Reds roster in 2016

[cjtenn28]

Originally Posted by Brittingham.Sam

I think the reds need to make a decision. Either chose Hannigan and move mez to another club while he still has value or start Mez. Since it is Dusty's call i doubt Mez will get much playing time.

Also, you can't say Mez will never hit major league pitching. Do you remember Yadi's slash line his first few years in the bigs?

Hanigan has EARNED the starts he is getting and is why the Reds pitching is what it is.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by cjtenn28

Hanigan has EARNED the starts he is getting and is why the Reds pitching is what it is.

So Hanigan is why, and not the pitchers?

[Salukifan2]

Originally Posted by cjtenn28

Hanigan has EARNED the starts he is getting and is why the Reds pitching is what it is.

i agree with you. Im just saying a decision needs to be made. Hannigan isn't a spring chicken anymore though. Perhaps if Mez comes out this spring and shows that he remembers how to hit they may be able to split time more evenly this season (something mez would really benefit from).

I believe hannigan is supremely underrated. After molina i think he is the second best catcher in the division.

[mth123]

I think the most intriguing position moving forward is Third Base. Todd Frazier is there for now, but I get an inkling that the Reds would prefer him in the OF or as a 400+ PA super sub. The Reds have a bunch of decent, but not first tier, propsects lined-up at 3B and I wonder how they will all get playing time. H-Rod in AAA, Vidal in AA, Mattair should probably be in AA, Mejias-Brean will be at A with maybe a quick move to A+. Gabriel Rosa was a second rounder and is still only 19 and Junior Arias is still only 21 and both could get their acts together after rough starts as very young players. Tanner Rahier was a second rounder last season with a relatively decent amount of fanfare and projects as a 3rd baseman as well.

2013 is going to be an interesting year to watch the prospects position themselves for 2014 and beyond and 3B is probably the most muddled and, at the same time, promisingly deep position in the system.

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by mth123

2013 is going to be an interesting year to watch the prospects position themselves for 2014 and beyond and 3B is probably the most muddled and, at the same time, promisingly deep position in the system.

Lots of interesting CF types as well, IMO.

Hamilton is a stud.
Bryson Smith has done nothing but hit since he was drafted.
Ryan LaMarre supposedly owns all five tools, but hasn't found any power. (He's a great runner, however, and looks like he's patient.)
Theo Bowe had a breakout season last year and looks intriguing as he begins play in AA. (Maybe.)
Juan Silva played relatively well in Dayton last season and deserves another look-see, this time at Bakersfield.
Beau Amaral is the son of a former major leaguer, and he did fairly well last season in Billings.
Finally, Jonathan Reynoso is a BA Top Ten talent that scouts across the game seem to like.

These guys all look like they could be useful in some capacity, from fourth outfielders to major league stars. Interesting to see what happens here.

[Benihana]

The position most up in the air in 2016 at this point is clearly LF. Could be Lutz, Winker, Y-Rod, Waldrop, or someone not currently in the organization. Every other position seems to be penciled in at least at this point, barring major trade or injury. Of course, Hamilton may not be the answer at CF, or Mez at C, but it's hard to envision an organic change anywhere else. 3B maybe if someone like Vidal or one of last years draftees really takes off and bumps Frazier. But I think the biggest question mark right now when projecting 2016 is who plays LF (and bats cleanup)?

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Benihana

The position most up in the air in 2016 at this point is clearly LF. Could be Lutz, Winker, Y-Rod, Waldrop, or someone not currently in the organization. Every other position seems to be penciled in at least at this point, barring major trade or injury. Of course, Hamilton may not be the answer at CF, or Mez at C, but it's hard to envision an organic change anywhere else. 3B maybe if someone like Vidal or one of last years draftees really takes off and bumps Frazier. But I think the biggest question mark right now when projecting 2016 is who plays LF (and bats cleanup)?

Maybe its Frazier in LF with one of the kids moving in at 3B.

[Benihana]

My projections (only using those currently in the org):

CF Hamilton
3B Frazier
1B Votto
LF Winker or Y.Rodriguez
RF Bruce
C Mesoraco
SS Cozart
2B Phillips

SP Latos
SP Chapman
SP Bailey or Cueto (other one leaves via FA)
SP Stephenson
SP Corcino or Cingrani

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Lots of interesting CF types as well, IMO.

Hamilton is a stud.
Bryson Smith has done nothing but hit since he was drafted.
Ryan LaMarre supposedly owns all five tools, but hasn't found any power. (He's a great runner, however, and looks like he's patient.)
Theo Bowe had a breakout season last year and looks intriguing as he begins play in AA. (Maybe.)
Juan Silva played relatively well in Dayton last season and deserves another look-see, this time at Bakersfield.
Beau Amaral is the son of a former major leaguer, and he did fairly well last season in Billings.
Finally, Jonathan Reynoso is a BA Top Ten talent that scouts across the game seem to like.

These guys all look like they could be useful in some capacity, from fourth outfielders to major league stars. Interesting to see what happens here.

Hamilton will be the guy, so the mystery isn't there in CF. Lamarre is already 24 and hasn't had a good season at AA yet, I hope he has a hot streak and the Reds cash him in. Bowe is not my cup fo tea. Smith looks promising in a Chris Heisey 4th OF kind of a way. Not sure he's really an every day guy in CF defensively. Reynoso is interesting, but need to see more. Silva is intriguing and Amaral may have sme promise as a bench guy.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Benihana

My projections (only using those currently in the org):

CF Hamilton
3B Frazier
1B Votto
LF Winker or Y.Rodriguez
RF Bruce
C Mesoraco
SS Cozart
2B Phillips

SP Latos
SP Chapman
SP Bailey or Cueto (other one leaves via FA)
SP Stephenson
SP Corcino or Cingrani

Winker has 4 levels to cross yet to reach the big leagues and I'm a skeptic about him by 2016. He had a really nice start at a league above his age level, but its a hitters league and he could still stall a bit in a full season environment that is not as hitter friendly. He'll still be just 22 on opening Day 2016.

[Scrap Irony]

IIRC, the Pioneer League isn't all that much of a hitter's league. And Winker didn't just do well-- he was probably the second-best hitter in the league and one its youngest players.

[Scrap Irony]

Originally Posted by mth123

Hamilton will be the guy, so the mystery isn't there in CF. Lamarre is already 24 and hasn't had a good season at AA yet, I hope he has a hot streak and the Reds cash him in. Bowe is not my cup fo tea. Smith looks promising in a Chris Heisey 4th OF kind of a way. Not sure he's really an every day guy in CF defensively. Reynoso is interesting, but need to see more. Silva is intriguing and Amaral may have sme promise as a bench guy.

Just pointing out that other spots have as much talent as do the 3B prospects.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

Just pointing out that other spots have as much talent as do the 3B prospects.

Sure, but we already know who the CF of the future is supposed to be. Third is a muddy picture with lots of candidates that could emerge.

Don't really see anyone bypassing Hamilton in CF.

[Scrap Irony]

I understand the first part of your premise, but reject the second-- ie, 3B is the deepest position in the Redleg system.

I see third base as a group of meh prospects lacking at least one tool apiece, making them all questionable at best. Only Henry Rodriguez has displayed any eye-popping production from that spot (though Vidal's numbers in the California League looked good). Mattair is next to useless, Mejias-Brean was playing at least one level too low, and none of the kids could hit-- at all.

Center field (already noted), starting pitching (Cingrani, Stephenson, Corcino, Rogers, Travieso, Moscot, Guillon, Langfield, etc, etc, etc), relief pitching (Hayes, Hoover, Lotzkar, failed starters, etc.), and 2B (Brodie Greene, Ryan Wright, Jonathan Perez, Devin Lohman, Ty Washington, even Brandon Dailey) could all be just as "talented" as 3B. Even the corner OF spot (Selsky, Winker, Lutz, Perez, Yorman Rodriguez) has just as much top end talent (more, in fact) and interesting candidates.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Scrap Irony

I understand the first part of your premise, but reject the second-- ie, 3B is the deepest position in the Redleg system.

I see third base as a group of meh prospects lacking at least one tool apiece, making them all questionable at best. Only Henry Rodriguez has displayed any eye-popping production from that spot (though Vidal's numbers in the California League looked good). Mattair is next to useless, Mejias-Brean was playing at least one level too low, and none of the kids could hit-- at all.

Center field (already noted), starting pitching (Cingrani, Stephenson, Corcino, Rogers, Travieso, Moscot, Guillon, Langfield, etc, etc, etc), relief pitching (Hayes, Hoover, Lotzkar, failed starters, etc.), and 2B (Brodie Greene, Ryan Wright, Jonathan Perez, Devin Lohman, Ty Washington, even Brandon Dailey) could all be just as "talented" as 3B. Even the corner OF spot (Selsky, Winker, Lutz, Perez, Yorman Rodriguez) has just as much top end talent (more, in fact) and interesting candidates.

Agree about the pitching, I was only thinking of position players when I posted. I don't see any of those 2B being anything. Maybe Wright can be a Brendan Harris fringe type.

The bar is a lot higher in an OF corner as far as offense goes and I really only think Winker and Y-Rod are serious prospects. Could be a lot of useful guys there, but I don't see any of those being every day players. I could see Smith taking Heisey's spot as arb makes Heisey more costly than he's worth.

I think any of 6 guys could emerge as an every day 3B with my money on Vidal or Mejias-Brean. I wouldn't write-off Mattair, but I share the skepticism about him, but I think the Reds see something there. Arias needs to do something this season IMO. Rosa has more time and my optimism for Rahier is mostly coming from him getting so much love on this site on draft day. I don't like H-Rod's bat at 3B. I wish he could play SS better. It would make him a good choice as a reserve IF who can add offense, but the lack of ability to play SS may keep him off the roster in favor of a better glove.

Mostly, I just think the Reds are skeptical of Frazier every day and would prefer him in the OF or as a guy who moves around and doesn't accumulate too much time at any one spot to expose his defensive weakness in the IF. I hope Frazier dazzles us at 3B. I think his bat fits best there, but I'm not sure he can play it 150 games per season. I remember the Reds saying that LF is his best position but they need him at 3B for now. I've been trying to find a link, but can't.