Fansided - 5 Bold Predictions for Reds Spring Training

[Kc61]

1. Castillo starts opening day. Reds don’t want to suggest he’s slipped in their opinion. Gray will understand.

2. Aquino stays, Ervin gets traded for a decent prospect with options. (Wild guess on this, OF picture is unclear).

3. Lorenzen will be a mainstay in the bullpen and will be used sparingly in the field. Reds already have sixty dozen outfielders.

4. Schebler is cut late in spring training and is picked up on waivers by someone. Reds hoping they can stash him as insurance at AAA, but to no avail.

5. Farmer will not start on opening day. Reds play Cards, primarily RHSP team, if Geno is out injured, Reds use a lefty replacement such as Dietrich or Van Meter or a new guy to fill in (Moose at third lefty bat at second).

[Red Raindog]

Hits great for a pitcher but a 235/279/432 line over 300 at bats doesn't scream "Needs to play" with this roster. He's the backup, backup center fielder and that's not really a roster spot for most teams.

Given how crowded the outfield is Lorenzon doesn't deserve a single start out there and that's not meant as a slam against his athletic ability. It's a remark at how improved the reds outfield roster is.

This -- times 2

[adkindo]

Castillo is opening day starter. That is nothing against Gray, Bauer or anyone, but in my opinion Castillo has did absolutely nothing to lose the designation as #1 in the rotation. I am also confused by Schebler unless they intend on trying to keep him on the roster for the season opener.

[Shoeless Jeff]

Here are five predictions of my own:

1.) Tyler Mahle ends up on the Opening Day roster.
Whether it's by injury to a starter in front of him, a decision to take the best arms to Cincinnati, or the dominance shown in short innings, Mahle is on the OD roster.

2.) Freddy Galvis starts on Opening Day-- at 2B.
The Reds know they have a weak link at shortstop and have been actively looking to plug that hole all off-season. I'm guessing it'll be either Brock Holt (on a super cheap bargain of a one-year deal) or a trade for a more established player. Galvis will become the backup middle infielder/ glove man this team needs. And Suarez's injury will be played conservatively. Moustakas will play 3B, and Galvis will transition to 2B for about a week.

3.) Winker is traded.
Jesse Winker is among the better hitters the Reds have. He's a career 120 wRC+ bat. He's cheap too. But the outfield is overcrowded, and the Reds see promise in Aristides Aquino not just as a hitter, but as a defender and runner as well. As a result, Winker's dealt late in Spring Training to an American League team in order to ease the logjam and allow Aquino to start. (With Senzel/ Akiyama/ Ervin as placeholders should he fail.)

4.) Nick Senzel plays some SS in Spring Training.
I'm hedging my bets on prediction number two here. There will be at least one article about Nick Senzel taking ground balls at shortstop. At least one Red "insider" will say he looks good there and, with enough reps, could be good enough to start. Williams will see his lack of options at the position, the logjam in the OF, and Senzel's utility. Senzel will ask to practice there. RedsZone will lose its collective mind.

5.) At least one non-roster invitee will make the squad out of Spring Training.
My guess right now is LH Jesse Biddle. Could be Tyler Thornburg. Or Josh D. Smith. I don't think it'll be Nate Jones, as he looks like he'll be a rehab guy. It could be Matt Davidson to play 3B until Suarez is back. Or Derek Dietrich. Or Christian Colon. Regardless, someone will make it, necessitating another 40-man roster move.

1) Hopefully not happening because the only way it does is if one of the five starters in front of him is hurt. If not, he isn't going to the bullpen he is going to Louisville to stay stretched out as the sixth starter.

2) Freddy Galvis will be the opening day shortstop. No way Brock Holt would start at short ahead of him. Holt has only played a handful of games at short and they likely aren't signing him anyway with the addition of Dietrich.

3) An outfielder may be traded, but it won't be DaWink. He may have the most value, but he is the only left-handed outfield bat other than Akiyama. Reds are too right-handed in the outfield then.

4) Nick Senzel will not play shortstop in spring training. They will guard that arm like it is gold.

5) Agree that at least one non-roster guy will make it. Adding the 26th player helps with that.

[TRF]

My bold predictions

1. Finnegan makes the 26 man roster. outta nowhere!
2. Reds trade Schebler to Seattle for prospects. Also Senzel gets traded in a separate deal to the Marlins or TB (totally guessing here). Reds take advantage of FA signings to trade for the future without harming the present. Aquino and Winker platoon in RF/LF depending on which is playing that day.
3. Dietrich makes the OD roster playing 2B for about 10 days until Suarez is cleared. Stays on when Trahan gets DFA'd
4. Desclafani as the longest tenured Red's SP gets the OD nod
5. Five is... nope. there are only 4 from me.

[JaxRed]

My bold predictions

1. Finnegan makes the 26 man roster. outta nowhere!
2. Reds trade Schebler to Seattle for prospects. Also Senzel gets traded in a separate deal to the Marlins or TB (totally guessing here). Reds take advantage of FA signings to trade for the future without harming the present. Aquino and Winker platoon in RF/LF depending on which is playing that day.
3. Dietrich makes the OD roster playing 2B for about 10 days until Suarez is cleared. Stays on when Trahan gets DFA'd
4. Desclafani as the longest tenured Red's SP gets the OD nod
5. Five is... nope. there are only 4 from me.

I think you are 0/4 but as a point of order, Trahan can't be DFA'd because he's not on the 40 man roster.

[HammerTime]

My bold predictions

1. Finnegan makes the 26 man roster. outta nowhere!
2. Reds trade Schebler to Seattle for prospects. Also Senzel gets traded in a separate deal to the Marlins or TB (totally guessing here). Reds take advantage of FA signings to trade for the future without harming the present. Aquino and Winker platoon in RF/LF depending on which is playing that day.
3. Dietrich makes the OD roster playing 2B for about 10 days until Suarez is cleared. Stays on when Trahan gets DFA'd
4. Desclafani as the longest tenured Red's SP gets the OD nod
5. Five is... nope. there are only 4 from me.

Good lord, I hope none of those are true.

[RedsManRick]

Michael Lorenzen has a career .235/.279/.432 batting line. As best we can tell, he's something like a replacement level position player. For a guy who is a good reliever, that's awesome. But on balance, it's quite meh.

The Reds should not in any way be falling over themselves to get him 20 starts so he can qualify as a 2-way player for a 1 season (at which point he'd have to get 20 starts again). The upside of being able to carry a 9th bullpen arm is not exactly something worth actively harming your team to accomplish, especially when you have this happening alongside a rule that makes LOOGYs more or less obsolete.

[TRF]

Good lord, I hope none of those are true.

Lets see...

1. If Finnegan makes the OD roster, it's because Boddy and Driveline worked. I'd think we'd want a success story there. Finnegan turns 27 in April. I ABSOLUTELY want this to happen on merit. If he's 100% healthy, he's got a terrific arm and talent.
2. Who DOESN'T want Schebler traded? I mean he's out of options and the Reds kept him over younger guys. Maybe they have the preliminaries of a deal in place based on his health in ST. Seems reasonable. Senzel frankly has no position. Maybe LF. Shogo is going to be the everyday CF, the Reds did not sign him to be a utility guy. Senzel can bring in a haul in prospects. Maybe a deal bundled with Mahle or Santillan.
3. I like Dietrich. Sue me.
4. Who cares who gets the start? Desclafani was the 2nd best pitcher on the staff in the 2nd half, and frankly, having Gray or Castillo line up at 3, with Bauer at 4 could mess some teams up until the off days hit. Then it really won't matter. Disco seems like a good guy, so why not him?

- - - Updated - - -

I think you are 0/4 but as a point of order, Trahan can't be DFA'd because he's not on the 40 man roster.

That's a fair point. I forgot to add Trahan makes it as the backup IF. DD plays 2B until Suarez returns to play 3B.