The Cincinnati Reds failed to cross the finish line in their pursuit of Kyle Schwarber, but they were in it until the very end. In their efforts to lure the Middletown, Ohio native back home, the Reds reportedly offered Schwarber a five-year, $125 million contract.
But according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, that was not the Reds' last, best, and final offer. Per Nightengale, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds were in serious pursuit, with the Reds even willing to offer more until Schwarber told them it wasn’t necessary. In other words, thanks for playing, but I was never going to sign on the dotted line.