The offseason and recent roster churn have affected every section of the Reds. But no group may have endured more turnover than the club’s bullpen. While there will be holdovers, there will be several new faces no matter how the camp competition pans out.
Here is how the 2022 bullpen could look for Opening Day:
Perhaps the best bullpen arm Cincinnati has -- right-hander Lucas Sims -- won’t be ready for Opening Day. Sims is not injured but offseason setbacks -- including back spasms and an illness -- prevented him ramping up his throwing program. He also dealt with a right elbow sprain that cost him 39 games last season.
The returning members
RHP Luis Cessa: Acquired at the Trade Deadline last season, Cessa posted a 2.51 ERA in 53 appearances combined for the Reds and Yankees.
RHP Art Warren: Emerged to be a strong option with a 1.29 ERA in 26 games in 2021.
LHP Justin Wilson: Acquired with Cessa from the Yankees, Wilson had a 2.81 ERA in 21 games for the Reds and a 5.29 ERA in 42 games overall.
Jeff Hoffman was a starter turned reliever last season and will be viewed as a possible bullpen piece this season. Tony Santillan, who started on Sunday vs. the Giants, is a candidate for either the rotation or bullpen. So is lefty Reiver Sanmartin.
These pitchers could back up during games in something akin to tandem starts.
“With Santillan and Hoffman and Sanmartin, we’ll be able to do that more than any year in the past,” Bell said.
Potential new members
The group includes Buck Farmer, Zack Godley, Trey Wingenter, Connor Overton, Phillip Diehl Ben Lively, Kyle Zimmer.
Dauri Moreta made four strong big league appearances in September. Joel Kuhnel is back as a non-roster pitcher after he missed last year with a shoulder injury.