The health and safety protocols from Major League Baseball have been announced and that means that teams have been given what information they need in order to officially announce when spring training will begin. For the Cincinnati Reds, pitchers and catchers will hold their first workout on February 18th. Position players will join them for the first full workout on February 22nd.
February 18th in just nine days away. The position players are set to join them four days later, which would be just under two weeks ago. Are you excited yet?
Within the health and safety guidelines for the 2021 season there are some things worth noting. During spring training, players and coaching staffs and anyone that lives in the household with them “must quarantine at home with the exception of club-direct baseball activities at club facilities, travel with the team, individual outdoor physical activity, outdoor dining (if approved by the Joint Committee), and performing essential activities (e.g., medical care)”.
Unlike last year, the roster will begin the year at 26 players and it will remain there until September, when rosters can expand to 28 players. However, there is no limit on the number of pitchers that a team can carry this season.
We know that Triple-A and the Major League level will begin spring training at the same time, and that once they have completed spring training then there will be spring training for Low-A, Advanced-A, and Double-A. What still isn’t clear is how Triple-A is going to be handled once the Major League season begins. Within the protocols, there is this section:
A club is permitted to carry up to five additional taxi squad players on all road trips with the Major League team. If the club elects to carry five additional players, at least one must be a player whose designated position prior to the season is catcher. Players on the taxi squad are permitted to workout with the Major League Club but are not permitted to be in uniform and in the dugout during games. Upon the conclusion of each road trip, players on the taxi squad will return to the alternate training site.
This seems to suggest, at least early on, that the players who don’t make the big league club out of spring training will be in “Triple-A” at an alternate site. Or maybe this is just re-used language from last year and it hasn’t been adjusted. With that said, if teams are still going to have a taxi squad, that would in many cases leave a Triple-A team without reinforcements of their own early in the season when Double-A is not yet playing. We will update this when we have more information on how Triple-A and the “alternate site” will work.
Pitchers and catchers report! Been a weird 2 seasons, but baseballs almost back again!
Yes, as bad as the offseason has been for the Reds, and as bad as their zero run playoff losses were, I cannot wait. Baseball!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Pitchers and catchers report. Followed by first basemen, second basemen, third basemen and outfielders. Shortstops to report? For the Reds TBD.
Gotta krall before you can walk – Your 2021 Reds!
No limit on Pitchers, it will be interesting to see how the opening day roster looks. I assumed a 13/13 split, but they could go 14 or even 15 pitchers. 13 or 14 Pitchers could be manageable.
15 Pitchers 11 Position Players, and no DH. You’d need a C, SU, OF.
LF Winker, CF Shogo, RF, Castellanos
1B Votto, 2B Moose, SS Holder, 3B Suarez C Barnhart
C Stephenson, SU Farmer, OF Senzel, (Lorenzen)
That feels very thin. Lorenzen can also be a bat and glove off the bench, but still. Yikes! I’m thinking they’ll go 14 Pitchers and 12 Position Players on opening day.
I am not 100% sure but I thought there was a 13 pitcher limit.
Yes, it was, but Doug said “However, there is no limit on the number of pitchers that a team can carry this season.” It’s just a fun thought exercise to imagine the different roster possibilities.
Let’s turn back the clock to Spring Training 2019. The Reds had Peraza at SS, and Scooter Gennett at 2B. The season before they led the Reds in hits 182 and 181 respectively. Senzel was blocked from the infield, the Reds had Puig, Kemp, Winker, and Schebler in the OF. The only option for CF was Scott Schebler, or convert Senzel into a CF. Coming into the 2020 season there were concerns about Senzel ability to throw from SS because of injuries.
I am sure everyone remembers this, but I bring it back up to say this. Senzel never got a real shot at SS. They converted him to the teams greatest need. We have another CF, Shogo. Our greatest need in 21 is SS. I am not saying Senzel will be good, or even an average defender at SS. I am just saying the Reds need Senzel to fill the greatest need of the team again, and become the Reds 2021 SS. Let’s face it he’s not going to become a Tatis Jr, but he surly will be better than Farmer.
Senzel is not going to play SS. Just like Billy Hamilton never played SS again after he moved to CF. Or Suarez moving to 3B.
That ship has sailed. Forget about it.
The sails are far over the horizon. He cant do it. The decision has been made. With Villar to the Mets, Farmer is the top candidate. Truthfully, i think he showed more promise at SS, his three year college position, than credited. Hit him 9th and let the chips fall.
+5000
Lol, no one said he’s going to, it’s he should. Billy never received a Gold Glove, but provided Gold Glove quality CF. Suarez bulked up and became a power hitting 3B. They both were moved to fill holes on the team. Your argument makes zero sense. You have a broke team, with too many outfielders, and no viable option at SS. This line of thought is no longer outside the box, it’s practical. That is probably the reason it won’t happen. BTW I’d be just as happy or more so if the were able to trade Senzel as the principal piece for Adames.
DaveCT, (nothing personal cause I like you man), but if Farmer showed a lot of promise at SS, why did the Reds call up a 21 year old SS that hadn’t played above A+ to play over him last season? Why, if he was so promising a SS in college had he been moved off the position? That’s not how teams work, they’ll stick with you at SS in the minors if they have any inclination that you can field the position.
This is Jack Hannahan all over again. Well, they certainly have jack for SS at this point.
Yeah, MBS, lol, the situation is untenable, in part because the team has already tried to convert Senzel to SS. He cannot play the position. In addition, i would not mess with Senzel at all at this point. Id argue he was not served well whatsoever by having him learn a completely new position in the majors, not to mention the fact they completely deconstructed his swing midseason. If we want Senzel to develop, leave him alone. Lol.
Given our current situation, I’m not opposed to thinking outside the box. I don’t think its likely in any event.
I don’t disagree with those points. Moving Senzel to another position isn’t in Senzel’s best interest. I just no longer view him in high regard. I see him as the 4th OF, a utility level player, or this season the Reds best option at SS. Odds are he stays put in CF, hopefully he’ll prove me wrong
I concede, its, ahem, far from optimum. IDK, it comes down a belief this guy can succeed with a much focused role. Both Senzel and Farmer, actually. I do not envy Farmer at all. He had been shuffling between catcher and middle infield to some degree for a few years. I think they’s more there. Ill get behind him, in other words. Eow that was easy, talking myself into that.
Another bounce off the outfield wall is not in Senzel’s best interest either. Let this guys talent flourish by moving him where he belongs, the infield.
I’m more inclined to move Senzel to 2nd and Moose to 1st.
Farmer is 30, has a .242 BA, a .297 OBP, and a .667 OPS. Out of 153 MLB games, he’s played SS a grand total of 16 times. Aside from the fact that Bell likes his utility – a red flag in and of itself, there’s no there there. Farmer isn’t the guy.
Yeah I like Farmer a good deal in his current role and I think he’ll be exposed as a starter. He’s earned a shot though, and I don’t like to just say him or even Blandino can’t do it without at least a chance. Hopefully we get lucky with a breakout from someone.
Hotto, no offense taken. My take: Farmer was moved off of SS in LA due to a young man named Seager. He was then converted to catcher, with the role of backup infielder as an extra benefit. Farmer stagnated in this arrangement and was a throw-in in his trade to the Reds, the attraction being his potential as third catcher. This is just fact.
My opinion is based on his history as a middle infielder. He led the SEC in fielding while at a major program for three years, so he has skill and ability. So, that background, and the eye test as well, where i really liked his actions in the position. Thats all. I think regular at bats will reveal how much he will hit. I have no faith in the Rule V kid from the Yankees/Phillies who has never hit, or Dee Strange Gordon who is likely useless at this point, post steroids.
Thanks for the response. I will say that I don’t buy he was moved off because of Seager. If so he would have had reps at SS until it became paramount that he find another position when he was near ready. From 2013-2016 in LAD’s minors he had exactly 0 innings played at SS. In 2017 he played 2 games, 17 innings, at SS for their AAA team. You don’t play all the way from RK ball to AAA over 5 seasons with next to no reps at SS because you may one day be blocked by Seager. He did finally play 58 innings at SS for their AAA team before coming over to the Reds. I would contest that was more about making him a more versatile utility player than any belief that he was going to see real time at the position.
Also, I know he had a good fielding percentage, but a lot more goes into being a SS than not making errors. Range, arm strength, quick twitch reactions, etc are not necessarily accounted for in fielding percentage. That simply measures what you did with the balls you actually got to. For the Reds Farmer has a 1.000% fielding percentage at SS, but that doesn’t mean I think he’s a better SS than Garcia. Also, Senzel and India played some SS in college, but that doesn’t mean they can in the majors.
As far as hit bat goes, I guess we can only see what more playing time will produce, but there’s not a track record of success at any point in MLB. All four season he’s played in the majors his OPS+ has been in the low 70’s. At this point he’s 30, so not sure there’s any untapped upside there.
Overall, Farmer’s fine as the 25th/26th man due to his flexibility. But as your everyday SS he leaves a lot to be desired.
Fangraphs has an article dedicated to the Reds and their management the last 5 years or so.
Hopefully management reads this and does something.
The link is embedded in my name to the fangraphs article mentioned here.
Edited by the mods
I’m just going to add it to the comment – people will see it far easier this way
https://blogs.fangraphs.com/cincinnatis-winter-has-been-a-disaster/
Thanks guys for the link. Yikes, that’s not a rosy red picture. Nothing to get excited about for the current iteration of the Reds, and looks to project worse into the future with the contracts we have to aging players and the depleted minor leagues.
I know it’s been discussed so much here, but the Reds really did manage to bungle this rebuild from the beginning. Held onto players too long, made panic PR-induced poor trades, went big for short term rentals depleting our farm system a year too early, then when they finally go for it they decide to scale that back the very next season. Finally made one step forward only to take two steps back.
Read this earlier and thought I’d add it. From the MLBTR chat about the Reds offseason:
“It’s been two months since the Reds dumped Iglesias’ salary and non-tendered Bradley, Casali, Goodwin. GM Nick Krall said at the time the plan was to “reallocate” resources; it’s looking like those resources were “reallocated” to Bob Castellini’s pockets. They might make a small-scale trade for an Amed Rosario type, but they’ve already missed the boat on every free-agent of note. Don’t get your hopes up.Tough offseason to be a Reds fan. I’d be extremely dejected.”
Trust Steve Adams, extremely dejected is putting it lightly.
Reds Likely Starters
ZIPS 2021 Projections – wRC+/WAR
Barnhart – 79 / 1.7
Votto – 92 / 0.1
Moustakas – 104 / 1.6
Farmer – 70 / 0.3
Suarez – 111 / 3.0
Castellanos – 102 / 0.4
Senzel – 87 / 0.8
Winker – 114 / 1.2
Platooning may help a little .. but why would you platoon Winker or Senzel, who you need as starters for years to come.
And all the platooning in the world isn’t likely to improve SS with current roster.
Thank you for the update Doug. Do you, (or anybody) know about ticket prices and the process of getting tickets this year yet for the reds? I went to a Pacers game and i got to tell you it was a very complicated and stressful process for an old guy like me. you can no longer just walk up to the gate, put your money down and buy a ticket. i had to get on the pacers app, then ticket master app, then back to the pacers app before i finally was able to secure the ticket. needless to say I won’t be going back until the process is much easier.
i hope the reds ticket offices will be open and i can purchase tickets at the gate!
Not even the slightest clue.
Reds Likely Starters
ZIPS 2021 Projections – wRC+/WAR
Barnhart – 79 / 1.7
Votto – 92 / 0.1
Moustakas – 104 / 1.6
Farmer – 70 / 0.3
Suarez – 111 / 3.0
Castellanos – 102 / 0.4
Senzel – 87 / 0.8
Winker – 114 / 1.2
Platooning may help a little .. but why would you platoon Winker or Senzel, who you need as starters for years to come.
And all the platooning in the world isn’t likely to improve SS with current roster.
This roster is the result of Dick Willams.
Only player on that list under 27 is Senzel (26) and the only average to above WAR player (2.0 or above) is Suarez, who Williams inherited.
Krall has whiffed on SS so far, but that roster … to have a chance … needs no other Central team to win 85 games or so … and Cy Young level SP and a Top 5 bullpen.
Yet, #Reds Twitter, wacky as it usually is … was nostalgic on Williams, bullish on Castellanos, blah, blah, blah.
Like I’ve said before, trade everybody over 27 at the trade deadline and restock the farm system. It’s something we dont want to hear but this team is going nowhere. Terminate the garbage in the front office that has done nothing in the past 5 years to help this team. If they dont do this we will be revisiting this every year for the next few years. Just my opinion but this team has been spinning its wheels since what…2015?
Those projections are partly based off of last year’s fluke hitting performance (.212 team BA) so they are slightly skewed. 60 games were played and we didn’t really get a taste of what the team could do when firing on all cylinders. Not arguing the post 2021 numbers. This may well be the year if they have any hope of reaching the post season. If they are out of contention before midseason then expect a big fire sale to happen with no real farm system to replenish, yikes! Rebuild mode all over again.
Time to start the fire sale already. The Rays just agreed to sign Chris Archer. Their 40 man roster is full and will need to dump someone to sign Archer. Per Fangraphs the lowest rated prospect on their 40 man who did not play in the majors last year is Kevin Padlo. They also have Josh Fleming at 40 but prior to this signing he was projected to start in the rotation after having a 2.78 ERA in 32 innings. Anyone they drop from the 40 man will be claimed so they need to make a trade.
Additionally Franco is not on their 40 man roster so they will need to clear a spot for him if they bring him up this summer.
Finally, they have two 50 FV players, two 45 FV players, two 40 FV players and four 35+ FV players they need to add to their 40 man roster next November or risk losing them to the rule 5 draft.
My bad. Rays already traded Aaron Slegers to the Angels.
Not to attempt to defend the front office but they did spend 168 million last year in an attempt to go all in. Not saying it was well spent, contracts were to expensive for the players brought in and probably a year to long for each one. With no fan revenue coming in last year I doubt the Reds did have any money to spend this year. It appears we are now faced with a team that is getting older and soon will require a large rebuild with several years of less then pleasant baseball to watch unless guys from the minors take these spots and excel which is not likely.
@jbon,
You mean they spent 145mm.