1 key acquisition that would complete the Reds' bullpen renovations

After signing Buck Farmer to a one-year/$2.25-million contract, the Reds bullpen is well on its way to becoming the best group of relief pitchers Cincinnati has employed in quite some time.

Adding Farmer to the mix gives the Cincinnati Reds another solid middle reliever to partner with Emilio Pagán and Ian Gibaut. The backend of the Reds bullpen is likely to be comprised of Alexis Diaz, Lucas Sims, Fernando Cruz, and Sam Moll.

But Cincinnati needs one more arm to help push the Reds' relief corps to the top of the National League Central Division. Adding a left-handed reliever to pair with Moll is almost essential, and former Archbishop Moeller pitcher Brent Suter would be a perfect fit.

Adding Brent Suter would complete the Reds' bullpen renovations

The Cincinnati Reds are one left-handed pitcher away from turning their supposed weakness heading into the 2023 season into the team's biggest strength heading into the 2024 season. Brent Suter fits that mold.

Suter is skilled lefty who's appeared in 50 or more games in each of the last three seasons. The left-hander pitches to contact, and is one of the best in the business when it comes to keeping the ball on the ground.

Last season, according to Baseball Savant, Suter was among the 97th-percentile or higher in average exit velocity, barrel-rate, and hard hit-rate. Suter also posted a 46.9-percent ground ball-rate, which ranked among the 72nd-percentile.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell could deploy Sam Moll in high-leverage situations when he needed a left-hander on the mound and turn to Brent Suter when there's a favorable left-on-left matchup midway through the game or he's in need of a ground ball double-play.

The Reds would still have pitchers like Tejay Antone, Alex Young, Daniel Duarte, Casey Legumina, Carson Spiers, and Levi Stoudt available to yo-yo back and forth between the major and minor leagues in the event of injuries.

Reiver Sanmartin is recovering from Tommy John surgery and the aforementioned Young has reverse splits. Signing Suter should be atop Nick Krall's list as the Hot Stove has been reignited following the holiday break.