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Reds Offseason Chat
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Anthony Franco
4:59
Hey everyone, hope all is well!
5:00
Let's talk about the Reds
Redsin24
5:00
How realistic (given we all have to live with Reds ownership) that the Reds are competing in 24?
Anthony Franco
5:01
Predictably a bunch of questions in here about the competitive timeline and whether it's possible to win with Castellini ownership generally
5:03
To question 2: yeah, I think you can win with this ownership group but it's obviously made more challenging by their decision to strip payroll down right as they were supposed to be coming out of the rebuild
They then made things far worse when Phil Castellini condescended the fanbase in April before a 100-loss season. The frustration among fans is understandable and deserved
5:04
At the same time, I don't think it's crazy to think they could be back in the Wild Card mix by 2024. I do still like a good chunk of the core (Stepehenson, India, Lodolo, Greene in particular). The system is improved and ownership figures to open spending more once Votto/Moustakas come off the books after next year
Jonny L
5:04
What will they do with all the shortstops they have?
Anthony Franco
5:05
Kind of sorts itself organically. Barrero might not be able to hit. Marte or De La Cruz could end up moving off the position to third base or a corner outfield spot, even if they do meet offensive expectations
Tyler Stephenson
5:05
Are Tyler Stephenson's days as a catcher numbered?  I've read the plan is for him to replace Votto at first, but could they move Votto to DH this coming season to reduce the injuries Stephenson is facing as a catcher.  Or are his injuries last season seen as isolated things and the plan is to keep him at catcher long-term?
Anthony Franco
5:06
Yeah I think moving him off catcher is a knee-jerk reaction to a trio of fluke injuries unrelated to one another
I'm sure it was a frustrating season but it's not like these are chronic knee issues. He just had a bunch of awful luck. So much of his value is tied up in the fact that he's a good defensive catcher. Not many who can say that while hitting the way Stephenson does
Jeff
5:07
Last offseason, while disappointing, it was however “eventful” with the various trades that happened. Nick Krall has all but stated that 2023 is about continuing to develop. All signs point to a very uneventful offseason with not having many assets on the roster. Do you agree?
Anthony Franco
5:08
Yeah I think this will be a pretty boring offseason for Cincinnati fans. The big parts of the teardown are gone. Could deal Kyle Farmer for a modest return, maybe they flip Lucas Sims or Jeff Hoffman, but it's not going to be super eventful
Joe
5:08
Mike Mousetakas. Most fans want him gone. I can’t find another player to trade bad contracts with. So that means the Reds need to either eat his salary to release him or add prospects to deal him. Which is more likely?
Anthony Franco
5:09
My guess is he winds up released pretty early in the season. Wouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make it to Opening Day if they're willing to give Spencer Steer the third base job from the jump
They cut bait on Akiyama this spring, so there's precedent for it
Kal Daniels
5:10
What happened to Nick Senzel? At this rate he'll be out of the league soon. Very sad. Thought he'd be great.
Anthony Franco
5:11
A bunch of Senzel questions here too. I think the lack of a true defensive home has always been a real knock against him, and the injuries have played a role in him being able to find any kind of consistency
5:12
But yeah, there's no question he's been disappointing. I don't think we're in non-tender or trade him for the hell of it territory, since he's still cheap and it's not like they have a bunch of higher-upside outfield options waiting in the wings
2023 feels like his last chance though. Expected to have seen a lot more from him offensively by this point. If it doesn't happen again next year, it probably never will
Tom Browning
5:12
Please stop giving at bats to Aquino. He simply can't hit major league pitching.
Anthony Franco
5:13
I'd be really surprised if he's tendered an arbitration contract
Probably looking at a minor league deal somewhere else if/when he's cut loose
Ryan
5:13
What is the Reds plan for the OF in the future? Not just for 2023. It doesn’t seem like there is much in the minors. Should we expect some position changes for some of the top prospects?
Anthony Franco
5:15
Yeah I mentioned this in response to the SS question earlier but I think we'll see some of the minor league infielders start to branch out. Matt McLain could play some CF, maybe we get to a point where De La Cruz ends up out there (although they'll give him a shot to stick at SS first)
5:16
Agree there's not a whole lot to work with right now. Senzel, Fraley and Friedl probably get chances again, and maybe one of those guys proves he's a viable everyday player long-term, but they're not all going to do it
High Pockets Kelly
5:16
Will Kyle Farmer be non-tendered, and if yes, where will he end up?
Anthony Franco
5:16
I think he has enough trade value they'd be able to flip him for something of note (a mid-tier prospect probably) rather than cut him entirely
5:17
Where could he go? Angels, Red Sox, Mariners, Diamondbacks, White Sox, Marlins all might look for infield help
2023 Reds
5:17
Prediction for the 2023 season for Hunter Greene. All Star or average starting pitcher?
Anthony Franco
5:20
About halfway in between. Always going to be HR prone, particularly in that ballpark, and I'm a little skeptical he can continue pitching as well as he did against left-handers unless he incorporates the changeup a bit more
5:21
That said, he obviously throws incredibly hard, misses a ton of bats with the fastball and slider, and has atypically good control for a pitcher with that kind of arsenal. Above-average #3 starter type for me
When do you see the Reds finally contending?
5:21
That had to be the most fruitless rebuild you've ever seen, right?
Anthony Franco
5:22
Rebuild was sort of coming along in 2020-21, as they'd hoped it would, but then ownership lost the commitment to it and they traded a bunch of good players away
5:23
It's unfortunate that they're doing it again. I don't think the first rebuild was doomed to fail, but if they knew they were going to slash payroll last offseason, I would've liked to see them more aggressively go for it at the '21 trade deadline. They could've made the playoffs last year
david123
5:23
Is signing a FA (thinking Benintendi) for the outfield a realistic possibility?  I don't see Aquino as a long-term option and Senzel's health is an on-going concern.
Anthony Franco
5:24
We're leaning towards Benintendi getting four years and topping $50MM this winter, which feels heavier than the Reds would go
5:25
The fit makes a lot of sense. Atypically young FA, maybe still has some untapped offensive upside, LF is a position of need. They could do this, but it'd take a reversal from their seeming commitment to slow-play things again this offseason
Ammiel
5:25
What motivated the reds to trade one of their better hitters (winker) & one of the better slugging 3b in all of baseball?
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