Projecting the Cincinnati Reds' 2015 Opening Day Roster

Kyle NewportJan 28, 2015

At this point in the MLB offseason, most teams have made all of their impact signings and trades. That means rosters are beginning to take shape.

The Cincinnati Reds made their fair share of moves this winter. Gone are Mat Latos, Chris Heisey and Alfredo Simon; Marlon Byrd was the team's biggest acquisition of the offseason.

With those moves, Cincinnati's roster is going to have a different look to it in 2015. Although there will be a few roster spots up for grabs in spring training, the team's core is good enough to contend for a playoff spot if it stays healthy.

Keep reading to see who is projected to make the Reds' 25-man roster after a busy offseason.

*All stats are via Baseball-Reference.com.

Starting Rotation

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Al Behrman/Associated Press

RHP Johnny Cueto

RHP Homer Bailey

RHP Mike Leake

LHP Tony Cingrani

RHP Anthony DeSclafani

Offseason trades of Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon have created two spots in the rotation, so for the first time in a few years, the Reds will have a real competition for rotation spots during spring training.

Sixty percent of the rotation is set—barring injury. Johnny Cueto (the 2014 National League Cy Young runner-up), Homer Bailey and Mike Leake are all locked into the rotation. After those three, manager Bryan Price will need to figure out how to fill out the rest of the rotation.

Here are the candidates for the final two spots: Tony Cingrani, Anthony DeSclafani, Dylan Axelrod, David Holmberg, Keyvius Sampson, Jason Marquis and Raisel Iglesias.

Via The Cincinnati Enquirer’s C. Trent Rosecrans, Price said that Cingrani and DeSclafani enter the spring as the favorites for the final two spots. However, that doesn’t mean things can’t change.

It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Cingrani doesn’t get a spot in the rotation if he’s healthy. The southpaw does have some experience starting with the Reds, going 9-11 with a 3.50 ERA in 29 career starts. Those numbers came when he relied mainly on his fastball, and as he works on his secondary pitches, he could be even better.

As for the No. 5 spot, there’s not much clarity there.

DeSclafani was the big player the Reds got in return for Latos, so expectations are high. Axelrod and Holmberg each showed some promising signs in limited action with Cincinnati last season. Sampson was claimed off waivers this offseason, and Marquis enters camp on a minor league deal and hasn’t pitched in the majors since 2013. It would likely take extremely dominant performances by either to win the final spot.

Iglesias is a bit of a wild card. As MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon and Jesse Sanchez reported, the Reds see Iglesias as a starter. However, he hasn’t pitched much since signing with the club. Cincinnati could give him a shot to pitch out of the rotation from the start of the season, or it could try to get him some experience before throwing him out there as a starter. He’s a guy to keep an eye on in the spring.

In the end, Cingrani and DeSclafani are likely to earn the final two spots of the rotation.

Bullpen

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Al Behrman/Associated Press

LHP Aroldis Chapman

LHP Sean Marshall

RHP Sam LeCure

RHP Jumbo Diaz

RHP J.J. Hoover

LHP Manny Parra

RHP Raisel Iglesias

For the most part, the bullpen is set. If everyone is healthy on Opening Day, it appears as though there is just one spot up for grabs.

Flamethrower Aroldis Chapman is the closer. Sean Marshall (if healthy), Sam LeCure and Jumbo Diaz will serve as the club's setup men. Southpaw Manny Parra is under contract for one more season and will serve as a specialist. Right-hander J.J. Hoover had a miserable 2014 season, but the Reds will be hoping that he returns to his 2013 form. If Hoover can return to form, this bullpen will be very deep.

Teams typically carry 12 pitchers—five starters and seven relievers. That means after the six pitchers above, there is one spot in the bullpen available.

With Logan Ondrusek and Curtis Partch being let go this offseason, some fresh faces will be competing for a spot in the bullpen. Here are some of the candidates for the final spot: Raisel Iglesias, Matt Magill and Pedro Villarreal.

Magill was acquired this offseason but isn't a lock to make the bullpen. His control problems (28 walks in 27.2 innings with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2013) will come back to haunt him in Great American Ball Park, so unless he shows improved control this spring, he's going to be a long shot for the final bullpen spot.

Villarreal has transitioned into a reliever in recent seasons. He doesn't have overpowering stuff, but he did have a decent showing in the majors last season. Eight of his 12 outings were scoreless. However, he allowed two runs in three of the other four outings. The right-hander could serve as the long reliever if he makes the squad, but the Reds would be better off having a reliever with strong stuff.

Magill's control problems and Villarreal's lack of stuff could open the door for Iglesias to win the final bullpen spot. Iglesias has a fastball that can hit 96 mph, a slider, a curveball and a changeup. He is viewed as a starter long-term, but having him pitch out of the bullpen to start this season would give him a chance to get some experience pitching in the majors.

Iglesias is a bit of a mystery and a wild card this spring. Unless another candidate just dominates this spring, Iglesias should be given the opportunity to get his feet wet right away as a reliever.

Starting 8

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Al Behrman/Associated Press

C Devin Mesoraco

1B Joey Votto

2B Brandon Phillips

SS Zack Cozart

3B Todd Frazier

RF Jay Bruce

CF Billy Hamilton

LF Marlon Byrd

Cincinnati's starting eight—barring injury—is written in pen entering the spring.

The Reds entered the offseason looking for an upgrade in left field and got one in Marlon Byrd. Other than that, the rest of the starting position players remains the same from last season.

There are six players in Cincinnati's lineup who have made at least one All-Star team since 2010. The only two players who haven't—Zack Cozart and Billy Hamilton—are Gold Glove-caliber defenders. That's not a bad mix of players.

Last season, the middle of the Reds lineup was decimated by injuries. Having a full offseason to get healthy should bode well for the offense. Via The Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay, manager Bryan Price said the health reports on both Bruce (knee) and Votto (quad) are good.

The batting order is the only thing in question with the starting eight. Will Brandon Phillips bat second, or will he get bumped down to the bottom half of the lineup? Does Todd Frazier bat ahead of Votto, or does his bat get used for run production in the middle of the lineup? Those are among the questions fans want to know.

If the batting order is the only question about the starting eight, it's not a bad situation.

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Bench

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C Brayan Pena

UT Skip Schumaker

INF Kristopher Negron

INF Eugenio Suarez

OF Brennan Boesch

Cincinnati's bench is going to look a lot different than it did on Opening Day 2014.

Here was the bench to start last season: Chris Heisey, Ramon Santiago, Tucker Barnhart, Roger Bernadina, Neftali Soto. (Note: Devin Mesoraco and Skip Schumaker started the season on the disabled list, so the bench had some unexpected members.) Of that group, Barnhart and Soto are the only players still in the organization.

The bench lost a major weapon when Cincinnati dealt Chris Heisey winter. There is no longer a power threat off the bench or a very good defensive outfielder to use late in games. Trading Heisey helped save some money, but it will certainly be missed when the team needs a clutch hit late in games.

Brayan Pena and Skip Schumaker are locks to be on the bench. Pena proved to be a valuable player last season, whether it be at as a backup catcher or first baseman. Schumaker, who can play second base and any of the outfield positions, can give the Reds good at-bats when called upon.

After those two, the bench is a bit of a mystery.

Kristopher Negron impressed last season when he got a chance to play in place of injured players, and he likely earned himself a spot on the Opening Day roster. It doesn't hurt that he can play second, short, third and left field.

The Reds acquired Eugenio Suarez acquired as part of the Alfredo Simon deal this winter. The right-handed-hitting shortstop slashed .242/.316/.336 in 85 games with the Detroit Tigers in 2014. He added four home runs, nine doubles and one triple. He has a career .278 average in six minor league seasons.

Unlike some of the recent backup utility men the Reds have kept on their bench, the 23-year-old Suarez appears to be able to get hits. His bat should be good enough to earn him a spot on the bench.

For the final bench spot, the Reds have a handful of candidates. Donald Lutz, Yorman Rodriguez, Brennan Boesch and Jason Bourgeois are all among the players who will compete for the final bench spot.

Lutz has some power but has just a .211 average in 109 major league at-bats, including a .176 average in 2014. Rodriguez has the most potential, but without a starting job to give him, Cincinnati would be better off having him play every day in the minors. That leaves Bourgeois and Boesch as the most likely players to win the final roster spot.

The 33-year-old Bourgeois hit .242 in the final month of the 2014 season. Boesch hit just .187 in 27 games with the Los Angeles Angels last season; he hit .332 with 25 home runs and 25 doubles in Triple-A in 2014.

If it's a close battle in the spring, Bourgeois will likely get the nod because he is already on the 40-man roster, and Boesch is not. However, the Reds need some pop off the bench, so after last season's strong showing in the minors, Boesch should be the pick. If he struggles early in the season, the club can turn to Bourgeois without much problem.

Cincinnati's bench won't be as dangerous as it has been in recent seasons, but it will have players who can give starters days off and provide quality at-bats.