CINCINNATI -- Amid a flurry of transactions made on Friday, the Reds brought back left-handed reliever Brent Suter with a one-year, $2.5 million contract that includes a $3 million club option for 2026 that has a $250,000 buyout.

In the procedural move, Cincinnati officially declined Suter's $3.5 million 2025 option and gave him the $250,000 buyout. The team also declined the $3.5 million option on backup catcher Luke Maile. Meanwhile, right-handed pitcher Nick Martinez exercised the opt-out clause in his contract to become a free agent.

A Cincinnati resident, the 35-year-old Suter had a 3.15 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP and two saves in 47 games during his first season with his hometown team. He was second among the club's relievers with 63 1/3 innings. He also pitched 2 1/3 innings over three starts when used as an opener and made a pair of 3 1/3-inning relief appearances. Suter missed six weeks from July 20-Sept. 1 with a partial tear of the left teres major muscle.

It's expected that Suter will fill a similar versatile bullpen role next season.

¡°Any time we gave him the ball, he took it in different roles and different settings, and he was comfortable in everything," Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall said. "A good veteran presence on the team as well.¡±

Also from Greater Cincinnati as a Northern Kentucky native, Maile batted .178 with a .520 OPS and two homers in 53 games as Tyler Stephenson's backup behind the plate. The 33-year-old Maile, who earned $3 million in 2024 during his second season with the Reds, was regarded for how he worked with the pitching staff and also emerged as a veteran leader in the clubhouse.

A return for Maile is still possible.

¡°I¡¯m not ruling anything out going into the offseason. We¡¯re just trying to work through what that market looks like," Krall said.

The Reds have yet to finalize their budget for next season. When asked, Krall said the decisions on Suter and Maile were not an indication that payroll would be reduced.

¡°This was a decision we had to make in conjunction with the option. It was something we were able to do now," Krall said. "We¡¯re still working through our payroll.¡±

The decision to opt-out was made by Martinez -- who signed a two-year, $26 million contract last December -- and expected one after his strong one season for the Reds. In 42 games, including 16 starts, the 34-year-old was 10-7 with a 3.10 ERA. In 11 starts since returning to the rotation on Aug. 5, he posted a 2.42 ERA and a 0.83 ERA over his final five starts.

Now the Reds have their own decision to make about Martinez. The deadline for teams to extend the $21.05 million qualifying offer is 5 p.m. ET on Monday. The deadline to accept a qualifying offer is 4 p.m. ET on Nov. 19.

Right-handed pitcher Jakob Junis also declined his $8 million mutual option and will get a $3 million buyout. Maile's buyout was worth $500,000. Junis -- who was acquired from the Brewers with Joey Wiemer in the July 30 trade for starting pitcher Frankie Montas -- had a 2.85 ERA in 14 games that included five starts for Cincinnati.

In other moves, first baseman Ty France and outfielder Nick Martini elected to become free agents instead of accepting an outright assignment to Triple-A Louisville.

France, who was acquired from the Mariners for Minor League pitcher Andruw Salcedo on July 29 and earned $6.775 million in 2024, was eligible for a raise via arbitration. After he struggled with Seattle, France batted .251 with a .683 OPS and five home runs over 52 games for the Reds.

The Reds still have Christian Encarnacion-Strand, Jeimer Candelario and Spencer Steer among those who can play first base.

In 81 games over 2023-24 with the Reds, Martini batted .229 with a .731 OPS and 11 homers.

The Reds also reinstated right-handed reliever Tejay Antone and catcher Austin Wynns from the 60-day injured list and sent them outright to Louisville. Antone, who is recovering from his third Tommy John surgery on his elbow, accepted his assignment.

Finally, Minor League right-hander Christian Roa was claimed off of waivers by the Marlins.

Even without a payroll figure ironed out, Krall will be in talks with clubs and agents next week during the General Managers Meetings in San Antonio.

¡°We¡¯ll touch base with everybody when we get there, just try to figure out what everybody else is doing and start the process of working on how to improve the club," Krall said.