The Cincinnati Reds and veteran reliever Caleb Ferguson recently agreed to a one-year, $4.5 million contract for the 2026 MLB season. Ferguson, a 29-year-old southpaw, pitched to a 3.58 ERA across 70 total appearances with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Seattle Mariners in 2025. 

Ferguson, who has also previously pitched for the Los Angeles Dodgers, has spent time in both big and small markets. So, what led to the left-hander deciding to join the Reds?

"New Reds reliever Caleb Ferguson said that the Reds were one of the first teams to reach out," reporter Charlie Goldsmith shared on X (formerly Twitter). "He saw an opportunity to pitch in certain spots, he said the team looked like fun and he grew up a Reds fan. When he spoke with Terry Francona, he could feel the excitement from the manager."

Francona's excitement seemingly played a role in Ferguson's decision to sign with Cincinnati. Of course, Francona is one of the greatest managers in recent memory, so it is not surprising that the reliever would have interest in playing for him.

Ferguson knew the Reds needed another left-handed reliever on the roster. The 29-year-old seems to be open to being used in "different spots" out of the bullpen.

"The runway with the bullpen having one lefty, now two, one before I signed there, it’s a chance to get put in some different spots," Ferguson said, via Goldsmith. "Watching the team last year, it looked like a lot of fun going down the stretch there. Everybody plays this game hoping for the chance to win. In my situation, this is my best chance to try to win some ball games."

Cincinnati won't be a World Series favorite, but the Reds could realistically compete in the National League Central. They finished with a 77-85 record in 2025. While their record placed them in fourth place in the division, Cincinnati could at least make a Wild Card run with a few more victories in 2026. 

Adding a veteran such as Ferguson will only help matters. His proven experience and veteran prowess should give the ball club's bullpen a significant boost. 

Now the question becomes whether or not the Reds will sign any superstars this offseason. They have been linked to some fairly big name free agents, but Cincinnati has yet to bring in any especially notable names.

There is still plenty of time before spring training, however.