Ranking the available free agent relievers for the Reds after 2024 season

You can never have enough pitching, and the Cincinnati Reds should undoubtedly look to pursue some extra arms this offseason. The Reds could lose Buck Farmer, Nick Martinez, Jakob Junis, and Justin Wilson to free agency, and those four hurlers contributed over 200 innings last season.

Cincinnati should return the likes of Brent Suter, Fernando Cruz, Emilio Pagán, and Alexis Díaz in 2025, but more reinforcements will be necessary. How is the free agent market for relief pitchers shaping up, and who might the Reds target this winter?
*Editors Note: No impending Reds free agents are among those listed.

Ranking the available free agent relievers for Reds after 2024 season

6. Paul Sewald, RHP (Arizona Diamondbacks)

If you're looking for a bounce-back candidate, Paul Sewald is hoping for improvements in 2025 after enduring an injury-plagued campaign last season. Sewald began the year on the injured list with an oblique injury, and ended the 2024 season on the IL with neck discomfort. Sewald was a strikeout machine in 2022 and 2023, and the Reds could use another back-of-the-bullpen arm alongside Díaz next season.

5. Caleb Ferguson, RHP (Houston Astros)

Caleb Ferguson doesn't bring much in terms of velocity, but the southpaw offers one thing that Reds' fans will love — a high ground ball rate. Ferguson's 46.2% ground ball rate was among the 72nd percentile in 2024 per Baseball Savant, and that type of approach typically yields positive results while pitching at Great American Ball Park.

4. Keynan Middleton, RHP (St. Louis Cardinals)

This would be a bit of gamble on the part of the Reds, but that's what small-market teams like Cincinnati have to do. If the St. Louis Cardinals don't exercise their club-option, Middleton will hit the free agent market less than a year removed from season–ending surgery to repair his flexor tendon. If the Reds believe Middleton can return at some point next season and replicate his 2023 performance, Cincinnati should kick the tires on this potential signing.

3. T.J. McFarland, LHP (Oakland A's)

An outside-the-box free agent target Cincinnati should take a peek at this winter is T.J. McFarland. The soft-tossing southpaw has an unbelievable ground ball rate (59.4%) that would likely play very well inside the hitter-friendly confines of GABP.

2. Tim Hill, LHP (New York Yankees)

Another lefty who induces a ton of ground balls? Yes, please. Tim Hill, whose funky left-handed delivery played tricks on opposing batters all season, would be a perfect fit in the Reds bullpen next season. The left-hander is not going strikeout a ton of batters (10.7% K-rate), but he'll get a ton of ground balls (68.1 ground ball rate).

1. Jeff Hoffman, RHP (Philadelphia Phillies)

How about an unexpected reunion? Jeff Hoffman was a failed starter in Colorado, who later became a serviceable reliever in Cincinnati, and is now an All-Star reliever in Philadelphia. The 31-year-old will looking for a nice payday after posting terrific numbers the past two seasons. Hoffman has struck out over 33% of the batters he faced in both 2023 and 2024.