The calendar has officially flipped over to July, meaning the MLB All-Star Break and 2025 trade deadline are right around the corner. The Detroit Tigers are riding high to begin the new month, 53-32 record through 85 games, which has them sitting only 0.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the top spot in Major League Baseball.
As exciting as it is to follow the current Tigers, former Detroit players have also made their fair share of headlines this season. In fact, one long-time Tiger just landed himself a new opportunity with a potentially playoff-bound club to begin July.
Former Tigers RHP Buck Farmer Signs with Reds 2 Weeks After Angels Release
Former Tigers pitcher Buck Farmer was released by the Los Angeles Angels on June 17 following an abysmal start to the 2025 campaign. His stay in the unemployment line only lasted two weeks, though, as the Conyers, GA native has officially found a new home.
On Tuesday, Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer reported that the Cincinnati Reds have signed Farmer to a minor-league contract. "He'll start out by working in the Arizona Complex League," Wittenmyer added.
Reds sign old bullpen pal Buck Farmer to minor league deal. He’ll start out by working in the Arizona Complex League.
— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubMLB) July 1, 2025
Tigers fans will remember Farmer as a long-time presence who spent eight years in the Motor City. The 34-year-old veteran was grabbed by Detroit in the fifth round of the 2013 draft and went on to pitch 241 outings (21 starts) in a Tigers uniform, going 15-21 with a 5.33 ERA, 45 games finished, and 292 strikeouts in 320 2/3 innings.
Farmer's time in Detroit ended with a release back in August 2021. He finished that season with the Texas Rangers before signing with the Reds for the first time in the offseason. He went 9-9 with a 3.68 ERA as a reliever in 176 appearances with Cincinnati; however, he went unsigned when free agency began this past winter.
Without any MLB opportunities, Farmer was forced to sign a minor-league contract with the Atlanta Braves in February. He looked like a shell of his former self as he gave up batting practice to opposing teams, pitching to a 7.71 ERA in five relief outings with Triple-A Gwinnett before being given his pink slip on April 15. He then went 1-2 with a 9.75 ERA in 12 outings with the Angels' Triple-A affiliate in Salt Lake City.
It's never fun to see a former long-time Tiger struggle, and Detroit fans are hoping that Farmer can turn his career around soon. Successfully capitalizing on his latest opportunity with the Reds could see the former Georgia Tech product make his 2025 MLB debut before the summer ends.