Nick Krall's comments signal obvious reunion after Reds-Yankees trade weakens bullpen

Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall took a gamble in the Jose Trevino trade with the New York Yankees. He chose to deal Fernando Cruz, thinning out the bullpen, in hopes that Trevino’s framing skills and leadership would help the entire pitching staff. The departure of Cruz, though, all but necessitates another move to bolster the ‘pen. Luckily, Krall could extend an invite to Buck Farmer for a reunion.

Farmer himself was a risk the Reds took back in 2022. The club signed the righty to a Minor League contract, and he returned the favor by forcing his way onto the big-league club. In his three seasons in Cincy, Farmer has performed any role the Reds have asked of him: opener, closer, long relief, setup man, and more. This is the kind of flexibility that Cincy could use heading into 2025.

To fill out the bullpen, the Reds could turn to a familiar face: Buck Farmer

Earlier this winter, Cincinnati locked in returning players Brent Suter and Emilio Pagán, but both dealt with significant injuries in 2024. Farmer stepped up in their stead, logging 71 innings over 61 games.

In fact, Farmer has been a stalwart, durable presence for years. The only time he has hit the IL was in August 2020 when he dealt with a groin strain. As a result, Farmer ranks 36th among active players in games played; all but seven of the players ahead of him are older than he is.

The Reds will need such consistency in 2025. The projected bullpen will rely on Roansy Contreras, whom Cincy claimed off waivers; rookie Yosver Zulueta; and Carson Spiers, who is prone to implosion.

Even if Graham Ashcraft joins the bullpen, a reliable, middle relief veteran would be an asset, and Krall seems eager to make it happen, stating to MLB.com's Alex Stumpf, "It was a tough thing to do, but we felt with the scarcity in the catching market, this is something we had to make, a trade out of the bullpen. If we can add a bullpen guy, that would be great.”

Luckily for the penny-pinching Reds, Farmer could probably be had for below market value. Cincy signed Suter on a one-year, $2.5 million deal with a $3 million club option for 2026. Farmer, who is a few years younger and healthier, could still be had for around $3 million. Considering Krall’s desire to control payroll, Farmer should be a no-brainer.

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