The Reds are loading up with veteran pitchers.
Manager Terry Francona says it all the time, “When you think you have enough pitching go get more.”
Nick Krall is doing that.
This week, Krall signed right handed reliever Scott Barlow, a pitcher with closing experience, who saw a decrease in velocity last season.
Francona and Krall are hoping Barlow returns to the closer form he had in Kansas City. The 32-year-old from New London, Connecticut was drafted in the sixth round by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2011 but was granted free agency without making it to the Majors. He broke in with Kansas City and amassed 56 saves in six seasons with his high of 24 in 2022.
Last year was tough for Barlow with 63 games for the Cleveland Guardians. He was 3-3 with two saves and a 4.25 ERA. He just could not find his velocity.
The Reds scouted him last season according to Krall. “We saw him in the off season. He worked hard to regain his velocity. We also see there is room to get better even though he’s an older guy. He had a down year last year but is still a productive reliever. If he can regain what he had in Kansas City, He’ll have some room for one.”
Francona’s Cleveland teams saw enough of Barlow as a division opponent.
“I told him yesterday. It will be nice to cheer for you instead of hating you,” Francona said. “Over the winter he has really worked to regain that velocity that wasn’t there last year. He’s a guy with leverage back end experience that can be really helpful. He’s a solid teammate, a solid guy. I’d like to see him healthy. It is kind of like (Austin) Hays on the offensive side, who has something to prove going in.”
Barlow was added to the 40-man roster. Julien Aguiar was placed on the 60-day injured list. Barlow was signed for $2.5 million and a club option for 2026.
The Reds signed Bryan Shaw, a 37-year old right handed reliever who pitched seven seasons under Francona.
“He’s hard not to like,” Francona said. “We had our meeting the other day and he was talking to guys about his usage, I said shit that was me. This kid, man, when you say take the ball, he’s the poster child for that. It’s pretty impressive. He knows, he’s in here competing. But the fact that pitching last year in Triple A is not beneath him. The ball is coming out of his hand really well. In the meantime some of the young guys being around him will be really good.”
Shaw is four appearances away from 800 career games.
“I know he tells me that all the time,” Francona said.
The Reds also have Wade Miley back. He is probably out until May but is here working to get past his 2024 injury.
“Wade yesterday I was sitting there watching bullpens and he plopped down next to me,” Francona said. “He doesn’t have to be out there. He’s doing his own stuff. These guys know him a lot better than I do but I can see why they say the things they do. We have to lean on him. He wants to pitch yesterday. I think we owe it to guys like that and not let them hurt themselves. I don’t mean that in a bad way. I told him that we’ll probably piss you off a time or two. It’s guys like him that want to play so bad and pitch so bad.”
The pitching in spring is one thing the other is the effect they have on influencing the younger pitchers in camp. Their experiences are models for the twenty somethings to reach the top and stay there.
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