breaking news: Braves extend a chance for Reds to right a wrong from the winter.

It seemed like a foregone conclusion.

MLB season wrapped up and the Cincinnati Reds began looking ahead to 2025, many around the league assumed veteran reliever Buck Farmer would be returning to the Queen City. After all, he’d quietly established himself as one of the club’s most dependable bullpen arms over the past three seasons, and his numbers from last year were among the best of his 11-year career.

A one-year deal with the Reds felt inevitable — a reunion that would maintain bullpen stability and reward a veteran who had earned the trust of both the coaching staff and the fan base. But baseball, as it often does, took an unexpected turn.

Farmer and the Reds never came to terms on a contract. The reasons behind the impasse remain unclear — whether it was dollars, roster flexibility, or simply a difference in timing — but the result was a surprising detour: Farmer inked a minor league deal with the Atlanta Braves.

The signing made sentimental sense. Farmer is a Georgia native who played his college ball at Georgia Tech. He was originally drafted by the Braves in 2009 but chose to pursue college instead. Sixteen years later, a chance to return home and wear the jersey of his hometown team presented a full-circle moment.

Unfortunately, that homecoming was short-live

Farmer struggled mightily out of the gate for Triple-A Gwinnett. In just five appearances, his ERA ballooned to 7.71. While he continued to show an ability to generate strikeouts — posting an impressive 29.2% strikeout rate — the rest of his game faltered. He walked nearly 17% of the batters he faced, and opponents were teeing off against him, hitting .350 over that stretch. Command issues and hard contact plagued the veteran, and the Braves made the decision this week to release him from the organization.

And just like that, Buck Farmer is a free agent once again.

Now the question becomes: should the Reds bring him back?

There’s certainly a compelling case to be made. Despite a rough spring in Gwinnett, Farmer’s track record in Cincinnati remains impressive. Over his three seasons with the Reds, he appeared in over 150 games and routinely served as a trusted bridge to the late-inning arms. In 2024 alone, he posted a 3.45 ERA across 58.2 innings, with a strikeout-to-walk ratio that reflected the polish and poise of a veteran presence.

Farmer also thrived under Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson, who helped him refine his pitch mix and regain consistency after up-and-down years in Detroit. His ability to fill multiple bullpen roles — from middle relief to high-leverage spots when needed — made him a valuable asset on a team still shaping its pitching identity.

While his Triple-A numbers this spring are concerning, it’s worth noting that five outings in early April don’t tell the whole story. Many veteran pitchers use those early-season innings to shake off rust or test adjustments. In Farmer’s case, it’s possible that reuniting with a familiar staff in Cincinnati — and working again with Johnson — could be the key to regaining his rhythm.

For a Reds team currently navigating a competitive NL Central race and managing pitching depth day by day, the idea of adding a proven, low-cost arm with clubhouse familiarity may be too good to pass up.

President of Baseball Operations Nick Krall has shown a willingness to revisit past relationships when the fit is right. And with Farmer back on the market, the opportunity is once again there — a chance to correct what many saw as a curious offseason omission.

The Reds bullpen has shown promise early in the season, but as any team knows, the long grind of a 162-game schedule demands reinforcement. Injuries, fatigue, and unexpected slumps can thin even the deepest relief corps, and having a steady veteran like Farmer waiting in the wings could provide invaluable insurance.

At age 34, Buck Farmer may not be in his prime, but he still has something to offer — especially to a team that already knows what he brings to the table. The question now is whether the Reds are ready to pick up the phone and bring one of their own back home.