The Cincinnati Reds on Nov. 5 announced they declined their contract options on relievers Scott Barlow and Brent Suter, as well as outfielder Austin Hays.
Declining the club options made Barlow, Suter and Hays free agents. Ten members of the Reds’ 2025 playoff team are now free agents. The list also includes Nick Martinez, Emilio Pagán, Ian Gibaut, Wade Miley, Santiago Espinal, Miguel Andujar and Zack Littell.
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Barlow, 32, was a bullpen workhorse in 2025 who went 6-3 with a 4.71 ERA. He appeared in 75 games and tossed 68 and 1/3 innings.
Cincinnati Reds relief pitcher Brent Suter (31) delivers in the seventh inning of the MLB National League Wild Card Game 1 between the Cincinnati Reds and LA Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Dodgers won 10-5.
Suter, a Reds player of two seasons and a product of Moeller High School, went 1-2 with a 4.52 ERA in 48 games. The 35-year-old’s long-relief role, combined with three starts, saw him pitch 67 and 2/3 innings.
Hays, 29, battled several injuries in 2025 but still played in 103 games and was key cog in Cincinnati’s batting order. Hays hit .266 with an OPS of .768 while hitting 15 home runs and driving in 64 RBI.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Reds decline options on Scott Barlow, Brent Suter and Austin Hays