The Cincinnati Reds seek improvement from a mediocre 74-88 record in 2008. They may improve a little, but not dramatically.
The Reds lost Adam Dunn to the Washington Nationals through free agency during the off season. Dunn's presence in the lineup will be missed as he led the Reds with 32 homeruns last season.
On the bright side, the Reds signed the fast outfielder Willy Taveras to a two-year contract and also agreed with pitchers Arthur Rhodes and David Weathers. Cincinnati also traded for pitcher (and hitter) Micah Owings last September to bolster their rotation. The Reds also traded for catcher Ramon Hernandez, but gave up Ryan Freel and two other prospects in that trade.
Overall, the Reds' acquisitions helped them, but they still have voids to fill and questions to ask.
Is the Cincinnati outfield for real? Their current outfield consists of Norris Hopper, Willy Taveras, and Jay Bruce. They used to have Ken Griffey Jr., but the aged outfielder was well past his prime and did not perform at a superb level.
Can the Reds' bullpen be good enough for the season? The newly acquired Weathers will help build a way to closer Francisco Cordero, but the rest of their bullpen is not stable. Arthur Rhodes is an inconsistent pitcher and is mainly a lefty specialist. Francisco Cordero was 34/40 in saves last year, a decent percentage but not spectacular. The rest of the Reds' bullpen is solid with Jared Burton and Bill Bray.
The Reds have a great infield to lessen the pressure of their outfield. Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, and Edwin Encarnacion each have enough power to combine for at least seventy homeruns and, quite possibly, three hundred runs batted in.
Cincinnati's rotation can also take a little pressure off the bullpen. Aaron Harang and Edinson Volquez combine for a solid 1-2 duo in the top of the rotation. Bronson Arroyo is also a decent pitcher who eats a lot of innings. The young Johnny Cueto can be a valuable asset towards the bottom of their rotation as he can strike people out. The only problem with Cueto is his inconsistency; he recorded a 2.77 ERA in August but a 6.16 ERA in September.
I believe the Reds will improve by four wins, a 78-84 record. It is a small improvement, but this season's goal may not be leading the team to the playoffs. Developing Jay Bruce, Joey Votto, and Johnny Cueto is a big step for the future. Their bullpen may have a lot of problems, but their lineup can last.
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Tomorrow's article will preview the upcoming season for the Cleveland Indians.
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