Based on a few reported roster moves and injury discussions, it sounds like the Reds have reached a final roster for Opening Day.
Starting Eight
- Devin Mesoraco C
- Joey Votto 1B
- Brandon Phillips 2B
- Zack Cozart SS
- Eugenio Suarez 3B (Simon trade)
- Adam Duvall LF (Leake trade)
- Billy Hamilton CF
- Jay Bruce RF
Thoughts: The rebuild-reboot-recycle hasn’t impacted the starting lineup much yet. If the Reds had been able to trade Brandon Phillips, Jose Peraza would be the starting second baseman. If Zack Cozart rebuilds his value, he could be traded, opening up another starting spot, possibly for Suarez. Or Peraza plays short and Alex Blandino tries 2B. Jay Bruce could be traded at any moment. Suarez is unproven in the field as he tries to take the place of Todd Frazier.
Position Player Bench
- Scott Schebler OF (Frazier trade)
- Tucker Barnhart C
- Jordan Pacheco IF/C (free agent signing)
- Jose Peraza IF/OF (Frazier trade)
- Ivan De Jesus IF/OF
DL: Yorman Rodriguez
Thoughts: The catnip of Pacheco being an emergency catcher proved irresistible to the Reds. Pacheco is 30 and has a career wRC+ of 74 and career bWAR of -3.5. But hey, Tucker Barnhart will be able to pinch hit now. Classic rebuild, eh? Kind of surprised Peraza makes the club given no spot in the starting lineup and service time considerations. Wonder if the Reds see more than a few starts in center field. See Billy Hamilton’s dog house. Schebler should see a lot of plate appearances as a LH bat.
Starting Rotation
- Raisel Iglesias
- Brandon Finnegan (Cueto trade)
- Alfredo Simon (free agent signing)
- Tim Melville
DL: Homer Bailey, Michael Lorenzen, Anthony DeSclafani, Jon Moscot, John Lamb
Thoughts: This is going to look completely different in a month or so. And even more changes after that. By August it could be: Bailey, DeSclafani, Iglesias, Stephenson and Reed. Lorenzen, Finnegan and Lamb to the bullpen. Moscot and Melville wait their turns in Louisville. Simon traded. DeSclafani may not start the season on the DL.
Bullpen
- J.J. Hoover
- Tony Cingrani
- Jumbo Diaz
- Caleb Cotham (Chapman trade)
- Ross Ohlendorf (free agent signing)
- Keyvius Sampson
- Dayan Diaz
- Blake Wood (free agent signing)
Thoughts: Terrible. / blink … blink … / Still awful. Legit reinforcements will arrive as health of pitching staff improves. Until then, rock bottom. This early-season crew will make us ache for Logan Ondrusek by the third week of April. The only way the front office shouldn’t hang its head in abject shame producing this crowd with their off-season moves is if we agree the bullpen just doesn’t matter because nothing matters for now.
The roster is a jumbled mess. The position player side is stuck in the middle of change. The pitching transition has been disrupted for a few weeks by injuries. In both cases, the situation should be dramatically improved by the All-Star Game. And with a couple smart moves and signings, better yet by Opening Day 2017.