and a Silver Slugger would only add to that.

The Reds went 75-87 and finished fifth in the NL Central, so they need cornerstone players to build around, and Stewart has shown he is one of them.

Krall did not give a timeline, but his praise shows how highly the front office thinks of the 22-year-old.

The Reds should start those talks soon, before another strong year makes him even harder to sign, especially since he has already picked up other honors this fall and looks like a player the team can build around for a long time.