It seems as if the Reds and Sal Stewart will not agree to a contract extension anytime soon.
The Cincinnati Reds have one of the best rookies in MLB in Sal Stewart. The infielder has wasted no time making a significant impact for a Reds ball club that looks like it could realistically compete this year. However, that does not mean a contract extension will come to fruition anytime soon.
According to MLB insider Ken Rosenthal, the Reds are "not in a great spot" from a financial standpoint, which is something he explained during a recent episode of Foul Territory. Rosenthal said the reason is because of a lost TV deal. During the offseason, Cincinnati was linked to multiple big name free agents, but their financial situation has changed due to the TV deal situation.
Rosenthal believes the Reds are waiting to see what happens on the "TV front" and if everything works out then perhaps a contract extension could be discussed.
"They're not in a position right now where they feel comfortable extending Sal Stewart," the MLB insider added before also stating that he believes the Reds want to offer Stewart a long-term deal.
While Reds fans will not love the news that a contract extension probably is not going to happen soon, it does seem like it could happen in the future. It is not certain if Stewart is open to it, but one has to imagine that he would at least be willing to talk about a deal if it buys out some of his arbitration years.
Sal Stewart Could Win 2026 NL Rookie of the Year
Stewart is one of the best rookies in all of baseball. The 22-year-old is hitting .252/.338/.504 to go along with nine home runs and seven stolen bases across 35 games played. Stewart could even earn All-Star consideration if he can perform well over the next couple of months. Regardless of whether or not he makes the All-Star team, Stewart is going to be a strong candidate for the National League of the Year Award in 2026.
Stewart's impact on the Reds is undeniable. They entered the season with one of the worst offenses in baseball, but the lineup has out-performed expectations so far. Sure, it is far from a great offense, but Stewart, along with superstar Elly De La Cruz, has helped the ball club to play at a respectable level.
Overall, the Reds are 20-15 and in third place in the National League Central standings. They have struggled in recent action, but Cincinnati is still having a strong season overall. Sal Stewart will look to help the Reds get back on track on Tuesday night against the Chicago Cubs.