Cincinnati Reds: Where Does Homer Bailey Fit in on the Roster?

The Cincinnati Reds spent the offseason bolstering their pitching staff in a major way, but now as they prepare for the 2012-13 regular season, some burning questions have to be answered.

One of the most urgent of those questions: Where does pitcher Homer Bailey fit into the equation?

MLB scouts have been praising the young right-hander for years now, but due to injuries and inconsistent play, Bailey has yet to live up to the hype.

After showing signs of improvement last season, many baseball followers (including myself) have Bailey pegged as the No. 5 starter in Cincy.

Still, there are many factors to consider: 

Is it wise for the Reds to build their rotation around five righty pitchers?

Assuming that Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Bronson Arroyo and Mike Leake all earn starting roles, naming Bailey the Reds' fifth starter would mean that Cincinnati's five-man rotation would consist solely of right-handed pitchers. Given the Reds' strength in the bullpen, that may not be a major issue, but it could potentially make gameplanning easier for opposing teams. 

What about Aroldis Chapman?

As of today, Cincinnati is also giving left-hander Aroldis Chapman a shot at earning a starting role. If the Cuban sensation claims the final starting slot, would Bailey be of any value in an already overcrowded bullpen? 

Could Bailey be possible trade bait?

Sure, the Reds would hate to part ways with Bailey given his potential, but if he doesn't find a niche in the starting rotation could he be shipped out in exchange for a prospect or two?

Bailey's role appears to be up in the air for now, but it should be interesting to watch things unwind as spring training gets on its way.