Report: Reds have expressed interest in long-term deal for Scooter Gennett

Credit: DaytonDailyNews

Will Scooter Gennett still be a Cincinnati Red at the end of the month?

That is a question that has been asked for much of the season, and it might have a new answer — one a lot of fans will probably like.

"Just from the talks that I've had with the guys in control of all those things, I feel like they want me here. I feel like, just from what I've been told, they want me here for the long term," Gennett told MLB.com on Friday. "What I'm getting is [CEO Bob Castellini] wants me here for a while. When it comes to all of the trade stuff, it would be going against what I've been hearing." 

Gennett, a Lebanon native, is having his second straight great season with the Reds.

This one earned him a trip to the All-Star Game.

He has become both a fan favorite and a potentially valuable trade chip along the way, and Reds general manager Nick Krall was noncommittal in the same story from MLB.com

"If there is something out there that makes your club better going into the future and long haul, you have to explore every possibility. With that said, he's been one of the most productive players in the National League over the last year-and-a-half. We'd like him as part of this club. We think he's a valuable part of this club."

On Sunday, national baseball reporter Ken Rosenthal reported the Reds have had “minimal talks” about a contract extension.

As a native of Southwest Ohio, he has called getting to wear a Reds uniform a dream come true and said he would like to be in Cincinnati for a long time.

However, the general assumption has been he (and others) would likely be traded as the team continues to add assets to build for the future.

RELATED: Gennett’s homecoming a bright spot for Reds

The team also will need to make room for top prospect Nick Senzel at some point, though not until next spring because he is out for the rest of the season after tearing a finger ligament.

Senzel can play multiple positions, and the possibility of moving Gennett to the outfield was floated earlier this season.

Making a long-term commitment to Gennett would certainly be a signal to fans the Reds believe they are done rebuilding after languishing in last place for most of the last four years.

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