I am not happy....but honestly I do not really have an opinion of the FO. I just have not been paying enough close attention in recent years to the off the field dynamics to have a feel for how much is on the FO personnel compared to ownership, etc. etc. All that said, I am still not happy with the way this team is performing.
I look at it and become a little worried that in the end, the construction may end up being flawed....or simply not good enough. It happens...teams are built on paper with little room for improvement and reality sets in that it is not enough....and major changes end up being needed. If the talent on this roster proves to be a .500ish level team (or below), where can quick improvements be made?
Manager - I clearly believe this role can be improved, but I seriously doubt the FO will make any changes over the next 2-3 seasons unless the wheels fall off.
Pitching - Bullpens can always be improved on every team and fluctuate from year to year, but in regards to starting pitching the team will hope to remain even if we lose Bauer. There is a real chance the quality could diminish over the next 2-3 seasons.
Catcher - Clearly is a position that can be improved, and should be improved over the next 2-3 seasons.
1st Base - Votto will be there for the next 2-3 years with likely diminished performance.
2nd Base - Moustakas will be there for the next 2-3 years with likely diminished performance.
3rd Base - Suarez will be there for the next 2-3 years with likely similar performance.
Shortstop - Clearly is a position that can be improved, and should be improved over the next 2-3 seasons.
Left Field - Shogo will likely be there for a couple years with likely similar performance.
Center Field - Senzel will be there for the next 2-3 years with likely improved performance.
Right Field - It is a question mark with Castellanos's contract options, but at best he (or a replacement) is there for the next 2-3 years with likely similar performance.
I think we all agree that the Reds are at least in the salary range that they will be comfortable spending in over the next few years, so going out an signing a elite difference maker such as Lindor in a couple years in not a reasonable expectation. In a perfect world, Stephenson, Garcia, Greene, Lodolo step up and fill those voids....and everything works out perfectly.....but we know the odds are not high that all works out. Also, maybe with Boddy here and Bauers openness to signing short term deals, we can keep him in the mix for a few more years. If those things, that are not really within managements control, where is the area where this team can significantly improve over the next 2-3 years? It is one thing to suck, be very young without much financial commitments because that fan base often has "hope"....but it is a much less optimal position to be in when much of the roster is filled for the next few years with little financial flexibility and not able to contend.
In basketball (NBA), we often see small to mid market teams build up rosters full of talented players....but are never really good enough to "truly" contend and show up each year, win 50 games and a playoff series (Nuggests, Jazz) or even worse a team like the the TWolves who heavily invest in young talent and realize it simply is not going to work, forced to audible into major structural changes. Sometimes, I feel like this is the path that the Reds are on.....quality players across the field, but simply no real difference makers....no Yelich, no Betts, no Lindor....those special players that raise the level of an entire roster hoping to win more or at least as many as they lose.
Is the ceiling of this version of the Reds mediocrity over the next 3-4 years?