The Reds seem to have made a decision on their long-term solution behind the plate agreeing to a four-year contract with catcher Tucker Barnhardt.
On Saturday the club will hand out bobbleheads after fans selected him as the winner of a contest and now the front office is going to pay up with a $15.5 million extension though 2021 which includes a $7.5 million club option for 2022 with a $500,000 buyout.
The #Reds and C @Tucker_Barnhart have agreed to terms on a 4-year contract extension through the 2021 season with a club option for 2022. pic.twitter.com/z2fLNZ0ETa
— Cincinnati Reds (@Reds) September 22, 2017
Barnhardt has been thrust into a regular role with the Reds thanks in part to the injury history of Devin Mesoraco. With Barnhart hitting .272/.349/.399Â this season in addition to his solid work behind the plate the Reds will likely see if anyone is willing to take on the $13.125 million owed to Mesoraco for the 2018 season.
Terms, per source: $1.75M signing bonus. $4M in 2018, $2.5M in 2019, $3.5M in 2020, $3.75M in 2021, $7.5M opt in 2022 with a 500k buyout.
— Zach Buchanan (@ZachENQ) September 22, 2017
Barnhart’s 113 games this season is just 2 behind a career high set last year. He owns a 3.4 WAR this season.
