Right now, I don't think the Reds have enough right handed hitting to contend. I guess if they pick up Bedard, Lincecum, and Santana they can compete anyway, but this team really needs some righty bats.
With Cantu gone, the team has Phillips and EE. That's just about it. Ross, Gonzo, Hopper, Freel, Keppinger, not exactly a murderer's row from the right hand side.
Reds' OPS against lefties last year was .732 one of the worst in the NL.
I've never liked lineups that are too left handed because they tend to be susceptible to late inning lefty relief. Some of the Reds lefty bats hit lefties ok, but there is no substitute for some real right handed pop.
I still can't understand the decision to dump Cantu. In this master plan Wayne is cooking up I hope there are one or two right handed bats on the way.