Projecting The Reds Starting Lineup For 2025

[Ron Madden]

Projecting The Reds Starting Lineup For 2025

During Terry Francona’s tenure as the Cleveland Guardians’ manager, he used a lot of different types of leadoff hitters.

There are a few trends within Francona’s lineups in Cleveland. He loved having a contact hitter hitting second. Not surprisingly, he put his power hitters in the middle-third of the lineup.

Generally, he showed preference to contact hitters and impact defenders when there were major position battles.

Francona stressed during this past winter meetings that you can’t really put a lineup together until you get a feel for the roster in spring training.

But let’s take a crack at it.
First, the lineup against right-handed pitchers

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https://charlieschalkboard.substack....tarting-lineup

[MoneyInTheBank]

Projecting The Reds Starting Lineup For 2025

Continue Reading Here For Full Article:
https://charlieschalkboard.substack....tarting-lineup

Not a bad first crack at it. Since he is trying to project what the Reds will do rather than what he would do, I have to disagree with Charlie on his defensive alignment. I don't think they traded for Lux for him to be a platoon DH

[WrongVerb]

Top three in every lineup should be Friedl, McLain, and Elly.

In my mind, Friedl leads off against lefties, and McLain vs righties. Yes, you read that correctly. Here's why:

Bat Friedl leadoff against lefties in part because he's a lifetime .391 OBP vs that hand. So he gets on base a lot, and then next up comes McLain and Elly. You could extend RH hitting against a lefty by batting Steer 4th and Stephenson 5th. A nice way to lead oft the game. McLain batting can handle either handed pitching, so him hitting leadoff against righties, then you've got lefties Friedl and Elly behind. Lux could slot 4th, Fraley 5th, and Stephenson 6th. Candy 7th gives you another switch hitter against either hand. You don't get into matchup issues until 8th or 9th.

[WrongVerb]

Not a bad first crack at it. Since he is trying to project what the Reds will do rather than what he would do, I have to disagree with Charlie on his defensive alignment. I don't think they traded for Lux for him to be a platoon DH

I think Lux plays 1b next year. It fits way better than trying to move everyone around or playing his noodle arm at 3b or LF. CES could spot him against lefties, while playing 3b, LF, and RF as a super-sub.

[JCM11]

Even when squinting really hard I don't see a cleanup hitter on this roster. I think every other spot has at least a decent option. CES is the one in house guy who could fit the mold, but he has a long way to go to prove it. Stephenson and McLain would probably be my #2 and #4 hitters in some order with Elly hitting third. TJ or Lux leads off.

[klw]

I think there may be a couple of moves to go:

Friedl CF
McLain RF
Elly SS
Vlad Jr 1B
Bregman 3b
Steer LF
Alonso DH
Lux 2b
Stephenson C


or maybe
Friedl CF
Mclain 2B
Elly SS
Stephenson C
Lux/Marte 3B
Steer LF
CES RF/1B
Candy DH/1b
Hays RF/DH

[Bourgeois Zee]

I think there may be a couple of moves to go:

Friedl CF
McLain RF
Elly SS
Vlad Jr 1B
Bregman 3b
Steer LF
Alonso DH
Lux 2b
Stephenson C

Pretty sure they'd be the NL Central favorite, if this happened.

[klw]

Pretty sure they'd be the NL Central favorite, if this happened.

Nah because to get Vladdy they sent Lowder to Toronto then packaged Greene off to Boston to get them to take Candy's contract and then sent Martinez out for a C prospect to afford Bregman and Alonso. Rotation ends up a bit lacking

[Ron Madden]

Here's a little bit more from the linked article above

I put CES in the lineup vs. LHP, and he’ll be competing for a regular spot in the lineup. His ability to give the Reds a bench power bat who can come in and swing for a homer gives him a potential role if he doesn’t stick as a starter.

There’s one spot left for Marte, Will Benson, Bowman, Hinds and Dunn. Because of Benson’s ability to draw walks, his defensive versatility in the outfield, his positive clubhouse presence and his upside, I’ll go with him.

Bench: CES, Stuart Fairchild, Will Benson, Jose Trevino.
Rounding out this roster projection with the pitching staff:

The bullpen currently lacks experience. The return of a pitcher like Buck Farmer or Lucas Sims makes a lot of sense. There’s also value in having a LHP with a power arm like Justin Wilson gave the Reds last season, and free agents Jalen Beeks, Tim Mayza and AJ Minter have the skill set to fit that role.

Rotation: Hunter Greene, Brady Singer, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott, Nick Martinez

Bubble: Graham Ashcraft, Rhett Lowder, Carson Spiers

Bullpen: Alexis Díaz, Tony Santillan, Sam Moll, Emilio Pagán, Brent Suter, Graham Ashcraft, Carson Spiers, free agent addition TBD

Bubble: Zach Maxwell, Yosver Zulueta, Casey Legumina, Luis Mey, Bryan Shaw, Lyon Richardson.

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[Bourgeois Zee]

Nah because to get Vladdy they sent Lowder to Toronto then packaged Greene off to Boston to get them to take Candy's contract and then sent Martinez out for a C prospect to afford Bregman and Alonso. Rotation ends up a bit lacking

Basically, the Lost Decade, then.

[klw]

Basically, the Lost Decade, then.

Nah, not that bad and the rotation isn't awful

Singer
Lodolo
Ashcraft
Abbott
Burns

[LiferJim]

Nah, not that bad and the rotation isn't awful

Singer
Lodolo
Ashcraft
Abbott
Burns

Really? I’d prefer Ashcraft be used in the bullpen and Lodolo has yet to prove he can stay healthy. Burns has yet to throw a pitch in the majors, so I wouldn’t bank on him quite yet, though I do believe he will pan out.

I wouldn’t trade Greene or Lowder, but I would trade Abbott or Lodolo for the right return.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[MoneyInTheBank]

I think Lux plays 1b next year. It fits way better than trying to move everyone around or playing his noodle arm at 3b or LF. CES could spot him against lefties, while playing 3b, LF, and RF as a super-sub.

That would be interesting. I don't think having McLain play 3B would be a big deal but I respect the opinion that they should leave him at 2B

[RiverfrontRed]

I'm not too sure about Tyler batting cleanup!

[WrongVerb]

In my middling dream, this is what happens:

Reds trade for Robert
Reds sign Verdugo

2b McLain
LF Friedl
SS Elly
RF Robert
CA Stephenson
1b Lux/CES
3b Steer
DH Candy
RF Verdugo