Reds 'simplifying' broadcast booth, don't renew Jim Kelch

There will be one fewer voice on Reds broadcasts as the team did not renew the contract of Jim Kelch for 2018.

Kelch, 59, had been with the team since the 2010 season, serving on both radio and television broadcasts.

“Our goal is mostly to simplify, fewer people doing games,” said Karen Forgus, the Reds’ senior vice president of business operations.

Kelch was a Reds employee, as are Marty Brennaman, Thom Brennaman and Jeff Brantley. Forgus said all three are under contract for 2018. The Reds are in the process of re-evaluating their broadcast team.

Kelch was informed last month that his contract was not being renewed.

“They simply told me that with Marty (Brennaman) nearing the finish line that they were going to go in another direction in setting up the person who was going to follow him and I was not that person, so they were not renewing my contract,” Kelch told The Enquirer.

According to Forgus, the team is not actively seeking Brennaman’s replacement but did say the team had identified that it would not be Kelch.

Brennaman has been working on one-year contracts each of the last three seasons and is returning for 2018. Forgus said the Reds want Brennaman to continue as long as possible.

Kelch joined the Reds in December of 2009 after 21 years as the lead radio and TV play-by-play announcer for Triple-A Louisville. Kelch continues to serve as the play-by-play voice for Northern Kentucky University men’s basketball.

“For me, it's simply trying to find another job in baseball and if that doesn't work out, finding another job period,” Kelch said. “I enjoyed my eight years with the Reds and they were the best years of my working life. But that's behind me now and I have to move on and try to do something else and I hope something good works out.”