The Cincinnati Reds added veteran left-handed relief pitcher Caleb Ferguson this offseason. Ferguson brings a plethora of experience to Cincinnati, as he's pitched in the big leagues since 2018. The southpaw has spent time with the Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, Seattle Mariners and others in his career. So, why is he excited about joining the Reds?

During a recent interview, Ferguson -- who is from Columbus, Ohio -- discussed growing up in the area and going to Reds games. 

"It's cool, full circle moment for sure," Ferguson said, via Jeremy Rauch. "I grew up coming to these games, like, 2008 to like, 2014, which is when I got drafted, was kind of like my era of Reds baseball."

As mentioned, Ferguson has spent time with a number of other squads. Pitching under the bright lights of Los Angeles and New York is a different feel than Cincinnati. Ferguson will be more than ready to handle this opportunity given his previous experience in big markets. In fact, Ferguson may find even more success with the small market Reds as a result. 

Ferguson has been a quality left-handed reliever throughout his time in MLB. He's primarily worked out of the bullpen, making 333 total appearances with only 14 total starts. Ferguson holds a career ERA of 3.66.

Between pitching for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Mariners in 2025, Ferguson turned in a 3.58 ERA across 70 outings. After joining the Mariners during the season, Ferguson recorded a 3.27 ERA in his 25 appearances with Seattle. He played a role in helping the Mariners make a postseason run.

The 29-year-old entered free agency this offseason, and he surely had a number of teams to choose from. While he was not regarded as a superstar free agent, almost every team in baseball would not have minded adding a reliable veteran left-handed reliever. 

In the end, Ferguson agreed to a one-year contract with Cincinnati. 

For the Reds, it's an understandable move. If they compete -- which they seemingly hope to do -- Ferguson can help them make a legitimate postseason push. With that being said, if the scenario surfaces of the ball club underperforming, Ferguson can be traded at the deadline for prospects.

Given the fact that Ferguson is from Ohio, the Reds would likely prefer to keep him with the team throughout the season. It's a good story. However, they will need to make the best possible decision for the team. Nevertheless, a competitive run would surely keep Ferguson in Cincinnati all season long.