Cincinnati Reds pick up 2018 option on manager Bryan Price

Before the game today, C. Trent Rosecrans at the Enquirer reported that multiple sources are telling him that Bryan Price will return as manager of the Cincinnati Reds in 2018.

Price, as you know, was on a one year deal with a club option for the next. His contract stipulated that ownership tell him his fate by September 2nd, otherwise known as today. Price was apparently informed of the decision back in July, however.

Bryan Price hasn’t enjoyed a lot of success in the win-loss column over his nearly four season tenure as manager of the Reds. The team played fairly well despite the loss of Joey Votto in May of 2014, and saw themselves directly in the mix of a wild card spot in the middle of that summer. The wheels ultimately came off of that season, of course. The team, seeing the writing on the wall with a record high payroll of guys that were only going to get more expensive, started a prolonged rebuild phase that hasn’t afforded its manager an opportunity at a particularly quality club.

Save for a Joey Votto here and a Zack Cozart there, the team’s 2010-2013 core had all departed or been dealt by the beginning of this season and though the club has begun to see the fruits of its trade labor over the course of this season, injuries to major cogs in the rotation haven’t turned those fruits into wins.

None of that can be blamed solely on the manager of a team, but the Reds picking up a contract option on a manager who has overseen some of the worst seasons (by record) in franchise history is certainly going to be seen as a controversial decision from its fans. Regardless, Bryan Price is going to enter 2018 with one more shot of proving he has what it takes to take the team back to the playoffs.

It’ll be interesting to see if he finally gets a full and healthy roster to work with.