February 13 : The Reds officially announced Barlows deal today. Right-hander was transferred to the 60-day IL in a corresponding move. Aguiar had Tommy John surgery in October and will likely mi s the entire 2025 season. Per , Barlows deal breaks down as a $1.5MM salary and $1MM buyout on a $6.5MM club option for 2026. February 11 : The Reds and free agent reliever are in agreement on a one-year, $2.5MM contract, Je se Rogers of ESPN. The Warner Sports clients agreement is still pending the completion of a physical. Barlow, 32, was brilliant for the Royals from 2021-22, pitching to a combined 2.30 earned run average with a 28.2% strikeout rate against an 8.4% walk rate en route to tallying 40 saves and 20 holds. Hes taken a couple steps back in the two seasons since, providing a still-serviceable 4.32 ERA but diminished velocity and strikeout/walk rates that have trended in the wrong direction. The Guardians, who had MLBs best bullpen in 2024, wound up designating Barlow for a signment and releasing him in mid-September. Hed have been postseason-ineligible with a new club at that point and was ticketed to go back into free agency following the season, so he didnt end up signing with a new club. Last years 91.4 mph average four-seamer with the Guardians was a career-low for Barlow, sitting nearly four miles per hour shy of his average 95.3 mph from 2021. Since Opening Day 2023, hes fanned 27% of his opponents against a 12% walk rate while suiting up for Kansas City, San Diego and Cleveland. Even with the reduced velocity and worsening command, there are still positives to take away from Barlows 2024 season. His 13.5% swinging-strike rate remained comfortably north Moses Brown Jersey of the 11.5% league average. He doesnt induce chases off the plate as much as he did at his peak. His opponents contact rate when they do chase is south of 41%, placing him in the top-10 of all 169 qualified big league relievers in that department. His opponents 83.9% contact rate on pitches in the strike zone is also a couple percentage points shy of average. Barlows four-seamer and sinker dont have the life they used to, but his slider and curveball both mi s bats at super premium rates and induce weak contact when opponents do put bat to ball. Beyond those sharp breaking pitches and their ability to mi s bats, Barlow offers a simpler benefit to manager Terry Francona: durability. The right-hander made his big league debut late in 2018 and has never been on the major league injured list. Hes made at least 61 appearances in each of the past five 162-game seasons and pitched in more than half the Royals 60 games (32) during the shortened 2020 campaign. Perhaps that heavy workload has contributed to his declining velocity, but Barlow is as durable as it gets for a reliever these days. Since 2019, only has appeared in more games than Barlows 359, and no reliever has more innings than Barlows 372. Barlow will slot into a setup role in a reshaped Cincinnati bullpen. will reprise his role as closer, but setup man was sent to the Yankees in exchange for catcher . The Reds picked up in a late trade with the Giants, too. Newcomers Rogers and Barlow will join holdovers Diaz, , , and . The final couple spots in the pen will likely be determined in spring training. Former starters and are among the favorites Spiers likely in swingman role but the Reds have and on the 40-man roster vying for spots as well (if Richardson isnt in the Triple-A rotation). Non-roster options in camp include , , , and Francona favorite (from their days in Cleveland) . Enes Kanter Jersey