Reds flip expectations by striking new deal with likely non-tender candidate

The Cincinnati Reds were expected to non-tender relief pitcher Sam Moll ahead of Friday's deadline, but instead, the two sides agreed to a one-year deal worth $875,000. According to MLB insider Jon Heyman, the agreement also includes up to $150,00 in incentives.

Moll was a valuable addition to the Reds at the 2023 MLB trade deadline, and after putting up fine stats in 2024, really struggled last season. Moll made just 23 appearances out of the Reds bullpen in 2025 and posted a rather unsightly 6.38 ERA and 5.21 FIP.

By holding on to Moll, however, Cincinnati at least retained lone left-handed reliever remaining on their 40-man roster. The Reds chose to decline Brent Suter's team-option for the 2026 season, but with Moll back in the fold, Cincinnati has at least one southpaw they can turn to in relief. If Moll returns to his 2024 form, this could be quite the bargain for the Reds front office.

Reds flip expectations by striking new deal with left-handed pitcher Sam Moll

Moll came to Cincinnati by way of a trade deadline deal with the then-Oakland Athletics in 2023. Cincinnati was in need of a left-handed reliever and sent former fifth-round draft pick Joe Boyle to Oakland in exchange for diminutive lefty. After joining the Reds, Moll logged 24⅔ innings and posted an impressive 0.73 ERA.

Moll then went on to have a solid season in 2024 with a 3.35 ERA and 38 strikeouts over 37⅔ innings. This past season, however, Moll was hampered by lack of production and injury, but obviously Cincinnati's front office feels he can bounce back in 2026.

In addition to signing Moll to a new deal, the Reds chose not to tender contracts to catcher Will Banfield, and pitchers Carson Spiers and Roddery Muñoz. Spiers was recently DFA'd and Muñoz only joined the roster a couple weeks back. It would seem that every other pre-arb and arbitration-eligible on the 40-man roster was tendered a contract for next season.