MLB season preview: Things don't look bright for the rebuilding Reds
Yahoo Sports StaffBig League StewApr 2, 2017, 6:00 AM
Ad:
2017 MLB Team Previews - Cincinnati Reds
Yahoo Sports Videos
Scroll back up to restore default view.
Over the past few years, the Cincinnati Reds have chipped away at a roster that was once a World Series contender. Johnny Cueto, Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier were all traded. Last month, Brandon Phillips joined them, getting shipped to the Atlanta Braves.
So it’s time to wonder: Have the Reds reached rock bottom? Joey Votto, Billy Hamilton and a bunch of young guys. Is it all upward from here?
[Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Baseball | 2017 Player Rankings]
The Reds lost 94 games a year ago and, on the surface, things don’t look particularly brighter this season. They can hope for growth from Brandon Finnegan and Jose Peraza, wonder what Homer Bailey’s return looks like and see whether first-half Adam Duvall or second-half Adam Duvall shows up. Does that equal a record closer to .500? In the NL Central, that’s no easy task.
At least this much seems clear: the Reds have turned the corner that separates tear-down from build-up. (Mike Oz)
ADDITIONS & SUBTRACTIONS
Additions: Drew Storen, Desmond Jennings, Scott Feldman
Subtractions: Dan Straily, Brandon Phillips
There’s not much to get excited about with Cincinnati’s additions. Both Storen and Jennings are players who had a lot of promise at one point in their careers, but they’ve lost momentum in recent seasons. Storen could wind up playing a big role in the team’s bullpen if last year’s brief resurgence in Seattle was for real. Jennings is probably a fourth outfielder at this point in his career.
While the Phillips subtraction stands out, it was for the best. Trading Phillips allows the Reds to get both Dilson Herrera and Jose Peraza in the lineup. Peraza dazzled in a brief stint last year, hitting .324/.352/.411 over 356 plate appearances. Herrera has been an exceptional hitter in the minors, though has struggled in two brief major-league appearances. He deserves a chance to get an extended look in the majors, and should be able to do so this year. (Chris Cwik)
Will the Reds be better than their 94-loss season in 2016? (AP)
Will the Reds be better than their 94-loss season in 2016? (AP)
More
KEY PLAYER
Could it be anyone but Joey Votto? The Reds may be rebuilding, but Votto is there for the long haul. If you remember, Votto started 2016 playing fairly poorly, finishing May hitting .213/.330/.404. But what came next is why he’s still the most important player on the Reds. After May 31, Votto hit .378/.482/.619 through the rest of the season. His ability to do that at age-32 is significant: the man is constantly working to get better in any and every way possible. Fans might not like that he’s so patient the plate, but Votto doesn’t care. It’s part of his game, and it’s what makes him such a great player. It’s not just about hitting, it’s about everything else in between. (Liz Roscher)
PROJECTED LINEUP & ROTATION
Lineup:
1. Billy Hamilton, CF (.260/.321/.343, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 58 SB)
2. Zack Cozart, SS (.252/.308/.425, 16 HR, 50 RBI)
3. Joey Votto, 1B (.236/.434/.550, 29 HR, 97 RBI, 101 R)
4. Adam Duvall, LF (.241/.297/.498, 33 HR, 103 RBI)
5. Scott Schebler, RF (.265/.330/.432, 9 HR, 40 RBI)
6. Eugenio Suarez, 3B (.248/.317/.411, 21 HR, 70 RBI)
7. Jose Peraza, 2B (.324/.352/.411, 3 HR, 25 RBI)
8. Devin Mesoraco, C (.140/.218/.160, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
Rotation:
1. Scott Feldman (7-4, 3.97 ERA, 77 IP, 56 K)
2. Brandon Finnegan (10-11, 3.98 ERA, 172 IP, 145 K)
3. Rookie Davis (NA)
4. Amir Garrett (NA)
5. Bronson Arroyo (2014: 7-4, 4.08 ERA, 86 IP, 47 K)
Brandon Finnegan: Ace in the making? (AP)
Brandon Finnegan: Ace in the making? (AP)
More
BEST-CASE SCENARIO
The short-term outlook remains bleak as the Reds attempt to rebuild the minor-league system. Not helping matters is that they share a division with the Cubs, Cardinals and Pirates. A winning record in the division doesn’t seem remotely possible, meaning the best-case scenario might be equaling last season’s 68 wins. (Mark Townsend)
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
We’ve established it’s going to be a struggle again this season With several long-term core players now gone, the Reds are a definite candidate for 100 losses. (Townsend)
PRESSING FANTASY QUESTION
With Brandon Phillips getting shipped to Atlanta, the Reds are handing over the second base job to Jose Peraza, who’s primed to make a major fantasy impact thanks to his speed. The 22-year-old held his own against major-league pitching as a rookie (103 wRC+), and while his .324 BA can’t be counted on to repeat, he attempted 31 stolen bases over just 241 at bats. Peraza currently projects to hit second, right ahead of the patient Joey Votto, so 40+ steals are certainly attainable. He’s eligible at 2B, SS and OF and sports an ADP outside the top-200, so Peraza is someone to target, especially as the league continues to shift more toward power, with steals increasingly harder to come by. (Dalton Del Don)
BEST FOLLOW
Second baseman Dilson Herrera hasn’t made it to the bigs with the Reds yet, but he will. So why not get familiar with him?
While Herrera primarily posts in Spanish (though on Twitter, those can be easily translated), he enjoys posting videos of himself doing weird, relatable stuff (like sprinkling seasoning onto an entree), and pictures of himself with his teammates. So give Herrera a follow and get to know him and other future Reds. Because when the rebuild is over, they’re the ones you’ll be seeing every day. (Roscher)
The Reds have some good giveaways. (AP)
The Reds have some good giveaways. (AP)
More
BEST REASON TO ATTEND A GAME
The play on the field isn’t going to be all that great, so you might as well take home a free souvenir if you attend a game. The Reds’ Theme Ticket Packages seem like the perfect opportunity to do just that. The Reds have a number of cool giveaways connected with Theme Ticket Packages this season, including two Marvel Superhero giveaways, a Star Wars bobblehead and an Elvis bobblehead. If bobbleheads aren’t your thing, you can try and get a 1975 replica World Series ring in September. You have to sign up for the Theme Ticket Packages in order to receive one of these unique giveaways, though, so you might want to plan ahead. (Cwik)
Yahoo Sports StaffBig League StewApr 2, 2017, 6:00 AM
Ad:
2017 MLB Team Previews - Cincinnati Reds
Yahoo Sports Videos
Scroll back up to restore default view.
Over the past few years, the Cincinnati Reds have chipped away at a roster that was once a World Series contender. Johnny Cueto, Jay Bruce, Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier were all traded. Last month, Brandon Phillips joined them, getting shipped to the Atlanta Braves.
So it’s time to wonder: Have the Reds reached rock bottom? Joey Votto, Billy Hamilton and a bunch of young guys. Is it all upward from here?
[Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Baseball | 2017 Player Rankings]
The Reds lost 94 games a year ago and, on the surface, things don’t look particularly brighter this season. They can hope for growth from Brandon Finnegan and Jose Peraza, wonder what Homer Bailey’s return looks like and see whether first-half Adam Duvall or second-half Adam Duvall shows up. Does that equal a record closer to .500? In the NL Central, that’s no easy task.
At least this much seems clear: the Reds have turned the corner that separates tear-down from build-up. (Mike Oz)
ADDITIONS & SUBTRACTIONS
Additions: Drew Storen, Desmond Jennings, Scott Feldman
Subtractions: Dan Straily, Brandon Phillips
There’s not much to get excited about with Cincinnati’s additions. Both Storen and Jennings are players who had a lot of promise at one point in their careers, but they’ve lost momentum in recent seasons. Storen could wind up playing a big role in the team’s bullpen if last year’s brief resurgence in Seattle was for real. Jennings is probably a fourth outfielder at this point in his career.
While the Phillips subtraction stands out, it was for the best. Trading Phillips allows the Reds to get both Dilson Herrera and Jose Peraza in the lineup. Peraza dazzled in a brief stint last year, hitting .324/.352/.411 over 356 plate appearances. Herrera has been an exceptional hitter in the minors, though has struggled in two brief major-league appearances. He deserves a chance to get an extended look in the majors, and should be able to do so this year. (Chris Cwik)
Will the Reds be better than their 94-loss season in 2016? (AP)
Will the Reds be better than their 94-loss season in 2016? (AP)
More
KEY PLAYER
Could it be anyone but Joey Votto? The Reds may be rebuilding, but Votto is there for the long haul. If you remember, Votto started 2016 playing fairly poorly, finishing May hitting .213/.330/.404. But what came next is why he’s still the most important player on the Reds. After May 31, Votto hit .378/.482/.619 through the rest of the season. His ability to do that at age-32 is significant: the man is constantly working to get better in any and every way possible. Fans might not like that he’s so patient the plate, but Votto doesn’t care. It’s part of his game, and it’s what makes him such a great player. It’s not just about hitting, it’s about everything else in between. (Liz Roscher)
PROJECTED LINEUP & ROTATION
Lineup:
1. Billy Hamilton, CF (.260/.321/.343, 3 HR, 17 RBI, 58 SB)
2. Zack Cozart, SS (.252/.308/.425, 16 HR, 50 RBI)
3. Joey Votto, 1B (.236/.434/.550, 29 HR, 97 RBI, 101 R)
4. Adam Duvall, LF (.241/.297/.498, 33 HR, 103 RBI)
5. Scott Schebler, RF (.265/.330/.432, 9 HR, 40 RBI)
6. Eugenio Suarez, 3B (.248/.317/.411, 21 HR, 70 RBI)
7. Jose Peraza, 2B (.324/.352/.411, 3 HR, 25 RBI)
8. Devin Mesoraco, C (.140/.218/.160, 0 HR, 1 RBI)
Rotation:
1. Scott Feldman (7-4, 3.97 ERA, 77 IP, 56 K)
2. Brandon Finnegan (10-11, 3.98 ERA, 172 IP, 145 K)
3. Rookie Davis (NA)
4. Amir Garrett (NA)
5. Bronson Arroyo (2014: 7-4, 4.08 ERA, 86 IP, 47 K)
Brandon Finnegan: Ace in the making? (AP)
Brandon Finnegan: Ace in the making? (AP)
More
BEST-CASE SCENARIO
The short-term outlook remains bleak as the Reds attempt to rebuild the minor-league system. Not helping matters is that they share a division with the Cubs, Cardinals and Pirates. A winning record in the division doesn’t seem remotely possible, meaning the best-case scenario might be equaling last season’s 68 wins. (Mark Townsend)
WORST-CASE SCENARIO
We’ve established it’s going to be a struggle again this season With several long-term core players now gone, the Reds are a definite candidate for 100 losses. (Townsend)
PRESSING FANTASY QUESTION
With Brandon Phillips getting shipped to Atlanta, the Reds are handing over the second base job to Jose Peraza, who’s primed to make a major fantasy impact thanks to his speed. The 22-year-old held his own against major-league pitching as a rookie (103 wRC+), and while his .324 BA can’t be counted on to repeat, he attempted 31 stolen bases over just 241 at bats. Peraza currently projects to hit second, right ahead of the patient Joey Votto, so 40+ steals are certainly attainable. He’s eligible at 2B, SS and OF and sports an ADP outside the top-200, so Peraza is someone to target, especially as the league continues to shift more toward power, with steals increasingly harder to come by. (Dalton Del Don)
BEST FOLLOW
Second baseman Dilson Herrera hasn’t made it to the bigs with the Reds yet, but he will. So why not get familiar with him?
While Herrera primarily posts in Spanish (though on Twitter, those can be easily translated), he enjoys posting videos of himself doing weird, relatable stuff (like sprinkling seasoning onto an entree), and pictures of himself with his teammates. So give Herrera a follow and get to know him and other future Reds. Because when the rebuild is over, they’re the ones you’ll be seeing every day. (Roscher)
The Reds have some good giveaways. (AP)
The Reds have some good giveaways. (AP)
More
BEST REASON TO ATTEND A GAME
The play on the field isn’t going to be all that great, so you might as well take home a free souvenir if you attend a game. The Reds’ Theme Ticket Packages seem like the perfect opportunity to do just that. The Reds have a number of cool giveaways connected with Theme Ticket Packages this season, including two Marvel Superhero giveaways, a Star Wars bobblehead and an Elvis bobblehead. If bobbleheads aren’t your thing, you can try and get a 1975 replica World Series ring in September. You have to sign up for the Theme Ticket Packages in order to receive one of these unique giveaways, though, so you might want to plan ahead. (Cwik)
Today at 3:15 pm by Rocky
» utube MM&C 10/17/24 MM&C News Reporting - Iraq Dinar Updates 10/16/2024
Today at 8:13 am by Rocky
» Aides CUT OFF Interview as Kamala Harris BOMBS on Fox News
Today at 6:59 am by Rocky
» Trump's women's voters town hall oct 16-24
Today at 6:59 am by Rocky
» MM&C 10/16/24 Iraq Increases Reserves at IMF by 50%
Today at 6:58 am by Rocky
» MM&C 10/15/24 US Senate enters the line of pressure on the Central Bank of Iraq
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» utube MM&C 10/15/24 Attention to Valuation-Revaluation of Currency-IMF-WB-Viewpoints
Today at 6:57 am by Rocky
» Trade Bank of Iraq announces the imminent opening of Al-Saydiyah and Al-Samawah branches
Today at 6:53 am by Rocky
» Finance launches third issue of government bonds “Enjaz” for public subscription
Today at 6:52 am by Rocky
» Washington: We support Iraq’s economic reform agenda, updating the budget and enhancing transparency
Today at 6:49 am by Rocky
» Muqtada al-Sadr: German Foreign Minister must retract her statements supporting the killing of civil
Today at 6:44 am by Rocky
» About $270 million in sales from the Central Bank of Iraq at today's auction
Today at 6:42 am by Rocky
» Oil Ministry: Iraq is one of the worst violators of gas flaring rules
Today at 6:41 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani chairs a meeting to follow up on efforts to develop the work of the government banking sec
Today at 6:39 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani stresses the importance of banking reform in enhancing citizen confidence and cooperation
Today at 6:36 am by Rocky
» BRICS currency.. Government advisor: A global monetary and financial system is about to be born
Today at 5:56 am by Bama Diva
» Iraq imports 17% of Jordanian food industry products
Today at 5:08 am by Rocky
» MP: 3 Iraqi messages at the International Conference of Speakers of Parliaments in Geneva
Today at 5:05 am by Rocky
» The Minister of Oil dismisses the Director General of the North Oil Company from his position
Today at 5:03 am by Rocky
» Nechirvan Barzani calls on Baghdad not to be afraid of arming the Peshmerga: They are defending Iraq
Today at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Two waste sites identified for use in energy generation in Baghdad
Today at 5:00 am by Rocky
» EU seeks to build economic corridor with Gulf states
Today at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Industry announces obligating brick factories to switch to gas instead of black oil
Today at 4:56 am by Rocky
» Iraq ranks third in real estate purchases in Türkiye during the month
Today at 4:55 am by Rocky
» The President of the Republic discusses the investment situation in the country
Today at 4:53 am by Rocky
» Iraq reconstruction projects before Arab ministers
Today at 4:52 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: The government has regained the confidence of citizens
Today at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Major government campaign to combat environmental pollution
Today at 4:50 am by Rocky
» The food basket and care increased the citizen’s share of the GDP.
Today at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Economic Contradictions: Argentina as a Model
Today at 4:47 am by Rocky
» Malians: No significant impact of dollar's rise in markets
Today at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Calls to speed up the establishment of the {Bank of the Poor}
Today at 4:45 am by Rocky
» Today.. The Kurdistan government announces a list of September salaries
Today at 4:40 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani pledges to adopt a 5-dimensional "integrated strategy" to support Diyala
Today at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Barzani and Erdogan discuss the development road project
Today at 4:37 am by Rocky
» The Presidency of the Republic calls for submitting applications regarding death sentences that do n
Today at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Iraq is heading to import gas from deep in Asia
Today at 4:34 am by Rocky
» They brought in about 4 billion dollars.. Iran receives more than 4 million tourists, led by Iraq, i
Today at 4:30 am by Rocky
» Will "Turkmen gas" change the reality of electricity in Iraq?
Today at 4:29 am by Rocky
» Politician: US Ambassador Failed to Create Western Veto on Parliament Laws
Today at 4:27 am by Rocky
» White House adopts hotline with Baghdad in preparation for indirect negotiations with Tehran
Today at 4:25 am by Rocky
» Deputy Minister of Oil publishes phrases for unknown reasons on his Facebook account
Today at 4:24 am by Rocky
» He inaugurated and announced strategic projects and issued 3 important decisions.. Dimensions of Al-
Today at 4:23 am by Rocky
» The trial period for raising the prices of improved gasoline has ended, and the amount of revenues i
Today at 4:22 am by Rocky
» Iraq is the fourth in the world in violating “Internet freedom” during 2024
Today at 4:21 am by Rocky
» Parliament Speaker Crisis Looms.. Coordination Framework Agrees to Support Al-Mashhadani
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani Party: Parliament fully supports the Prime Minister
Today at 4:19 am by Rocky
» Kurdistan Finance Deposits More Than 77 Billion in Non-Oil Revenues into Baghdad Treasury
Today at 4:17 am by Rocky
» Causing environmental pollution.. Closure of 30 metal smelting sites east of Baghdad
Today at 4:15 am by Rocky
» Traffic announces the imminent start of issuing license plates for taxis, trucks and bicycles
Today at 4:14 am by Rocky
» A huge fire devours a hypermarket in Baghdad
Today at 4:13 am by Rocky
» Planning: The general census will collect accurate information on employees in the public and privat
Today at 4:12 am by Rocky
» The Commission announces its full readiness to hold the Kurdistan Regional Parliament elections
Today at 4:11 am by Rocky
» The Coordination Framework agrees to support Al-Mashhadani for the presidency of Parliament
Today at 4:10 am by Rocky
» Sunni political meeting to discuss general amnesty and the issue of the position of the Speaker of P
Today at 4:09 am by Rocky
» Petroleum Products: The percentage of imports of derivatives decreased to 50 percent
Today at 4:08 am by Rocky
» "Medicines in Iraq" .. Talk about smuggled treatments and the absence of a pharmaceutical policy
Today at 4:05 am by Rocky
» Dollar exchange rate drops on Thursday morning
Today at 4:03 am by Rocky
» "Suspicion" in Karbala Refinery: Failure to train Iraqi cadres.. Korean will renew the operating con
Today at 4:02 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Committee Talks About Economic Reform Law: It Reached Parliament Months Ago
Today at 4:00 am by Rocky
» New Study Talks About an American Crime: Uranium Fingerprint in the Blood of Iraqis
Today at 3:59 am by Rocky
» Electoral silence in Kurdistan before stormy vote
Today at 3:58 am by Rocky
» Special voting for Kurdistan elections starts tomorrow and the commission announces its readiness
Today at 3:57 am by Rocky
» Iraq's 2025 budget returns to the forefront, so what are the demands?
Today at 3:55 am by Rocky
» great interview President Trump's Interview with Bloomberg at The Economic Club of Chicago
Yesterday at 7:03 am by Rocky
» Foreign remittance sales increase by 97% at Central Bank auction
Yesterday at 6:44 am by Rocky
» Al-Maliki invites international companies to invest in agriculture in Iraq
Yesterday at 5:14 am by Rocky
» MP urges Sunni forces to decide on Parliament Speakership
Yesterday at 5:12 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani is upset with the procrastination and threatens to withdraw the Australian hospital projec
Yesterday at 5:11 am by Rocky
» The Coordination Framework agrees to support Al-Mashhadani for the presidency of Parliament and pass
Yesterday at 5:10 am by Rocky
» Finance Minister and US Ambassador Discuss Government Efforts to Achieve Economic Reforms
Yesterday at 5:08 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary Services: Nearly 80% of waste landfill sites do not have environmental approvals
Yesterday at 5:06 am by Rocky
» "The rise of the dollar is not the reason".. An expert reveals the reasons for the rise in meat pric
Yesterday at 5:05 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani lists the implementation of 99 schools in Diyala with funding from this party
Yesterday at 5:04 am by Rocky
» Al-Furatain Bloc: Al-Sudani's government is working to complete all service projects on time
Yesterday at 5:03 am by Rocky
» The Central Bank reveals the percentage of gold in Iraq's foreign currency reserves
Yesterday at 5:02 am by Rocky
» Rusafa is cleaner than Karkh.. Analysis of the air pollution index in Baghdad
Yesterday at 5:00 am by Rocky
» Medical complex for the treatment of psychological disorders and drug addiction
Yesterday at 4:59 am by Rocky
» Toxic waste
Yesterday at 4:58 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani: We have started to address environmental pollution
Yesterday at 4:57 am by Rocky
» Opening of Bastora Dam in Erbil
Yesterday at 4:55 am by Rocky
» A move to build hospitals to treat mental disorders
Yesterday at 4:54 am by Rocky
» Al-Naili to {Sabah}: Starting to establish the Martyrs Fund
Yesterday at 4:53 am by Rocky
» National Lending Strategy
Yesterday at 4:51 am by Rocky
» Exporting aviation fuel... a new step towards diversifying revenues
Yesterday at 4:50 am by Rocky
» Oil falls, OPEC cuts growth forecast
Yesterday at 4:49 am by Rocky
» Foreign Minister leaves Baghdad on a European tour that begins with a visit to Ireland and ends in F
Yesterday at 4:48 am by Rocky
» Launching of the activities of the international scientific conference under the slogan "Development
Yesterday at 4:46 am by Rocky
» Parliamentary recommendations to update the proposed law on the organization of trade unions for wor
Yesterday at 4:44 am by Rocky
» Minister of Finance stresses the importance of partnership with the United States to achieve sustain
Yesterday at 4:43 am by Rocky
» Minister of Transport supervises the submersion of concrete pieces of the submerged tunnel in the Gr
Yesterday at 4:41 am by Rocky
» The Parliamentary Oil Committee meets with the Minister of Electricity to explain the mechanisms for
Yesterday at 4:40 am by Rocky
» MP calls for electing a chairman for the Nineveh Investment Commission
Yesterday at 4:39 am by Rocky
» The Council of Ministers decides to appoint 7 general managers in various ministries
Yesterday at 4:38 am by Rocky
» Transport issues clarification regarding a photo of its Minister with the Minister of Oil: Private v
Yesterday at 4:36 am by Rocky
» Barzani heads to Ankara tomorrow carrying 6 files
Yesterday at 4:35 am by Rocky
» Al-Sudani puts major countries before their responsibilities
Yesterday at 4:34 am by Rocky
» Iraqi oil suffers heavy losses in third session of the week
Yesterday at 4:32 am by Rocky
» Al-Hakim calls for greater attention to food security and agricultural production
Yesterday at 4:31 am by Rocky