Cincinnati Reds: Three free agent relievers the team should pursue

With starting pitching being the biggest flaw on the Cincinnati Reds team, little attention has been paid to what improvements could be made in the bullpen.

So much attention has been paid to which starting pitchers the Cincinnati Reds should pursue this offseason, that we’ve neglected to look at what relief pitchers could help the team in 2019. While starting pitching is important, in today’s game having a solid bullpen may be more important than ever.

It used to be that a team could trot out their starter for 5-7 innings and hand the game over to the bullpen for the final few outs. Now we’re seeing relievers come into the game in third, fourth, and fifth inning by design. Heck, the Milwaukee Brewers started Wade Miley in the NLCS and he only pitched to one batter.

Times have changed and “bullpenning” is a real thing. With the Reds appearing to turn the corner as an organization and focus more on analytics, could we see a shift in philosophy? Derek Johnson, the new Reds pitching coach, was in that same dugout that trotted Miley out to the mound to face just one batter.

While starting pitching is still important, there’s no way the Reds can minimize the importance of a good bullpen. They’ve already shown their willingness to invest in relievers with the extension of Raisel Iglesias just last week. Iglesias signed a 3 year/ $24.1 MM contract extension just before Thanksgiving.

The Cincinnati Reds have a solid bullpen, especially on the back end. Jared Hughes, David Hernández, Raisel Iglesias, and Michael Lorenzen are locks to be part of the Reds pen in 2019. Although, there is a possibility that Lorenzen could find himself as part of the starting rotation.

The Reds bullpen may have been their biggest team asset last season. While the team’s hitting was no slouch, the relievers more than held up their end of the bargain in 2018 and will be heavily relied upon again in 2019. Players like Sal Romano, Robert Stephenson, and Cody Reed may find a home in the bullpen next season, but the Reds should still be in the market for an upgrade as well.

Jesse Chavez was just signed the Texas Rangers, so the market is beginning to heat up. With that, who’s available in free agency that could help the Reds out of the bullpen. There are several options, but we’re going to take a look at three options that could really help the Reds next season.

Tyler Clippard, RHP

Tyler Clippard, the 33-year-old from Lexington, Kentucky had a very nice year in 2018. The big right-hander played in 72 games last game, had 7 saves, and 3.67 ERA. After playing the majority of his career with the Washington Nationals, Clippard bounced around with several teams over the last couple of years.

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Clippard visited every division of the American League last season, as he played for the New York Yankees, Houston Astros, and Chicago White Sox. Clippard’s best seasons, however, were with the Washington Nationals.

In 2011 Clippard was selected to his first All-Star Game. That year, Clippard went 3-0 through 81 innings of work and maintained a 1.83 ERA and an ERA+ of 2.09. Clippard’s SO9 that season was 10.6, just below his career-best of 11.1 the year before.

Clippard would find himself in the closer’s role for the Nets the following year and record 32 saves. That would be his only season in that role, as his walks increased that during that season and his strikeout numbers took a tumble.

Clippard did recover, however, and returned to his All-Star form in 2014 when he appeared in 75 games and posted a 2.18 ERA. That would be his last season in the Nation’s Capital, as Clippard moved on to Oakland the following year.

Tyler Clippard has a fastball that hovers in the mid-90’s, and with a career-strikeout rate of 10.0 he definitely has the tools to get opposing batters out. Clippard also has a very awkward delivery that can be deceptive to his opponents.

Clippard earned just $1.5 million with the Blue Jays last season, so it’s plausible to see him signing a relatively cheap contract this offseason as well. If the Cincinnati Reds are looking for a consistent reliever who can give them 60-plus innings of relief work out of the pen, Clippard may be their guy. Keep a close watch on his name as the offseason unfolds.

Kelvin Herrera, RHP

Sometimes a change of scenery can be a good thing. Unfortunately, for Kelvin Herrera, last year’s trade to the Washington Nationals didn’t give the right-hander a boost. Maybe a change to Cincinnati would do the former World Champion well.

Herrera, up until last season, had spent his entire career with the Kansas City Royals. He was traded to the Washington Nationals during the middle of 2018 and that didn’t go too well. Herrera had a 1.05 ERA during his 27 games with KC, but couldn’t keep it below 4.00 during his time with the Nats.

Herrera went down in August with an injury to the Lisfranc ligament in his left foot. The injury required surgery and a timetable for Herrera’s return is unknown. To be honest though, if it weren’t for the injury, Herrera would’ve been able to command a HUGE contract and been out of the Cincinnati Reds price range.

As it is, Herrera may still yet be out of the Reds price range, as MLB Trade Rumors predicts him to get a one-year $8 MM contract. Would the Reds spend that kind of money on a reliever? Maybe, especially considering it’s just a one year investment.

Herrera feels like a long shot, but perhaps one Cincinnati should inquire about if the price is right. The back end of the bullpen with the likes of Raisel Iglesias, Jared Hughes, and Herrera could be terrifying for opposing teams.

Anything the Reds can do to shorten the game for their starters would be a bonus. Unless Cincinnati severely updates their starting rotation, the bullpen will likely be heavily relied upon again this season. Having a weapon like Herrera, even for one year, could give the Reds a handful of wins they might otherwise not have.