GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds bullpen spots were already filling up before Spring Training kicked off, yet another veteran arm officially joined the group on Thursday when Scott Barlow signed his one-year, $2.5 million contract. It includes a $6.5 million club option for 2026 ($1 million buyout).
¡°You know the old adage, ¡®When you think you have enough pitching, go get more,¡¯" Reds manager Terry Francona said.
Barlow has closing experience and his presence could push incumbent closer Alexis D¨ªaz, or at least provide an alternative when D¨ªaz isn't available.
"He¡¯s a guy with leverage, back-end experience which can be really helpful," Francona said
Cincinnati agreed to terms with Barlow on Tuesday, and finalized the deal after he passed his physical. To clear a spot on the 40-man roster, right-handed pitcher Julian Aguiar was placed on the 60-day injured list. Aguiar is still working his way back from October Tommy John surgery.
Barlow, 32, was 3-3 with a 4.25 ERA in 63 appearances last season with the Guardians before he was designated for assignment and released in mid-September. It was viewed as a down year for the right-hander, who saw the velocity on his sinker and four-seam fastball drop about two miles per hour from 2023, and four miles per hour from his peak season in 2021.
¡°We scouted him this offseason," president of baseball operations Nick Krall said. "He regained some of the velocity. He¡¯s a guy who has pitched on the back end and we also think there¡¯s room to get better ¨C even though he¡¯s an older guy. He had a down year last year, but was still a productive reliever. If he can regain some of the form that he had in Kansas City [from 2018-22], then he¡¯s got some room to run. He¡¯s just a quality addition to our ¡®pen.¡±
Over his seven-year big league career with the Royals, Padres and Guardians, Barlow has a 3.49 ERA in 365 games.
The 2021-22 seasons with Kansas City were Barlow's two best, as he posted a combined 2.30 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 40 saves in 140 games. That stretch also included a career-best mark of 24 saves in 2022.
In January, the Reds also acquired former closer and All-Star lefty Taylor Rogers in a trade with the Giants. Rogers had a career-high 31 saves in 2022 with the Brewers and Padres. Both could provide closing depth behind D¨ªaz, who endured some command issues while saving 28 games in ¡®24 following an All-Star season with 37 saves in 2023.
Barring injury, the Reds appear to have seven of their eight bullpen spots potentially covered with D¨ªaz, Rogers, Barlow, Emilio Pag¨¢n, Sam Moll, Brent Suter and Tony Santillan. That would leave several pitchers and non-roster invitees to compete for the final spot.
Cincinnati also added another former Royals reliever on Tuesday in Josh Staumont, who agreed to a Minor League contract with an invitation to Spring Training. Staumont, who was with Kansas City from 2019-23, had a 3.70 ERA in 25 games and 24 1/3 innings for the Twins last season before being released in August. He was picked up by the Cubs but did not pitch for them in the big leagues, then was released again.