Reds add to the team by signing IF Donovan Solano and RHP Buck Farmer

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – After nearly two full offseasons of moves they made to shed payroll, the Cincinnati Reds shifted back to adding to the team on Tuesday.

The Reds signed infielder Donovan Solano to a big league contract. Solano reported to camp on Tuesday and met with manager David Bell.

Solano is the Reds’ biggest free agent signing since adding Nick Castellanos in 2020. Solano, a utility player who can play second base, third base, shortstop and the outfield, hit .280 in 307 at-bats for the NL West champion San Francisco Giants in 2021. 

Solano isn’t a power hitter like Castellanos – Solano hit a career-high seven home runs last season – but the Reds added Solano to help fill a crucial area that they lost when Castellanos hit free agency. Last year, Castellanos was one of the best hitters in baseball against left-handed pitching.

More:Doc: Maybe Bob Castellini should sell the Reds. What an utterly sad day for Cincinnati.

More:Reds trade Amir Garrett to Royals for Mike Minor – and plan to keep adding to roster

More:Cincinnati Reds pitcher Luis Castillo not worried about his own trade rumors

More:With the Reds in a state of transition, the spotlight shifts to Hunter Greene

Solano’s production spikes against left-handers, and he’s expected to fill a consistent role in the lineup at the start of the season. Since he can play so many positions, Solano will get regular opportunities without being an everyday starter at a specific position.

“The more options we have, the more at-bats he’ll get, and the easier it’ll be to get his bat in the lineup,” Bell said. “He’s a good player. Good at-bats. Really great at-bats versus left and right handers, and he really does damage against left-handed pitching.”

Solano, 34, made his big league debut with the Miami Marlins in 2012. He was a regular for the Marlins at second base until 2015, and he has been a utility player over the last seven years. 

"He can play second, short and third," Reds General Manager Nick Krall said. "He could be a guy that can play all over and do a lot of things. He gives you flexibility to move guys around. You could put him the DH role. He’s a quality hitter, especially against left-handed pitching but he’s also been pretty good against righties as well. He helps balance out our lineup.”

Solano has played the best baseball of his career with the Giants between 2019 and 2021. Across those three seasons, he hit .308 in 712 at-bats as a result of his contact-first approach against left-handed pitchers. 

The Reds also signed right-handed relief pitcher Buck Farmer to a minor league contract with an invitation to big league spring training.

Farmer has been in the Detroit Tigers bullpen since 2014, posting a career ERA of 5.33. Last year, Farmer made 36 relief appearances with a 6.37 ERA.

UPCOMING STARTERS: Bell named the starting pitchers for the first five spring training games: Nick Lodolo, Tyler Mahle, Tony Santillan, Graham Ashcraft and Vladimir Gutierrez.

Lodolo, the Reds first round pick in 2019, has been pitching in minor league camp since the middle of February. While other Reds starters couldn't report to camp on Sunday due to the lockout, Lodolo has built up innings during the spring.

ROTATION IMPACT: When the Reds dealt for veteran pitcher Mike Minor on Wednesday, they filled a spot in their starting rotation. As a result, the Reds group of young pitchers has one less spot up for grabs.

Hunter Greene, Lodolo and Ashcraft are still in the mix, but there's one fewer available place in the rotation.

"They’re still coming in and fighting for that spot and we’ll see how it goes," Krall said. "It’s still a competition and we haven’t even gotten to games yet."