Cincinnati Reds: Chapman to Start Season in Bullpen, Phillips Contract Update

According to ESPN's Tim Kurkjian, Cincinnati Reds left-hander Aroldis Chapman will begin the 2012 season in the major league bullpen. This move gives the Reds three very solid left-handed options in the bullpen between Chapman, Bill Bray and Sean Marshall.

Kurkjian had this to say:

Aroldis Chapman will start the season in the bullpen, giving the Reds three lefties along with Sean Marshall and Bill Bray. Chapman has a long way to go before he’s a polished pitcher — he issued 41 walks in 50 innings last year — but pitching coach Bryan Price said Chapman is 'developing as a pitcher' this spring. He is throwing three pitches for strikes, he has a much better feel for his curveball, he has greatly improved his pickoff move and he has become a better fielder. Chapman is a contingency plan for the rotation, but only when he proves he can consistently throw more strikes. He has been better this spring.

It seems like the Reds still have hopes for Chapman to become a starter and that this move is purely to secure depth in the bullpen. There is no mention of injury concerns for Bill Bray, so one would assume that Sam LeCure will be bumped out of the 'pen and sent to Louisville.

In Kurkjian's same column, he stated that a deadline had been set for contract negotiations with Brandon Phillips. By Opening Day, the negotiations should be complete, one way or another. Both sides have expressed their willingness to keep Phillips in Cincinnati on multiple occasions and I for one believe he will return following the 2012 season.

On the matter of contract negotiations Kurkjian had this to say:

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said 'one way or another,' the contract negotiations with second baseman Brandon Phillips are expected to be done by Opening Day. A club source said that they really want to keep Phillips, and he wants to stay. It’s not going to be an easy negotiation, but from most indications, the Reds are going to sign Phillips to a long-term deal.

This is huge news for the Reds. With Chapman in the bullpen for 2012, there's almost zero doubt in my mind that the Reds have the best bullpen in baseball.

However, while this is great news, the news of a possible extension for Brandon Phillips is even better. Phillips is an elite talent at second base and re-signing him shows the rest of the league—and Cincinnati fans—that the Reds are for real and are finally willing to commit some money to keep the team competitive.