The Cincinnati Reds made the postseason in 2025 for the first time in a full season since 2013, finishing with an 83-79 record before falling to the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Wild Card Series.

Now they are looking to improve their bullpen depth, and they have found their man in veteran reliever Caleb Ferguson.

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Ferguson Heads to Cincinnati

Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was first to report the news on Tuesday afternoon.

“Free-agent left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson in agreement with Reds, pending physical,” Rosenthal reported.

The deal is a one-year contract, according to Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer. Ferguson spent the 2025 season split between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners, and he put together a solid campaign while appearing in a career-high 70 games.

The 29-year-old posted a 3.58 ERA with 51 strikeouts across 65.1 innings, recording 14 holds along the way.

For his career, Ferguson owns a 3.66 ERA with 365 strikeouts in 327 innings pitched over seven MLB seasons.

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He has played for the Dodgers, Yankees, Astros, Pirates, and Mariners, so the Reds will be his sixth organization.

Why This Signing Makes Sense

Cincinnati desperately needed a left-handed option in the bullpen after buying out Brent Suter at the start of the offseason.

That move left Sam Moll as the only lefty reliever on the roster, and he struggled to a 16 runs allowed across just 18.1 MLB innings in 2025 while bouncing between Triple-A and the big leagues.

The Reds could not go into the season relying on Moll as their primary left-handed arm out of the pen.

Ferguson gives Terry Francona a proven middle-relief option who can get outs against both left-handed and right-handed hitters.

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He was especially tough on lefties in 2025, holding them to a .184/.261/.204 line with zero home runs allowed in 115 plate appearances.

His average fastball velocity remained steady at 94 MPH, and he showed improved command by mixing in a sinker more often against same-side hitters.

What Could Come Next for Cincinnati

The Ferguson signing addresses one need, but the Reds still have plenty of work to do this offseason.

They missed out on their top target when Ohio native Kyle Schwarber re-signed with the Philadelphia Phillies on a five-year, $150 million deal.

Cincinnati reportedly offered around $125 million for Schwarber, but it was not enough to bring the slugger home.

The Reds have been linked to Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte and Tampa Bay Rays infielder Brandon Lowe as potential trade targets to boost their lineup.

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They ranked just 14th in MLB with 4.42 runs per game in 2025, which is not great for a team that plays half its games at one of the most hitter-friendly parks in baseball.

Cincinnati also re-signed closer Emilio Pagán to a two-year, $20 million deal earlier this month, so the back end of the bullpen is set.

Adding Ferguson gives them another quality arm in the middle innings, and the Reds could still look to bring in more help before Opening Day as they try to make another playoff push in 2026.