Possi-Roster: AAA Bats

[Bourgeois Zee]

With one deal out of the way, I thought it might be a good idea to see what a Louisville Bat roster is currently-- and what the Reds are going to need to do moving forward to restock their AAA club.

We can do one of these for each squad-- and change the calculus as the Reds make moves this off-season.

Batting Order
OF Blake Dunn/ Jacob Hurtubise
LF/2B Tyler Callihan
RF/LF Rece Hinds
3B Noelvi Marte
DH/UT Ivan Johnson
1B Ruben Ibarra/ Michael Trautwein
SS/3B Davis Wendzel
2B/UT Francisco Urbaez
C Alex Jackson/ Mat Nelson

I assume there will lots and lots of moving parts as the off-season progresses, but this lineup is at least way, way different than the one Chattanooga trotted out most days-- and lost the most games in minor league baseball with. A Hurtibise/ Dunn/ Hinds/ Callihan OF should be good, but it wasn't last year. Johnson and Urbaez were good, though neither has a real position. Johnson DHs here, but can play across the infield and OF corners. Urbaez is a corner OF/2B/3B type. Both profile (at best) as utility guys. The Reds traded for Wendzel last year and he toggled between 3B and SS. Since there aren't any SS at this level (and I believe Edwin Arroyo needs some time in AA), he's what they have. Marte is slumming it until he dominates-- which might be forever. Were I GM, I'd make it clear that he has to be much, much better defensively before being brought up no matter how well he hits. 1B is bad, but at least it's RL. Catcher is bad too.

SP Chase Petty
SP Carson Spiers
SP Lyon Richardson
SP Connor Phillips
SP Jose Acuna

Until Acuna is tabbed by another team in the Rule 5, he's still a Bat. I assume both Graham Ashcraft and the would-be 6th starter (Lowder/ Lodolo) will be in Cincinnati. That still leaves a pretty solid starting rotation in Louisville. Petty's not on the 40-man-- nor is Acuna. As a result, neither will be likely to get major league time until after the All-Star break, if then. Spiers, Phillips, and Richardson could all, however, see major league innings as either relievers or as starters. All would be on the hybrid plan, were I GM. I suspect Krall will do much the same.

RP Luis Mey
RP Zach Maxwell
RP Andrew Moore
RP Evan Kravetz
RP Reiver Sanmartin
RP Stevie Branche
RP Casey Legumina
RP Yosver Zulueta
RP Sam Benschoter

This will look far different in the coming months as Krall fills out his minor and major league bingo card. For now, I've got Zulueta on the Bats, assuming the Reds will use both Ashcraft and Lodolo at the major league level as relief arms, with Lowder in the rotation. There's a bunch of mph here-- four guys throw 100+-- and several different looks. This might be a strength of the Bat team and is certainly an interesting group of guys.

[Kc61]

Like the pitching side.

[Kingspoint]

I'm guessing that we need about 9 pitchers who can go back-and-forth from Louisville to Cincinnati. Assuming one of them will begin in AA and another currently isn't employed by the REDS, the seven candidates I'd choose are:

Spiers
Richardson
Petty
Mey
Legumina
Sanmartin
Zulueta

[Bourgeois Zee]

I'm guessing that we need about 9 pitchers who can go back-and-forth from Louisville to Cincinnati. Assuming one of them will begin in AA and another currently isn't employed by the REDS, the seven candidates I'd choose are:

Spiers
Richardson
Petty
Mey
Legumina
Sanmartin
Zulueta

I'm not sure if Sanmartin would ever darken my door again, but at least he's had some experience. I'd prefer upside to experience, though:

In order, my nine:
- Zulueta (Big-time stuff, Cruz-like, with experience riding the I-71 shuttle. First option, IMO.)
- Phillips (As a reliever, he's a difference-maker. Maybe. He has to keep his BB/9 below 5. As a starter, below 4.5.)
- Mey (Assuming he doesn't implode in Spring Training, I like him as the next Red closer. 100+ and movement. Aroldis Lite.)
- Richardson (Hybrid, one-time-through guy. Last chance to impress.)
- Spiers (Hybrid, long relief or innings eater. Won't pitch well, but will soak up innings.)
- Petty (Protect him from the 40-man roster if possible, until he's dominant in AAA. Then release the hounds-- as a hybrid or starter.)
- Maxwell (100+ mph fastball, Ricky Karcher control, and Todd Coffey's body? Yes, please.)
- Legumina (Did you know Legumina is Latin for "flotsam"?)
- Acuna (Assuming no one nabs him in the Rule 5, he's a BOR candidate who might provide innings. I like him better than Spiers for that role, but think he's going to be picked.)

[Kingspoint]

I'm not sure if Sanmartin would ever darken my door again, but at least he's had some experience. I'd prefer upside to experience, though:

In order, my nine:
- Zulueta (Big-time stuff, Cruz-like, with experience riding the I-71 shuttle. First option, IMO.)
- Phillips (As a reliever, he's a difference-maker. Maybe. He has to keep his BB/9 below 5. As a starter, below 4.5.)
- Mey (Assuming he doesn't implode in Spring Training, I like him as the next Red closer. 100+ and movement. Aroldis Lite.)
- Richardson (Hybrid, one-time-through guy. Last chance to impress.)
- Spiers (Hybrid, long relief or innings eater. Won't pitch well, but will soak up innings.)
- Petty (Protect him from the 40-man roster if possible, until he's dominant in AAA. Then release the hounds-- as a hybrid or starter.)
- Maxwell (100+ mph fastball, Ricky Karcher control, and Todd Coffey's body? Yes, please.)
- Legumina (Did you know Legumina is Latin for "flotsam"?)
- Acuna (Assuming no one nabs him in the Rule 5, he's a BOR candidate who might provide innings. I like him better than Spiers for that role, but think he's going to be picked.)

Could not agree more with you about Sanmartin. I only chose him because he seems like a hard habit to break by the REDS.

Aslo agree about Petty. I don't think he's a candidate for shuttling between the two cities as I also think that once he's called up, he's staying. So, I'd replace him with Phillips and Sanmartin with another Lefty.

Alos agree about upside over experience. I'm a firm believer that most Relievers can find some success for short periods of time...6 months to 2-1/2 years, but after that, it's a crap-shoot, and I like the costs of the younger players. I don't need my Relievers being "crafty". I need them to not throw meatballs or to throw a type of pitch to a player who's strength is hitting that type of pitch. Junk-ball pitchers can be effective in a bullpen, as long as you only have one of them.

[Kingspoint]

On Acuna,...

Is he totally out of the REDS' control? I'm meaning that if a team picks him in the Rule 5 Draft, would the REDS have any type of option to send them someone else and keep him? Threaten to take someone from the team trying to take Acuna, or something?

[Kc61]

On Acuna,...

Is he totally out of the REDS' control? I'm meaning that if a team picks him in the Rule 5 Draft, would the REDS have any type of option to send them someone else and keep him? Threaten to take someone from the team trying to take Acuna, or something?

Rule 5 draftee has to stay on major league roster or IL all season or the acquiring club has to offer him back.

Even if Acuna is taken in Rule 5, there’s a decent chance the new team will decide to return him to Reds after ST.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Rule 5 draftee has to stay on major league roster or IL all season or the acquiring club has to offer him back.

Even if Acuna is taken in Rule 5, there’s a decent chance the new team will decide to return him to Reds after ST.

The trick is that Acuna was injured much of last year. That's basically a free pass to DL, work on the side, and a rehab assignment. An enterprising team who liked Acuna and recognized his youth could start him in the bullpen, shelve him for a couple of weeks, rehab him in AAA, then bring him back as a long man or as a BOR SP. Now, because he has a relatively low ceiling, other teams might shruf at that, but cheap innings are invaluable in todday's game even if they're not productive.

[herbdizzle]

Man the position side looks sad. The pitching group has at least 6-7 arms that I know can contribute in some role as a MLB callup.

Other than Marte, and maybe Callihan, I see a bunch of guys with not enough talent to contribute for Reds this year.

[JCM11]

Are they going to stash Benson in AAA if he doesn't make the MLB team? If they bring in a competent OF Benson is probably the odd man out. Burns is the wild card for me on the pitching side. It's between him and Hunter for who has the best stuff in the entire org. I don't think the lower level minor leaguers will be much of a challenge for him. I watched Burns pitch a lot last year, and if it wasn't for allowing some HR with the juiced bats and little league park that Wake Forrest plays in he doesn't give up many runs at all. He's just not the kind of pitcher teams are likely to run off 3 or 4 hits in an inning off of.

Hopefully they can turn Phillips into a guy they can use at the MLB level, and IMO that will be out of the pen.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Hopefully they can turn Phillips into a guy they can use at the MLB level, and IMO that will be out of the pen.

I think this is the season they'll move Phillips to the pen. He's got two more options and will need to show something, and the rotation looks pretty full. (At the moment.)

Richardson too, fwiw.

- - - Updated - - -

Are they going to stash Benson in AAA if he doesn't make the MLB team? If they bring in a competent OF Benson is probably the odd man out.

Good call. I'm guessing that's what will happen, if he's not dealt.

And it's a good move, IMO. we know he's a big-time contributor if he's right. AAA is a low-stakes way to get him right.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Man the position side looks sad.

Next year should be better.

Stewart, Collier, the four middling OF, Arroyo-- lots of interesting guys there.

[krazzy]

Outfield: Hinds, Hurtubise, Benson, Dunn
Infield: Jose Tottez, Francisco Urbaez, Ruben Ibarra Davis Wendzel
Utility: Ivan Johnson, Tylor Callihan
Catcher: Will Banfield, Alex Jackson, Michael Trautwein

I think you are right about the rotation with the exception oh Lyon Richardson. I think it will either be Lowder or Ashcraft in his spot.

Not a bad looking bullpen. If Maxwell, Mey and Moore alll live up to their expectations, they will need a nickname. They will be Nasty

[Bourgeois Zee]

New catcher Will Banfield scouting report:

Banfield didn't begin catching until high school but developed into the backstop with the highest defensive ceiling in the 2018 Draft. Concerns about his hitting ability and Vanderbilt commitment allowed the Marlins to get him in the supplemental second round, where he signed for $1.8 million (nearly twice his slot value). His work behind the plate has been as good as advertised but he batted just .199/.252/.310 in low Class A in 2019.

Banfield stands out most with well above-average arm strength that he enhances with a fast release and fine accuracy, a combination that allowed him to erase 46 percent of basestealers during his first full pro season. Quicker than most catchers, he receives and blocks balls well. His leadership skills are another asset, and he has made the effort to learn Spanish so he can better communicate with all of his teammates.

While he looks like a future Gold Glover, Banfield will have to make some offensive improvements to become an everyday player in the big leagues. He has a quick bat and some strength, producing impressive exit velocities when he barrels the ball, but that happens too infrequently because his approach is too aggressive and his right-handed stroke gets too long. He could provide some pull power but might never hit for a high average, with an overall game resembling that of Austin Hedges.

Defense-first, big-power, no-hit, no-walk backup catcher. Not the worst option, IMO. I'd prefer a surer thing, but I like the defense and arm.

[Dave C]

As much as he should be in AAA, I'm not sure Marte goes to AAA. The team spoke pretty loudly about him last year. Getting caught with PED's... and they didn't hesitate to put him on the MLB team. Suck for 90% of your time and he still kept the spot. Will that "approach" change?

Hopefully another team thinks he has some value and we can trade him.

Benson at AAA? appropriate... but why here?