Reds avoid arbitration with Tony Santillan and the upside could be enormous

Tony Santillan, Cincinnati Reds | Ronald Martinez/GettyImagesArbitration day usually turns into baseball’s annual “numbers are feelings” festival — leaks, posturing, and the occasional team-player relationship taking an unnecessary body shot. Just look at the Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal. So when Cincinnati quietly lands a deal with Tony Santillan at $1.8 million to avoid a hearing, it’s hard not to look at it and see a pure win.

Per Mark Feinsand, the Reds reached deals with Brady Singer, Nick Lodolo, and Santillan ($1.8 million) to stay out of arbitration drama. Cool. Normal. Responsible. But the Santillan number is the one that should make Reds fans sit up a little straighter, because…