CINCINNATI (WKRC) — The Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday announced a series of offseason roster moves, declining contract options on three players.
The club declined the 2026 team option for right-handed pitcher Scott Barlow, the 2026 mutual option for outfielder Austin Hays, and the 2026 team option for left-handed pitcher Brent Suter.
All three players are now free agents.
Barlow appeared in 75 games and was 6-2 with a 4.21 ERA. He struck out 75 batters in 68 and 1/3 innings and notched a save. Barlow threw an inning and a third against the Los Angeles Dodgers in the postseason, striking out all four batters he faced.
Hays struggled to stay healthy last season, playing in 103 games (40 of those as the designated hitter) with 380 at-bats. He hit .266 with 15 HR, 64 RBI and seven stolen bases in as many attempts.
The 26-year-old Suter, a Moeller High School alumnus, is 42-24 with a 3.57 ERA over 348 games in a 10-year career. But he was 1-2 with a 4.52 ERA this season in 48 games, including three starts, and he struggled to a 7.36 ERA after the All-Star break. Suter was the winner of Major League Baseball’s 2025 Marvin Miller Man of the Year Award, recognizing his leadership and community impact off the field.
With the moves, the Reds’ 40-man roster stands at 32 players.