Reds report: Roster
After being quiet most of the offseason, the Reds made big noise late. They signed Cuban LHP Aroldis Chapman in late December, then added free agent SS Orlando Cabrera and traded for UT Aaron Miles on the same day.
ARRIVALS: OF Josh Anderson (minor league free agent from Royals), INF Miguel Cairo (minor league free agent from Phillies), SS Orlando Cabrera (free agent from Twins), LHP Aroldis Chapman (free agent from Cuba), INF Aaron Miles (trade with A's).
DEPARTURES: C Craig Tatum (claimed off waivers by Orioles), INF Danny Richar (free agent, signed minor league deal with Marlins), OF Willy Taveras (traded to A's), INF Adam Rosales (traded to A's).
SPRING FOCUS: The Reds' roster is pretty much set, except for some bench players. The left field spot and fifth starter job will be decided in spring training. The bullpen, the strength of the club last year, returns intact.
PROJECTED ROTATION:
1. RHP Aaron Harang
2. RHP Bronson Arroyo
3. RHP Johnny Cueto
4. RHP Homer Bailey
5. RHP Justin Lehr
The first four are locks. Lehr will have to beat out young LHPs Matt Maloney and Travis Wood to win the job. There's also a chance that LHP Aroldis Chapman pitches his way into the picture.
PROJECTED BULLPEN:
RHP Francisco Cordero (closer)
RHP Nick Masset
LHP Arthur Rhodes
RHP Jared Burton
LHP Daniel Ray Herrera
RHP Mike Lincoln
RHP Micah Owings
The bullpen was third in the National League with a 3.56 ERA last year. Owings will likely end up in the long-relief/pinch-hitter role.
PROJECTED LINEUP:
1. CF Drew Stubbs
2. SS Orlando Cabrera
3. 1B Joey Votto
4. 2B Brandon Phillips
5. 3B Scott Rolen
6. RF Jay Bruce
7. C Ramon Hernandez
8. LF Chris Dickerson
There probably will be some type of platoon in left field. Phillips is not a prototypical cleanup hitter, but it worked well late last season with Rolen hitting fifth and Phillips fourth.
PROJECTED RESERVES:
INF Aaron Miles
C Ryan Hanigan
OF Laynce Nix
INF Paul Janish
OF Wladimir Balentien
The bench isn't particularly strong, but RHP Micah Owings -- a career .300 hitter with eight homers and 31 RBIs in 170 at-bats -- will be used as a pinch hitter, if he's on the roster.
TOP ROOKIES: INF/OF Todd Frazier will get an extended look in spring training. Frazier, drafted as a shortstop, has played everywhere in the minors by catcher and center field. He'd likely be the first to get the call if a regular is injured. OF Chris Heisey does everything well. He'll be in the race for left field. But he struggled a bit at Class AAA (.278), so he'll likely be sent back for more seasoning.
MEDICAL WATCH:
--RHP Edison Volquez (Tommy John elbow surgery in August 2009) was placed on the 60-day disabled list Feb. 22. He is ahead of schedule, and he should return in the season's second half.
--LHP Billy Bray (Tommy John elbow surgery in May 2009) was throwing off a mound in early March.
--INF Aaron Miles (fractured right middle finger) returned to action in early March.
--INF Chris Burke (fractured right ring finger) hoped to return to action in mid-March.
Copyright (C) 2010 The Sports Xchange. All Rights Reserved.
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