Key member of the Reds bullpen returns on one-year deal

The Cincinnati Reds cut the number of arbitration-eligible players from 11 down to seven after waiving Aramis Garcia and designating Derek Law, Aristides Aquino, and Jeff Hoffman for assignment.

That number is now down to just six after relief pitcher Buck Farmer and the club agreed to terms on a one-year deal for the 2023 season. According to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, the deal is worth $1.75M.

Farmer, believe it or not, was one of Cincinnati's best relievers in 2022. After an awful start, the Reds designated Farmer for assignment. The right-hander worked on some mechanical issues while at Triple-A Louisville and was quite good during the second-half of the season.

Buck Farmer returns to the Reds bullpen on a one-year deal.

Today is the deadline for teams to tender contracts to players for the 2023 season. Not only did the Cincinnati Reds tender a contract to Buck Farmer, the two sides actually came to an agreement. MLB Trade Rumors, who's usually pretty good when it comes to estimating the value of arbitration-eligible players, pegged Farmer to take home approximately $1.4M in 2023.

Farmer signed a minor league deal with the Reds prior to last season, but the right-hander's first 10 appearances were dreadful. Farmer owned a 6.75 ERA over 12 innings of work. While the strikeout numbers were good, Farmer also walked seven batters. Cincinnati decided to DFA Farmer, but after going unclaimed, the veteran accepted an assignment to Triple-A Louisville.

Farmer turned his season, and perhaps his career path, around with that trip to the Derby City. Farmer posted a 3.63 ERA in 22.1 innings pitched and struck out 34 batters (37.0% strikeout-rate).

Farmer returned to Cincinnati on July 9th and brought that same level of performance back to the big leagues. Farmer closed out the 2022 season with a 2.83 ERA and a 26.4% strikeout-rate. Farmer was also not victimized by the long ball over the second-half of the season, and allowed just two round trippers all season.

With Buck Farmer now in the fold, the Reds have six more players who'll be up for arbitration this season. Most prominent among them are former first-round pick Nick Senzel and third baseman Kyle Farmer. Right-handers Tejay Antone, Lucas Sims, Luis Cessa, and Justin Dunn round out the list.