GOODYEAR, Ariz. –– In 2021, the Cincinnati Reds spent the first four months of the season searching for the right combination of relief pitchers.
The Reds added minor league free agents like Sal Romano, Heath Hembree and Cam Bedrosian. They tried waiver claims like Carson Fulmer and Michael Feliz. They converted a starting pitcher, giving José De León an opportunity.
The Reds bullpen struggled until the trade deadline when the Reds added a few key relievers back from the Injured List and acquired three front-line relief pitchers in trades.
Shogo Akiyama:Doesn't make Reds roster, likely to become a free agent
'No fear':What promoting Hunter Greene shows about the Cincinnati Reds philosophy
Entering 2022, the Reds took a completely different approach with how they built their bullpen.