3 relievers who’ve moved up the Reds' trust tree, 2 who’ve already moved down

The Cincinnati Reds bullpen has come out firing this season. There were plenty of questions surrounding the Reds' relief corps before the season began, but even without one of their best bullpen arms (Alexis Diaz), Cincinnati's group of relievers have held their own through the first two weeks of the 2025 season.

But relief pitchers are a fickle bunch. One week they can look unstoppable, only to turn around a week later and watch half a dozen balls leave the yard. Oftentimes there's a reliever or two who managers would normally feel comfortable going to in high-leverage moments, but then a sudden downturn in production can leave a sour taste in the skipper's mouth.

With that in mind, let's take a look at five of the eight Reds relievers Cincinnati has used this season. Which three have moved up the Reds' trust tree, and which two have broken some branches on their way down?

3 relievers who’ve moved up the Reds' trust tree

Emilio Pagán, Reds pitcher

After Ian Gibaut's implosion on Opening Day, Reds manager Terry Francona needed to find a reliable reliever to plug into late-game situations. So far, Emilio Pagán has been that guy. The Reds signed Pagán to a two-year, $16 million deal last offseason, and are seeing that contract pay off in the early-going this season. While the Reds still haven't settled on a closer, Pagán is one of two pitchers likely to get the ball in the ninth inning with a lead. Pagán recorded his second save of the season on Tuesday.

Tony Santillan, Reds pitcher

The other player who could fill Diaz's shoes while the Reds' closer is on the IL is Tony Santillan. The hulking right-handed hurler helped Hunter Greene get out of a jam on Monday night in San Francisco and has been Francona's fireman so far this season. Santillan has been pumping strikes into the zone with regularity, and may eventually usurp Diaz as the Reds' regular closer.

Graham Ashcraft, Reds pitcher

Graham Ashcraft spent his first few Major League seasons in the Reds rotation, but it felt as if he was always destined for the bullpen. The Reds made the switch shortly before Opening Day, and the results have been fantastic. During Tuesday night's win in the Bay Area, Ashcraft worked two high-leverage innings and put zeroes up on the scoreboard. Through his first five outings as a reliever, Ashcraft has yet to allow a run.

2 relievers who’ve already moved down the Reds' trust tree

Sam Moll, Reds pitcher

One the other side of the coin is Sam Moll. Thought to be the Reds' shutdown southpaw this year, Moll has struggled to begin the season. The lefty never really looked right during spring training, and one has to wonder if Moll is nursing an ailment; he ended last season on the IL with a shoulder injury. At the moment, he's still on the active roster, but there's no way Francona can turn to Moll during crucial stages late in games.

Scott Barlow, Reds pitcher

Much like fellow reliever Taylor Rogers, the Cincinnati faithful were curious to see how Scott Barlow would perform after joining the Reds this offseason. Through the first 10-plus games of the season, Barlow has been used nearly as much as Santillan, but the right-hander has struggled to find the plate. Barlow has twice as many walks as strikeouts in the early-going, and at the moment, would seem to be more of a mid-tier reliever than a stalwart option who Francona can turn to with the game on the line.