5 Bold Predictions for the Cincinnati Reds' Future

Reds fans were disappointed last year. After a strong 2010 and the promise of an MVP and several talented hitters and pitchers, everyone was anticipating a big year. Opening day set what many thought would be the tone: a team that will win big games, won't lose the close games and be playoff bound.  None of these predictions came true, sadly. 

But what does the future hold? 

Will the trades made in the offseason be enough to restore this team to the glory of the 2010 season, or will the Reds disappoint again?

Reds Pitching Staff Will Become One of the Best in Baseball

Johnny Cueto is already an ace, and in 2012, he will make a case for him being a Cy Young winner. He'll keep his ERA below 2.5 and win more than 20 games. Batters will hit under .210 against Cueto. And he won't be alone. 

2012 will not be Latos' best season as a Red, but he will be good. His ERA will go up slightly to 3.5 in the small Great American Ballpark, but he'll strikeout over eight per game for a total of over 200 over the year. He'll be fearsome on the mound. 

Mike Leake will rack up 15 wins with a comfortable 3.65 ERA. 

Then there's Aroldis Chapman, who will start the year slow, pitching an average of five innings a game, but once he finds his strike, he'll be unhittable. He'll strikeout over 200 batters and keep his ERA under 4. Walks will be a problem, averaging four a game, but he'll become one of the most feared pitchers in baseball.

Beyond the 2012 season, the pitching staff will continue to develop into one of the best rotations in the game.

Jay Bruce and Drew Stubbs Will Find Their Groove

Neither hitter really lived up to their potential last year. Drew Stubbs was certainly the most disappointing of the two, though. His .243 BA, 15 HRs and league-leading 205 SOs were not what Reds fans were expecting out of the young center fielder. 

Over the next few years, he'll become a solid batter, hitting over 20 homers next year and 30 the year after. His .321 OBP will go up, and so will his stolen bases. In 2011, he stole 40 bases despite his poor hitting. Imagine what he'll do once he gets on base more. Stubbs will be recognized as the fastest player in baseball after stealing 60 bases in 2013.

Jay Bruce hasn't been much to look at either, although he hasn't received as much heat as Stubbs has. Bruce's BA fell from .281 in 2010 to .256 in 2011. He struck out 22 more times than the year before, bringing his total to 158. Nothing good. His only stats that really went up were HRs and RBIs. 

But in 2012 and beyond, the southpaw will be a proper cleanup hitter. He'll hit over 35 HRs and bat over .280. On top of that, he'll win a pair of Gold Gloves before 2015.

Together, they will be a powerful outfield hitting tandem for years to come.

Joey Votto Will Win Another MVP

Joey Votto is an incredible hitter. He was honored in 2010 with the NL MVP Award after batting .324 with 37 HRs and 113 RBIs. Amazing.

In 2011, his numbers declined a little, with his average falling to .309, HRs to 29 and RBIs to 103. Still impressive, but not enough to make the defending NL Champs as competitive as they should have been. 

In 2012 and 2013, he will get better. His average will hover around .320. He'll hit more HRs and be walked more. His teammates will get on base more often, meaning he'll be able to get more RBIs. I'm predicting somewhere around 120. 

With Albert Pujols out of the NL, the competition has fallen dramatically for him. Ryan Braun might be a threat, but if he is hit with a 50-game suspension, then he'll be out. Votto will be the clear favorite. 

The Reds Will Win a World Series

In 2012, the Reds will make the playoffs by winning NL Central. The competition has weakened severely with Albert Pujols gone from St. Louis, Wainwright's ability post-op questionable, Prince Fielder almost certain to leave the division, Ryan Braun under heat for a positive steroid test and the Cubs in a rebuilding stage. It's the Reds' year. 

This ball club could easily win 90 or more games next season. Already one of the best hitting teams in baseball, they have acquired solid pitching in Mat Latos and Sean Marshall.

Before 2013, this team will win a World Series. The talent is undeniably already there. With the MVP in Votto and the host of hitters in Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips and Drew Stubbs, Reds' hitting will be ready (not to mention the return of the highly promising Zach Cozart).  The pitching is in place now with a pair of aces and several other quality pitchers in Mike Leake, Aroldis Chapman and Bronson Arroyo.

Joey Votto Will Become a Yankee

Reds management must have been sick once they saw how much Albert Pujols was offered and how he left his 10-year home in St. Louis.

Joey Votto is one of the best first basemen in baseball, both behind the plate and in the field.  A big Prince Fielder contract will be the nail in the coffin. Votto's contract ends in 2013, when he'll be making $17 million a year. For an $80 million club like Cincinnati, that is already getting too expensive.

Cincinnati will do everything in their power to re-sign Votto, but ultimately, he'll take the biggest offer he can get, and that will come from New York. Mark Teixeira is no Votto and has not earned his paycheck. Votto will change that for the Yankees.

My advice for the Reds is to trade Votto while he's still under contract. The haul will be excellent; an ace pitcher and an outfielder could be a possible deal, though the Reds will be in need of a third and second baseman in the future.