The Cincinnati Reds found an ideal free agent pitcher after Opening Day.
Andrew Chafin is the newest Cincy bullpen candidate.
Local television reporter Charlie Goldsmith shared on X on Friday night that the Reds have signed Chafin to a minor league deal.
Chafin spent Spring Training with the Minnesota Twins but was released from his contract when he didn’t make their Opening Day roster.
He’s a long-time MLB stalwart, a mustachioed left-hander from the small town of Collins, Ohio and then Kent State University in the MAC.
The Arizona Diamondbacks picked Chafin in the first round of the 2011 MLB Draft, and he’s hung around ever since.
In his career, Chafin has a 3.35 ERA in 643 MLB appearances.
More recently, Chafin put up a 2.41 ERA in the 2025 season across 42 appearances between the Nationals and the Angels.
All told, he has pitched for the Nats, Angels, Diamondbacks, Tigers, Cubs, Athletics, Rangers and Brewers.
Chafin averages 9.8 strikeouts per nine innings in his MLB career.
As a southpaw, Chafin has often been used as a left-handed specialist, although the three-batter minimum rule limits the ability to do that quite as much.
Chafin is also 35 years old, turning 36 in June.
But he was great last season, and it’s logical for the Reds to think he’s still got some outs left in the tank.
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