The Reds have reportedly added reliever Caleb Ferguson to their 2026 roster. Ferguson, who came out of West Jefferson High School in Ohio a decade ago, will join the Reds and give manager Terry Francona another option against left-handed hitters next season.

A Look at Ferguson

Twenty-nine-year-old Caleb Ferguson spent 2025 split between the Mariners and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ferguson started the year with the Pirates and spent most of last season there. The Mariners acquired him for the stretch run, as Seattle traded Jeter Martinez to get him.

Ferguson had a very good overall season. The left-hander struck out 51 over 65.1 IP, along with a 3.58 ERA. He walked 22 and allowed just two home runs. His .3 HR/9 was tied for 10th-best among relievers (min. 30 GP) in the Majors last season, alongside now-teammate Graham Ashcraft.

However, in the playoffs, Ferguson gave up five earned runs over 2.2 IP.

The 2025 season was a different one, as far as his standards are concerned. Generally speaking, Ferguson put up mostly similar results against both left-handed and right-handed hitters. But this past season, the splits were a bit more stark.

Opposing left-handed hitters slashed .184/.261/.204 over 115 plate appearances. Against right-handed hitters (155 PA), opposing batters hit .263/.342/.376 off him.

Ferguson does have an interesting arsenal. He’s a four-pitch pitcher that has a low-to-mid-90s four-seamer, along with a sinker, cutter, and slurve. His sinker is generally reserved for left-handed hitters. The cutter, a centerpiece of his arsenal for years, is a pitch he’ll use against hitters from both sides.

However, one of his most recent additions to his arsenal has been the slurve. Back in his Dodgers days, Ferguson liked to use a low-to-high-70s curveball as his primary weapon against right-handed hitters. But after ditching the breaking ball, he began to incorporate a slurve, primarily used down and to the backfoot against righties.

It’s been an effective overall offering. Opposing batters hit just .208 off it last season, and it induced a lot of ground-balls (-4° mean LA).

Aside from a down 2024 season with the Yankees, who acquired him two winters ago but didn’t retain him for all of that year, Ferguson has been very effective at limiting quality contact. He finished 2025 with one of the best Barrel% (3.1%) in the Majors and has a heavy ground-ball lean.

Analysis

First off, it’s a homecoming for Ferguson, an Ohio-born pitcher.

Second, Ferguson did a very good job of working out of the bullpen for both the Pirates and Mariners, as mentioned previously. It’s hard to find pitchers who can keep the ball in the park — and Ferguson has largely checked that box.

Given that Great American Ballpark is a very hitter-friendly stadium, that’s a major bonus.

Third, Ferguson gives Terry Francona a reliable left-hander, something the Reds’ bullpen lacked heading into the year. Right now, the only left-handed pitchers on the 40-man roster are Nick Lodolo, Brandon Williamson, Andrew Abbott, and Sam Moll. Brent Suter was not retained before the start of free agency.

Moll is the only traditional reliever out of the bunch. He had a tough season in 2025, as he gave up four home runs and 13 earned runs over 18.1 IP last season. He also missed time this past year with a shoulder injury.

This is the second notable bullpen-related move by the Reds this winter. Last month, the Reds re-signed closer Emilio Pagan.

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