Reds first official offseason move hints at bigger bullpen shakeup

We're still a few days away from the official start of 2025-26 MLB offseason, but the Cincinnati Reds made their first move on Tuesday by activating Ian Gibaut from the 60-day IL and then outrighting him off the 40-man roster. The right-hander can now choose to accept the outright assignment and join the Louisville Bats roster, or reject it and enter free agency.

Gibaut entered spring training as a non-roster invitee, but performed well enough during the team's time in Goodyear to earn a spot on the Reds Opening Day roster. Gibaut, who's probably known best for blowing a save during the first game of the 2025 season against the San Francisco Giants, spent a considerable amount of time on the injured list this past season.

Gibaut suffered a right shoulder impingement during the first month of the season and was placed on the 15-day IL at the end of April. After about a month on the shelf, the veteran hurler rejoined the active roster, but then landed on the IL again at the end of June with a similar injury that would officially end his season. Gibaut's final line saw him make 25 relief appearances and post a 4.62 ERA.

Reds officially cut Ian Gibaut from 40-man roster with more move expected in the coming weeks

It's quite likely that Gibaut accepts the outright assignment from Cincinnati and remains with the organization during the offseason. With more than three years of service time, however, he can elect free agency and attempt to find a new home this winter

Gibaut's departure from the Reds 40-man roster is just the first of many shakeups the bullpen is set to endure this offseason. Nick Martinez and Emilio Pagán are both free agents, and the Reds need to make a determination about the impending futures of Scott Barlow and Brent Suter — both pitchers have club-options that Cincinnati can either exercise or decline.

Four other Reds relievers are also on the roster bubble. Lyon Richardson, Reiver Sanmartin, Sam Moll, and Yosver Zulueta all made contributions this past season, but it remains unclear whether or not Cincinnati will look to retain them heading into the upcoming offseason.

The Reds bullpen was one of the team's most surprising strengths in 2025, but the Cincinnati faithful should expect the relief corps to look a lot different when spring training begins next February.