Buck Farmer ended the season as one of the Cincinnati Reds’ setup men in front of closer Alexis Díaz, and his contract situation could serve as a litmus test for how the club is planning to build its bullpen.
Farmer, called up on July 9 after he was designated for assignment earlier in the season, had a 2.83 ERA across the final three months of the season with 37 strikeouts and 18 walks in 35 innings. He stranded 15 of the 22 runners he inherited, often called upon to help the Reds out of high-leverage jams.