How much will it cost the Reds to re-sign Buck Farmer?
The Cincinnati Reds have 11 players who will eligible for arbitration during the offseason. All players with more than three years of service time, but less than six qualify.
Among those players on the Reds roster is reliever Buck Farmer. The right-hander is actually in the final year of his arbitration window.
Farmer was signed to a one-year contract last offseason after spending his entire career with the Detroit Tigers. Though Farmer was designated for assignment at one point last season, the veteran righted the ship while at Triple-A Louisville and could be back in 2023. How much will it cost the Reds to re-sign Buck Farmer?
How much will it cost the Reds to re-sign Buck Farmer?
According to MLB Trade Rumors, Buck Farmer should expect a salary somewhere in the neighborhood of $1.4M next season. Farmer is actually one of six relief pitchers on the Cincinnati Reds roster who'll be up for arbitration this winter.
In addition to Farmer, Jeff Hoffman, Lucas Sims, Tejay Antone, Derek Law, and Luis Cessa will all be receiving a raise in 2023 if they're tendered a contract. Cessa could be in the mix for a spot in the starting rotation.
At $1.4M, Farmer could be a very inexpensive piece of the bullpen for David Bell next season. With Art Warren out for the 2023 season following elbow surgery, and so many other relievers returning from injury, it would be wise for the Redlegs to re-sign Farmer during the offseason.
The right-hander posted a 3.83 ERA on the season, but after his stint in the minor leagues, Farmer was one of the most reliable relievers in the Cincinnati bullpen. Farmer posted a 2.83 ERA over his final 35 innings of work in 2022 and struck out 26.4% of the batters he faced.
Bringing back Buck Farmer seems like a no-brainer. Not only did the 31-year-old put up good numbers, but his salary will be a virtual bargain if he produces at the same level in 2023.