What's Your Opening Day Roster?

[camisadelgolf]

Note: I overlooked Dontrelle Willis. Feel free to pick only five and list Willis in your comment below.
PLEASE PICK ONLY SIX OF THE OPTIONS ABOVE

With the acquisition of Renteria, I figure 19 of the 25 roster spots are locked up. How would you fill the other six if no other acquisitions are made?

These guys are sure to start the year on the team:
Ramon Hernandez
Ryan Hanigan
Joey Votto
Brandon Phillips
Scott Rolen
Edgar Renteria
Paul Janish
Miguel Cairo
Jonny Gomes
Drew Stubbs
Jay Bruce
Bronson Arroyo
Johnny Cueto
Edinson Volquez
Homer Bailey
Francisco Cordero
Nick Masset
Bill Bray
Jared Burton

Very good chance to make the team:
Chris Heisey - could be optioned if outperformed by Brian Barton, Jeremy Hermida, and/or a new acquisition
Travis Wood - odd man out?
Mike Leake - see: Travis Wood
Logan Ondrusek - was 2010 a fluke?
Aroldis Chapman - may go to AAA to transition back to starting

On the bubble:
Yonder Alonso - left-handed bat off the bench
Chris Valaika - utility player to spell the veterans
Juan Francisco - left-handed bat off the bench and Rolen's primary backup
Todd Frazier - primary backup at the corner positions
Brian Barton - could take over Chris Heisey's role
Jeremy Hermida - could become Gomes' platoon partner
Danny Dorn - see: Jeremy Hermida
Sam LeCure - showed success as a reliever
Matt Maloney - has had success in limited playing time
Daryl Thompson - could he have success in a relief role?
Carlos Fisher - can he finally translate his success in the minors to MLB?
Phil Valiquette - stranger things have happened
Jose Arredondo - can he rebound to pre-injury form?
Jordan Smith - groundball reliever has shown flashes of effectiveness
Daniel Ray Herrera - has his control returned?

[medford]

If the vsL splits I saw on the D-train hold thru the spring, I could see him as a situational lefty out of the pen. He's not on the list.

[camisadelgolf]

If the vsL splits I saw on the D-train hold thru the spring, I could see him as a situational lefty out of the pen. He's not on the list.

Good call. I overlooked him.

[RedsManRick]

My Take:

Catchers (2)
C: Ramon Hernandez
C: Ryan Hanigan

Infielders (6)
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Brandon Phillips
3B: Scott Rolen
SS/IF: Edgar Renteria
SS/IF: Paul Janish
UT: Miguel Cairo

Outfielders (5)
LF: Jonny Gomes
CF: Drew Stubbs
RF: Jay Bruce
OF: Chris Heisey
OF: Jeremy Hermida

Starting Pitchers (5)
SP: Bronson Arroyo
SP: Johnny Cueto
SP: Edinson Volquez
SP: Travis Wood
SP: Homer Bailey


Relief Pitchers (7)
CL: Francisco Cordero
SU: Nick Masset
SU: Bill Bray
MR: Jared Burton
MR: Jose Arredondo
MR: Jordan Smith
LR: Aroldis Chapman

Things of note:

• I took Smith over Ondrusek b/c I like having a ground-baller I can call on when a double play is needed
• I would actually have Volquez coming out of the bullpen and have Leake in the majors, with Jordan Smith in AAA
• Chapman is serving primarily as a long man, going a few innings twice a week. I want him working on his changeup and not relying solely on FB/SL. Long term, he's a starter, but I want him learning in the majors while helping the big league team.
• Fransisco is playing OF in AAA
• Frazier is playing 3B in AAA
• Leake is the SP1 in AAA
• Thompson is in the bullpen in AAA
• Willis is working out of the pen in AAA

[Will M]

I really hope Walt can swing a deal before opening day to add an everyday left fielder to the team. It would seem that we have the prospects and/or the pitching depth to do so.

If no one else is added to the roster then a lot of guys are going to be in AAA & not too happy about it.

My 25 man roster would include:
Hernandez, Hanigan
Votto, Phillips, Rolen, Renteria, Janish, Cairo
Gomes, Stubbs, Bruce, Heisey
25th man is a lefty bat: Francisco or Hermida
Arroyo, Cueto, Volquez, Bailey, Wood
Cordero, Masset, Bray, Burton, Chapman, Ondrusek, Leake

That leaves the following guys in AAA:
Mesaraco, Alonso, Cozart, possibly Francisco, Dorn, Sappelt, Frazier, Willis, Lecure, Maloney, Herrera, Arredondo, Fisher, Smith & Thompson. While a lot of these guys probably need to start in AAA something is going to have to give sooner than later. If some kind of move isn't made prior to opening day I would think it would be made mid season.

[Kc61]

I believe Mike Leake will be in the rotation this year, barring injury or trade.

He may have tailed off last season, but I see him as a starter.

Many folks view him as the odd man out in the rotation. I disagree.

Just guessing, but I think Bailey is more likely to pitch from the pen than is Leake.

I think the bullpen will be Cordero, Masset, Bray, Chapman, Ondrusek, Bailey, and the last spot going to Burton, Smith or Willis.

Can't name a starting position player team yet, until we see if the Reds pick up that lead off hitter. There's still time, I'm told.

[Redsfan320]

13 batters:

Starters:
Hanigan
Votto
Phillips
Rolen
Renteria
Heisey
Stubbs
Bruce

Bench:
Hanigan
Cairo
Janish
Gomes
Hermida

12 pitchers:

Rotation:
Arroyo
Cueto
Wood
Leake
Bailey

Pen:
Cordero
Masset
Chapman
Arredondo
Burton
Willis
Ondrusek

Batters not making it:
Mesaraco
Alonso
Valaika
Francisco
Cozart
Barton
Dorn
Frazier

Pitchers not making it:
LeCure
Bray
Smith
Maloney

Camis, of all that you listed, I see absolutely no chance Wood isn't in the rotation. Also, Heisey's almost a complete guarantee. Barton and Hermida outperforming him is extremely unlikely. Also, I'm not sure how the poll worked out but I voted for 5 guys and Willis. I didn't vote for Wood as I didn't see him until after I voted. I don't think Volqy cracks the team.

320

[Caveat Emperor]

1B: Votto
2B: Phillips
3B: Rolen
SS: Renteria
RF: Bruce
CF: Stubbs
LF: Gomes
C: Hanigan

SP: Johnny Cueto
SP: Bronson Arroyo
SP: Edinson Volquez
SP: Travis Wood
SP: Homer Bailey

RP: Logan Ondrusek (RH)
RP: Nick Massett (RH)
RP: Jared Burton (RH)
RP: Aroldis Chapman (LH)
RP: Dontrelle Willis (LH)
RP: Bill Bray (LH)
CL: Francisco Cordero (RH)

BENCH:
SS: Paul Janish
UT: Miguel Cairo
OF: Chris Heisey
OF: Jeremey Hermida
C: Ramon Hernandez

Bubble guys are Hermida and Willis -- possibly Bailey depending on how well he pitches and how well Leake pitches. Everyone else makes it easily.

I still think a trade happens between now and opening day to send a pitcher out, though.

[corkedbat]

Catchers (2)
C: Ryan Hanigan
C: Ramon Hernandez

Infielders (6)
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Brandon Phillips
3B: Scott Rolen
SS/IF: Edgar Renteria
SS/IF: Paul Janish
UT: Miguel Cairo

Outfielders (5)
LF: Jonny Gomes
CF: Drew Stubbs
RF: Jay Bruce
OF: Chris Heisey
OF: Jeremy Hermida

Starting Pitchers (5)
SP: Bronson Arroyo
SP: Johnny Cueto
SP: Edinson Volquez
SP: Travis Wood
SP: Homer Bailey


Relief Pitchers (7?)
CL: Francisco Cordero
SU: Nick Masset
SU: Aroldis Chapman
MR: Bill Bray
MR: Jose Arredondo
MR: Logan Ondrusek
LR: Sam Lecure or Matt Maloney *

* 25th man comes down to a 7th reliever (Sam Lecure or Matt Maloney -most likelu) or a 6th bat on the bench (Frazier or Francisco)

A guess at changes before Opening Day:

Walt finds a LFer and Heisey is included in the deal. Walt is able to move Cordero for youngeters while paying half his salary for this year.

Willis takes Cordero's spot on the roster fighting Bray for the lefty SU/MR roles and Chapman and Masset are co-closers.

[corkedbat]

How about a stab at 2013?

1B Joey Votto
2B Billy Hamilton
SS Zach Cozart
3B Juan Francisco
LF Yorman Rodriguez
CF Drew Stubbs
RF Jay Bruce
CA Devin Mesaraco/Yasmani Grandal

IF Paul Janish
IF DiDi Gregorius/Henry Rodriguez
UT Todd Frazier
OF (LH PH)

Bronson Arroyo
Aroldis Chapman
Jonny Cueto
Travis wood
Edinson Volquez/Homer Bailey

(A lot of possibilities in the bullpen)

I'd rather have add a big bat with better D at 3B than Francsco and a more promsing SS, but otherwise, not bad.

[Redhook]

You can mark Travis Wood as the 20th guaranteed. No way he doesn't make the team. He's LH, talented, and very composed. In fact, he's be my #3 starter as of right now behind Cueto and Arroyo. I'd like to see Volquez traded for a solid LF. Doubt it'll happen, but you never know.

[corkedbat]

You can mark Travis Wood as the 20th guaranteed. No way he doesn't make the team. He's LH, talented, and very composed. In fact, he's be my #3 starter as of right now behind Cueto and Arroyo. I'd like to see Volquez traded for a solid LF. Doubt it'll happen, but you never know.

I agree. I can see Travis having a career along the lines of Tom Browning - never having the sexiest stuff, but determined and consistent and a staple in the rotation.