My Pick for Breakout Team in the MLB:

An Active Offseason makes The Cincinnati Reds and Intriguing Team

By: Michael A. Chase Jr.

3/17/2019

          Last season was another tough year for the Cincinnati Reds. The club finished with a 67-95 record and last in the National League Central. They have failed to finish with a winning record for the past 5 seasons, averaging just 68.6 wins per year. Would it seem perplexing to consider the Cincinnati Reds to be the breakout team this upcoming MLB season. The club has made many key offseason moves both big and small that could very well contribute to a possible turnaround in 2019. Talented new players being added to what is a talented core the Reds have the chance to surprise MLB fans and their opponents with a successful season. This article will look to highlight all the key offseason moves they made and the impact each could make. If pieces fit, the Reds hopefully could climb from the basement to possibly surprising playoff contender.

The Key Off-season Moves

            Trades:

The Cincinnati Reds offseason started with three significant trades. First The Cincinnati Reds traded with the New York Yankees to acquire starting pitcher Sonny Gray and a prospect. Second, was a deal with the Washington Nationals, as they acquired starting pitcher Tanner Roark from Washington. Lastly what I consider blockbuster trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers. This trade brought in a host of players, including outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp, pitcher Alex Wood, and catching prospect Kyle Farmer all coming to Cincy. These trades brought in players who can contribute to a hopeful turnaround in Cincinnati.

Free Agency:

The Reds also have made several free agent signings, none of which are big names but could be solid contributors if they make the roster. These players include reliever Zach Duke, utility-man Derek Dietrich, shortstop Jose Iglesias, and reliever Ian Krol. While also claiming reliever Matt Bowman off waivers from their division rival St. Louis Cardinals. Thus, the Reds were busy bringing in a multitude of talent in a bevy of different ways now it will be interesting to see what roles they will play.

Pitching:

            Now with all these offseason moves the question becomes, what do each of these players bring to this club that can help them have a winning season? The first thing that should come to mind is the quality depth these moves provide the club at multiple positions. Starting pitching will benefit most from these offseason moves. Acquiring starters Sonny Gray, Tanner Roark, and Alex Wood through trade should help improve the rotation for Cincinnati. Gray gives the Reds a pitcher capable of being a number one starter. He owns a career 3.66 ERA. And postseason experience with both the Athletics and Yankees. The impact Tanner Roark could have on the Reds is provide reliable innings eater in their rotation to take some pressure off their bullpen. Roark like Gray has a sub 4.00 Era for his career at 3.59, as well as averaging 155.8 innings pitched per season. The Reds will certainly hope Roark and Gray can both lead a young rotation to major improvement. Alex Wood is not to be overlooked in this trio of starting pitchers either as he is coming off a terrific year for the Dodgers. Wood went 9-7 with a 3.68 ERA in 151.2 innings last year, pitching in 33 games and 27 of those as a starter. Wood owns a strong 3.29 career ERA and has never had an ERA above 3.84 for his career. It will be interesting to see if the Reds utilize him as a full-time starter or utilize his versatility as a starter and reliever, as both Atlanta and Los Angeles did. You could also ask the same question about Roark who has done work out of the pen as well. This provides the Reds the option if all three do not make the rotation to move either Wood or Roark to the bullpen and give them another versatile arm out of their pen. Overall these three starting pitchers all will be welcomed additions to this team and will give them more quality options to try to fix what was the team with an ugly 4.63 ERA good enough for 6th worst in the majors last year.

Position Players:

            The position players they acquired this offseason could and all will help in their own specific way. Beginning with the two big name outfielders they got from the Dodgers, Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig will give the Reds two more productive bats to add to their offense. These players will bolster the Reds offensive attack which scored the 8th most runs in the NL last year. Adding to a very talented core of position players that gave pitchers fits offensively much of last season. Kemp is coming off of a nice bounce back season after a rough 2017, compiling stats of a .290 batting average, 21 homers, and 85 RBI’s for the Dodgers. He will provide not only a good veteran right handed bat, but a player who can play either corner outfield spot. His splits versus righties and lefties also show he is capable against either side of the mound. Hitting .273 versus lefties and .301 versus righties so he is not just strictly a platoon player. For Yasiel Puig he is still in the early part of his prime at 28 years old and is coming off of a very productive year. He hit .267, with 23 homers, 63 RBI’s, and 15 stolen bases in 125 games for LA last year. This gives the Reds another player who could possibly become a part of their core going forward. He can play all three outfield positions with a tremendous throwing arm, so he has value defensively also. I see him slotted right into the lineup every day and taking advantage of a very hitter friendly park. Thus, the Reds now have bats that will help lengthen their lineup and bring veteran experience to a still young ballclub as well.

            Then you finally have some of their smaller signings that have furthered their depth across the roster. They brought in lefties Zach Duke and Ian Krol to see if one if not both can become the additional lefties needed for the Reds bullpen. This would especially help take the load off of heavily used lefty reliever Wandy Peralta in the pen. They added Matt Bowman from the Cardinals as a power right hander that could be another solid option out of their pen if he makes the club. Then you have minor league deal and spring training invitees Jose Iglesias and Derek Dietrich. In Iglesias you have a player who has had a solid career so far as a Red Sox and Tiger. He will provide a Gold Glove Caliber defender, that when healthy can produce offensively hitting .269 with 5 homers and 48 RBI’s last season. His addition if he makes the club will allow youngster Jose Peraza to continue to develop at a steady pace, as well as, provide quality insurance in the infield in case of injury. Dietrich had a good year as a platoon player in Miami with .265 average, 16 homers, and 45 RBI’s. He can play a multitude of positions from left field, to third base, to shortstop and second base. So, he provides a quality left handed bench option and a versatile defender for the Reds to utilize. Thus, these invitees and additions give the Reds all kinds of options to look at while building their roster. All these players bring versatility, a productive track record, and good character guys that all can contribute to a winning formula.

Fitting the Pieces Together:

            he Reds roster with all these new faces likely to make a significant impact provide Cincinnati with a team that looks upgraded across the board. The possible rotation of Gray, Wood, and Roark add a much needed veteran change to a rotation that ended last year filled with rookies. These vets will join talented youngsters Luis Castillo, Sal Romano, Cody Reed, Tyler Mahle, and a healthy Anthony DeSclafani to form a much deeper and reliable rotation to compete in the NL Central. Bowman, Duke, and Krol will bring competition to the bullpen. A pen with good arms like all-star closer Raisel Iglesias, lefty Wandy Peralta, versatile Michael Lorenzen, among other young arms. This will lengthen the options for their rookie manager and give him more opportunity to experiment with in game match-ups. Then in terms of position players the Reds are still led by perennial MVP candidate first basemen Joey Votto. He leads a young core of players including infielders Scooter Gennett, Eugenio Suarez, and Jose Peraza. Along outfielders Jesse Winker, Scott Schebler, Phillip Ervin, and catcher Tucker Barnhart. This group of position players has formed one of the better offensive teams in the NL and all the MLB the last 3 years. Now by adding players like Puig, Kemp, Iglesias, and Dietrich to this group they add more talent, versatility, and production to this lineup. While also improving them as a team defensively, especially Puig and Iglesias. This Cincinnati Reds roster will come into this new season with many new faces, but they will all help create a much deeper and more talented group. Plus, they have done this without sacrificing much off their roster or from their farm system.

The Test:

            Ultimately with all these moves adding to what was already a developing young core improvement is possible for Cincinnati, but how much? The starting pitching additions along with further growth from their young starter should help them at least shave 0.5 to 1.0 off their team ERA. The Bullpen additions should help lessen the workload on some of their key relievers that got overworked last year. Plus, the acquisitions of position players like Kemp, Puig and Iglesias should add more versatility to their offense, along with veteran experience to provide an example to a lot of their young players. I thus could see because of these acquisitions and the further growth of their young core players a team that could reach around 80-82 wins. Obviously, they will need good health and some good fortune, but I see this Cincinnati Reds team as a major sleeper in the NL Central and National League as a whole. A team that may likely not make the playoffs but certainly be in the picture late in the year if they play to their potential. That is why people should be on the lookout for the Cincinnati Reds to make a rise up the MLB standings.