Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings January 11, 2019 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY

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1 Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings January 11, 2019 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1973-Cincinnati attorney, Louis Nippert, gains control of 51 percent of the Reds stock after purchases from the Gamble and Williams families 2000-Tony Perez is elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, in his ninth year of eligibility, receiving 77.7 percent of the vote 2010-Aroldis Chapman, a 21-year-old free-agent of Cuba, is signed by general manager Walt Jocketty Reds keeping eye on more rotation additions High rates in whiffs, grounders, popups could fit at GABP By Mark Sheldon Jan. 10th, 2019 MLB.COM CINCINNATI -- The Reds have not given up on the hunt for a third new starting pitcher, despite the Hot Stove market for rotation arms getting very cold of late. There have been few deals made around the Majors since the holidays. The good news is that many of the free agents who would likely fit remain unsigned, like top lefty Dallas Keuchel along with Wade Miley, Derek Holland, Clay Buchholz and Gio Gonzalez. A few more starters still appear to be available via trades, like Corey Kluber, Marcus Stroman and Sonny Gray. What kind of profile are the Reds seeking from another starting pitcher after already acquiring Tanner Roark and Alex Wood? "It makes sense to suppress contact as much as possible," Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson said. "If you can find guys that have high whiff [rates] on one or two pitches, it makes a lot of sense. I think extreme ground-ball [pitchers] make a lot of sense and extreme popup makes a lot of sense too in our park. That's a tall order. If you can find pitchers with one of those or two of those, I think it would fit." According to FanGraphs, only five pitchers in 2018 had 100-plus innings, at least a 20 percent strikeout rate and at least a 50 percent ground-ball rate. One of those pitchers was the Yankees' Gray (21.1 percent strikeouts, 50 percent grounders), who pitched for Johnson at Vanderbilt. Wood was very close, with a 21.2 percent strikeout rate and 48.9 percent ground-ball rate. Let's take a closer look at some of the available starters. Keuchel Why it might happen: With Keuchel as the best pitcher still available in free agency, the Reds could decide they need to do whatever it takes to get a legitimate ace to keep pace in an increasingly daunting National League Central. According to Statcast, Keuchel fits the profile Cincinnati needs. The lefty had the highest ground-ball rate of all qualified starting pitchers last season, at 53.7 percent. His 58 percent ground-ball rate over the past three seasons is fourth among qualified starters over that span. Why it might not: Keuchel is 31 years old and has dealt with various injuries and some inconsistency since his Cy Young Awardwinning 2015 season. He is reportedly seeking a five-year contract, which could have Cincinnati looking elsewhere considering his recent track record. Miley Why it might happen: Miley pitched for Johnson during his one season in Milwaukee and thrived. Miley's club was 12-4 when he pitched, and he had a 1.23 ERA in four postseason starts. He could continue to have success at Great American Ball Park. Among the 169 pitchers who generated at least 250 batted balls last season, Miley ranked third in getting weak contact at 68.8 percent. Why it might not: For a 32-year-old pitcher trying to continue to build his value after one solid season and three poor ones before that, working home games at GABP might not set Miley up for success.

2 Holland Why it might happen: A native of Newark, Ohio, Holland expressed interest in the Reds on MLB Network Radio recently. The interest is mutual, as the club has spoken to his representatives. A lefty, Holland induced grounders 39.8 percent of the time last season, according to FanGraphs, and has a 23.3 percent strikeout rate. His whiff rate was in the upper third of ranked pitchers at 58.1 percent. Why it might not: Holland, 32, bounced back for the Giants last season with a 3.57 ERA in 36 games (30 starts) but had an record and 5.50 ERA in the three previous seasons with the Rangers and White Sox. He does not have ace credentials that would provide instant legitimacy to a starting five that was near the bottom of MLB last season. Buchholz Why it might happen: When healthy, the right-hander has the makings of a top-of-the-rotation ace. Last season, he had a 2.01 ERA in 16 starts for Arizona. He often induces weak contact, which Statcast showed was 64 percent of the time in '18. The Reds could take a lower-cost risk on him because he's had a spotty past few years. Why it might not: Besides Buchholz's age (34), his history of injuries could be a turnoff. His 2018 season ended in mid-september because of a flexor strain in his right forearm, the same spot where he had surgery to repair a tear that cost him almost all of That's a red flag that would make any club cautious. Gray Why it might happen: The Yankees have not been secretive about their desire to deal Gray after two seasons of struggles. Besides his style being a fit for GABP, the 29-year-old pitched for Johnson at Vanderbilt and could rebuild his resume away from New York. Why it might not: The Reds might not want to meet the Yankees' trade demands for a player who can be a free agent after the 2019 season. Over the past three seasons with Oakland and New York, Gray has a 4.59 ERA. That might not be enough of a difference maker for a rotation that still has some in-house talent to work with. "I think you have to find whatever is out there, No. 1, and then No make it fit financially," Johnson said. "I know they're working hard. They stay in contact with me and I do with them as well. They're at it every day. I feel comfortable with where we're trying to go." Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from Follow him on and Facebook and listen to his podcast. Reds have improved, but will it be enough? By Will Leitch Jan. 10th, 2019 If there were ever a division in which a team would be tempted to close up the blinds, batten down the hatches and reset the competitive window, it probably would be the National League Central. Every team in that division is going for it. The Cubs have made the playoffs in four consecutive seasons and are desperately trying to avoid the 1980s Bears fate of being a historically beloved all-time team that nonetheless won only one title. The Brewers just won the division, came within one game of their first World Series in 37 years and appear to be adding Yasmani Grandal. The Pirates added Chris Archer prior to last season's non-waiver Trade Deadline and might have the best rotation in the National League. And the Cardinals have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons for the first time in 20 years, but they responded by bringing in Andrew Miller and Paul Goldschmidt. This is not a division for the weak of heart. So you could hardly blame the Cincinnati Reds if they peeked their head up after a 95-loss season, said, "Uh, thanks, but no thanks," and went back to building toward 2024, or whenever. There's a ton of shrapnel exploding around this division; the Reds reasonably could decide to stay out of the way until the other four teams stop shelling each other. But that is not what the Reds have done. The Reds, instead, have been as active as anyone in the division, bringing in Matt Kemp, Alex Wood, Tanner Roark and, most intriguingly, Yasiel Puig, immediately altering the face of their team and showing that they're tired of finishing in last place in this division, something they have done for four consecutive seasons. But have they done enough? Is there room in this division for them to move up? What's the plan here? The Reds are unquestionably better than they were last year. But are they better enough? It is difficult to look at the Reds' lineup and not get excited. Check out the projected starters they could roll out every day: C Tucker Barnhart 1B Joey Votto

3 2B Scooter Gennett SS Jose Peraza 3B Eugenio Suarez LF Kemp CF Scott Schebler/Puig RF Puig/Jesse Winker The Reds have too many corner outfielders and not enough center fielders; ironically enough, this looks like the year they could have maximized the use of Billy Hamilton in center field, to make up for any defensive deficiencies with all those corner outfielders. (Alas, they already released Hamilton.) The Reds reportedly are considering trading for a center fielder, but their best bet might be to muddle through for a month or two until they can call up top prospect Nick Senzel, a middle infielder who is blocked there in Cincinnati but could solve all sorts of issues in center. Senzel spent time in the outfield during instructional league play, and he could get a look there during Spring Training. If he is called up and is ready, the Reds have a potentially terrifying lineup. Imagine this: CF Senzel 2B Gennett 1B Votto 3B Suarez RF Puig LF Kemp/Winker SS Peraza C Barnhart That team would score a ton of runs in any stadium, let alone Great American Ball Park, a stadium so conducive to homers that Adam Dunn once hit a ball to Kentucky there. That is a nightmare for any opposing pitcher -- unrelenting, with a dangerous combination of speed, insane power and plate discipline. That'll wear a staff out for a whole week. But, of course, the Reds rarely have an issue with their lineup, even if this is a particularly supercharged version. It's the rotation that always gets them. The Reds had the second-worst ERA in the National League in 2018, which was in fact an improvement over their last-place finish in '17. (They were next to last in '16, too.) It's a surprise that Kemp and Puig have been the headliner acquisitions this offseason, because the Reds had signaled that their major additions would be in the rotation. But they've made a couple there, of course, bringing in Wood and Roark, two pitchers who were key parts of winning teams' rotations just last season. The advantage the Reds have here is that a league-average pitcher would be a major improvement over what they had going. Their rotation now: LHP Wood RHP Luis Castillo RHP Roark RHP Anthony DeSclafani RHP Tyler Mahle The Reds could still add here: Derek Holland has said he has met with the team, and there is speculation surrounding Dallas Keuchel, a pitcher whose ground-ball tendencies would very much come in handy at that ballpark. It's safe to assume another pitcher or two is coming; if one of them is Keuchel, this could even be an above-average rotation, something the Reds haven't had in a half-decade. And remember, the Reds' bullpen was their strength last year; it certainly wasn't their rotation that kept them out of the National League basement in ERA. So! This is all very exciting! Scary lineup, better rotation, solid bullpen. Go Reds, right? See you in October! Well, the Reds did lose 95 games last year: It's a steep climb. And it's an open question whether they've still done enough. FanGraphs' Steamer projections have them as a 12-game improvement over last year's team, the largest jump in all of baseball; that even puts them, amazingly, tied with the defending division champion Brewers' projection (which probably merits its own column at some point). But that still puts them fourth in the division, a projected eight games behind the Cubs and Cardinals and a game behind the Pirates. There's a lot of uncertainty in that lineup, too. Kemp, resurgence aside, is still quite old. There isn't a center fielder. Neither Peraza nor Barnhart have firmly established themselves as regular Major League hitters yet. And Puig, for all his joy and power, potentially could be an odd fit in Cincinnati. The lineup will be better, but everything has to fall perfectly for them to make up the ground they have to make up, and even then they might not get there. And that's still assuming Wood and Roark (and Castillo) can build off last year, and assuming they bring in another starter or two, and assuming the bullpen can maintain what it did in 2018.

4 That the Reds are trying to generate some excitement in Cincinnati in 2019 is an undeniable positive, but it's worth noting that history does not in fact end in '19. (Probably.) The team has a shocking number of free agents after this season: Kemp, Puig, Wood, Gennett and Roark. A team that trades for four guys whose contracts are up is usually a team that's going all-in for one particular season, but considering the Reds lost 95 games last year, and considering the strength of this division, that's quite a presumption on the Reds' part. They didn't give up any of their top-tier prospects in trades for those guys, but they gave up some. If the Reds don't win this year, was it worth it? Is getting out of last enough of a priority? It's always possible the Reds get something back if they fall out of the race and trade those players at the Deadline... but doesn't that just put the Reds right back where they were? The Reds still have a solid farm system, with Senzel coming this year and top prospects Taylor Trammell, Hunter Greene and Jonathan India right on his heels. But building for the future has gone on for a while now: Getting impatient about the future is the reason the Reds made all those trades in the first place. The Reds are going for it now. But what exactly are they going for? Look, this is what you want out of a baseball team -- expending capital to make itself better and more enjoyable to watch. (And, with Puig and Kemp added to Votto, Suarez and the gang, the Reds instantly leap toward the top of any MLB.TV Premium mustwatch rankings.) But the Reds sure do have a lot riding on 2019 all of a sudden. You want to make sure their eyes aren't bigger than their stomach. What the Reds are doing this offseason is exciting, and it's the type of activity you'd like to see more teams try. But if it goes wrong -- or even if it goes right, but just not right enough -- we may see why more teams don't. The Reds are interesting this year, again, at last. But interesting might only be good enough for fourth place in the NL Central. And maybe not even that. Will Leitch is a columnist for MLB.com. Casali agrees on 1-year deal, avoids arbitration By Mark Sheldon Jan. 10th, 2019 CINCINNATI -- The Reds agreed to a one-year, $950,000 contract with backup catcher Curt Casali on Thursday, avoiding arbitration. Casali's deal comes ahead of a Friday deadline for clubs and arbitration-eligible players to exchange figures. Sticking with a policy from recent years, Cincinnati is employing a "file-and-trial" approach to arbitration. That means the exchange figure date is a hard deadline and if a deal isn't reached, the club will no longer negotiate for a one-year deal with the player. However, it could continue to discuss multi-year contracts. This was the first winter Casali was eligible for arbitration. The Reds have seven more players eligible: Anthony DeSclafani, Scooter Gennett, Michael Lorenzen, Jose Peraza, Yasiel Puig, Tanner Roark and Alex Wood. Casali, 30, was acquired by the Reds from the Rays for cash on May 31 and proved to be a solid backup to Tucker Barnhart. Casali batted.293/.355/.450 with four home runs and 16 RBIs in 52 games -- including 32 starts behind the plate. Defensively, Casali caught two of the Reds six shutouts and threw out five of 25 runners attempting to steal. The pitching staff had a 3.52 ERA in the games he caught. Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from Follow him on and Facebook and listen to his podcast. CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell: Lineup will work itself out, trade makes us better John Fay, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 12:07 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2019 Updated 2:57 p.m. ET Jan. 10, 2019 David Bell has not thought about the lineup since the big trade, but he has thought out the possibilities. I think it comes along later, Bell said. But the trade makes us better. Bell, the Reds new manager, was back home in California to celebrate Christmas and to finish up some packing when the big trade between the Reds and Los Angeles Dodgers was completed.

5 The Reds got outfielders Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, left-hander Alex Wood and utility man Kyle Farmer in the deal for Homer Bailey and minor leaguers Jeter Downs and Josiah Gray. You can question the long-term merits of the trade, but it clearly makes the Reds better for this year. I know they gave up some guys they thought highly of, Bell said. Four guys who can contribute to the team. Guys who can significantly contribute. Guys who have had success. It adds to what we have. Back to the lineup. The addition of Kemp and Puig crowds the outfield with incumbent starters Jesse Winker and Scott Schebler returning. The Reds have also been working top prospect Nick Senzel in the outfield. I've just always been struck by how it always works out. Things happen, Bell said. You can play yourself into a position to contribute. It strengths our team. It s a good problem to have. It really is. There are so many opportunities, so many games, so many ways to contribute. That s the way I m looking at it. Bell doesn t know any of the four new players personally. The closest to knowing one of them is I think I might have played against Kemp when he was a young kid," Bell said. Bell is correct Kemp made the big leagues in 2006, the last year Bell played. The Reds added right-hander Tanner Roark in an earlier trade. So the Reds have added five players who will make the roster since Bell took the job. None of this is a surprise, Bell said. They re welcome additions for sure. Every addition s been a path to what we re trying to do. I felt great about the job since Day 1. Things will change in this game. I ve gone through the process enough to know that everyone was committed to putting the best team on the field that we possibly can. Bell just returned from Arizona. Senzel was in Goodyear, working in center field. I was in and out and missed his actual work, Bell said. I got spend over an hour talking to him which honestly is more important to me. He s preparing himself and doing everything can to be ready for anything, which is a great approach. If Senzel can play center, it solves some problems for the Reds although it crowds the outfield further and gives Bell a lot more lineup choices. Bell and staff will begin sorting those things out at spring training, which is little over a month away. It s getting close, he said. But there s a lot to accomplish before we get there. Everyone in the organization the front office, the coaching staff continues to work through things and prepare. It s an exciting time. ASSOCIATED PRESS Catcher Curt Casali reaches deal with Reds to avoid arbitration 11:30 PM ET Associated Press CINCINNATI -- Catcher Curt Casali and the Cincinnati Reds agreed to a $950,000, one-year contract that avoided salary arbitration. Casali, 30, was acquired from Tampa Bay on May 31. He batted.293 in 52 games for the Reds starts -- with four homers and 16 RBI. Casali threw out 5 of 24 runners trying to steal. He also made his first career appearances at first base -- six games -- and moved to second base in one game. He had a $600,000 salary in the major leagues last year. Seven Reds remain eligible for arbitration going into Friday's scheduled exchange of proposed salaries: outfielder Yasiel Puig; second baseman Scooter Gennett; right-handers Anthony DeSclafani, Michael Lorenzen and Tanner Roark; left-hander Alex Wood and shortstop Jose Peraza.

6 TRANSACTIONS 01/10/19 Boston Red Sox signed free agent OF Bryce Brentz to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Boston Red Sox invited non-roster 1B Josh Ockimey to spring training. Boston Red Sox invited non-roster RHP Mike Shawaryn to spring training. Boston Red Sox invited non-roster C Austin Rei to spring training. Boston Red Sox invited non-roster OF Rusney Castillo to spring training. Boston Red Sox invited non-roster SS C.J. Chatham to spring training. Boston Red Sox invited non-roster 3B Bobby Dalbec to spring training. Boston Red Sox invited non-roster 2B Chad De La Guerra to spring training. Boston Red Sox invited non-roster OF Tate Matheny to spring training. Boston Red Sox invited non-roster OF Cole Sturgeon to spring training. Minnesota Twins signed free agent LHP Dario Alvarez to a minor league contract. Minnesota Twins signed free agent C Tomas Telis to a minor league contract. Chicago White Sox signed free agent CF Jon Jay. Chicago White Sox designated CF Charlie Tilson for assignment. New York Mets signed free agent LHP Luis Avilan to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Seattle Mariners signed free agent RHP Cory Gearrin. Seattle Mariners signed free agent SS Tim Beckham. Seattle Mariners designated RF John Andreoli for assignment. Kansas City Royals sent 3B Cheslor Cuthbert outright to Omaha Storm Chasers.