The Cincinnati Reds have agreed to a one-year, $2.5 million contract with reliever Scott Barlow, according to ESPN’s Jesse Rogers. The deal is pending a physical.
The 32-year-old right-hander posted a 4.25 ERA over 63 games with the Cleveland Guardians last season and holds a career 3.49 ERA across 387 innings. Barlow was among the top back-end relievers in the American League in 2021 and 2022, recording a 2.30 ERA and 40 saves over 140 appearances.
Adding Scott Barlow strengthens the Reds’ bullpen, providing a reliable option for the seventh or eighth inning. Barlow excelled in multiple pitching metrics last season, as per Baseball Savant, posting a 32.6% groundball rate, a 33.6% hard-hit rate, a 32.6% whiff rate, and an average exit velocity of 86.2 mph. With 68 strikeouts over 55 innings, the Reds secured him at a great value. His ability to generate swings and misses makes him a strong replacement for free-agent reliever Buck Farmer.
Barlow’s effectiveness comes from his slider, which produces a high whiff rate, along with his fastball, curve, and sinker to keep hitters off balance.
While the Reds didn’t make any blockbuster acquisitions, they made several key moves, adding infielder Gavin Lux, All-Star reliever Taylor Rogers, and outfielder Austin Hays. The hiring of manager Terry Francona signals their commitment to improvement after a challenging 2024 season. Despite financial constraints, the Reds had a productive offseason, strengthening both their lineup and bullpen to stay competitive.
With Barlow joining Rogers, the Reds now have a solid bullpen trio. Meanwhile, their starting rotation for 2025 is expected to feature Hunter Greene, Nick Martinez, Andrew Abbott, Nick Lodolo, and rookie Rhett Lowder.
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