Reds Trade Away Pitcher After Nathaniel Lowe Decision

Reds send Caleb Ferguson to Cardinals for International Bonus Pool Space

The Reds announced Monday that they traded left-handed reliever Caleb Ferguson to the Cardinals in exchange for international bonus pool space.

The club shared the move on social media shortly after the deadline."The #Reds today acquired International Cap Space from the Cardinals in exchange for LHP Caleb Ferguson."

According to ESPN's Jeff Passan, Cincinnati received $250,000 in international bonus pool space in the deal. MLB Trade Rumors noted that Ferguson has now been traded at the deadline for the third consecutive season.

For the Cardinals, the move adds another experienced left-handed option after the club traded JoJo Romero earlier in the day. St. Louis had become heavily right-handed in the bullpen and viewed Ferguson as a veteran replacement.

Ferguson's Lone Season in Cincinnati Comes to an End

Ferguson signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract with Cincinnati before the 2026 season but never fully settled into the Reds' bullpen.

An oblique injury delayed his debut until late May, and while he appeared in relief throughout the summer, he finished his Reds tenure with a 4.01 ERA while recording 22 strikeouts and one save.

The 30-year-old owns plenty of major league experience, appearing in 359 career games with the Dodgers, Yankees, Astros and Reds before now joining the Cardinals.

Cincinnati's Quiet Deadline Raises Questions

The Ferguson trade came after Cincinnati had already moved first baseman Nathaniel Lowe to the Cleveland Guardians earlier in the day.

However, many around baseball expected the Reds to be more active.

Despite sitting 5.5 games out of the National League Wild Card race with slim postseason odds, Cincinnati elected to keep several notable veterans, including Brady Singer, Tyler Stephenson, Eugenio Suárez, Hunter Greene, Emilio Pagán, Pierce Johnson and Brock Burke.

Outside of trading Lowe and later Ferguson while adding infielder Juan Brito following his DFA, the Reds largely stood pat.

Whether that strategy proves beneficial will be determined over the final two months of the season, but Cincinnati clearly believed its remaining core was worth keeping together despite its long playoff odds.

For Ferguson, meanwhile, another trade deadline brings another new destination as he heads to St. Louis looking to strengthen a Cardinals bullpen still chasing a National League Wild Card berth.