Cincinnati Reds should talk to Dan Straily about a contract extension

Cincinnati Reds’ starting pitcher Dan Straily has been one of the lone bright spots in dismal season.

Cincinnati Reds’ starting pitcher Dan Straily can do it all.  In his latest start Straily finally earned his first big league hit after going 0-for-49.  Straily does have 11 sacrifice bunts this season.  He also only made fair contact on nine balls outside of his sacrifices this year.  That’s not why the Reds should sign him to an extension.

Straily was picked up from the San Diego Padres during spring training.  The Reds signed him to be a swing man reliever.  In the end he found a home in the starting rotation.

Straily is just want you want in a young veteran.  Across the year Straily is averaging just under 100 pitches per start.  In 29 starts Straily has gone at least five innings in 26 of them.  Heading into his last two starts, he has had three months of allowing nine or fewer runs, April, July and September.  He will allow more runs in his last two starts, but he is getting it done.

At 177 innings this is a high water mark in an MLB season for Straily.  So are his 145 strikeouts and his 111 ERA+.

Straily doesn’t do anything flashy.  That may be of concern to his longterm success at Great American Ballpark.  He has a groundball out to air ball out of close of 1-to-2.  That means he gets nearly twice as many outs in the air as he does on the ground.  That’s not a good thing on a team that has allowed the most home runs in franchise history.

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Straily isn’t perfect.  He’s just good.

Straily has given up 28 home runs this year.  That’s second most in the National League to his teammate, Brandon Finnegan.  Chase Anderson of the Milwaukee Brewers is the only pitcher within five home runs allowed in the entire NL.

Despite his home run issues, Straily has been consistent throughout the season.  His WHIP of 1.19 is much better than the league average for starters.  Straily is a front of the rotation pitcher, especially once you realize opposing hitters are batting .220 against him this year.

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With the albatross of the Homer Bailey contract the Reds need to consider signing Straily to a long term deal this offseason.  Straily could be eligible for arbitration as early as the end of next year.  Now is the time for the Reds to broach the subject of an extension.  Signing Straily now and DeSclafani next year could finally keep the Reds on an affordable pitching plan for years to come.

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