So I m going with 82. The Reds are going to have to stay healthy to get there, and they can t stumble out of the gate like they did last year.

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1 Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings February 12, 2019 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1888-The Reds begin a six-week exhibition tour through Texas, Louisiana and Alabama MLB.COM Duke returns to Reds on one-year deal Cincy designates right-hander Lopez for assignment in corresponding move By Mark Sheldon Feb. 11th, 2019 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- This past offseason featured multiple trades by the Reds, but Monday officially marked their first free-agent acquisition, when lefty reliever Zach Duke signed a one-year, $2 million contract. To make room for Duke, right-handed pitcher Jose Lopez was designated for assignment. Duke, who will turn 36 in April, agreed to terms with Cincinnati on Feb. 2. The club will get added veteran presence in its bullpen. He is a 14-year Major League veteran. In 72 games combined for the Twins and Mariners last season, Duke was 5-5 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.50 WHIP. Over 52 innings, he allowed 57 hits including one home run with 21 walks and 51 strikeouts. Left-handed hitters batted.220 against him, compared to.311 by right-handed hitters. But the Reds do not view the ground-ball pitcher as a one-out left-handed situational reliever. "He's a guy that likes to pitch a full inning and expects to be in there to pitch a full inning," Reds president of baseball operations Dick Williams said. "He's had a lot of success against lefties, but we are comfortable that he's not necessarily going to be a one-out guy." Duke is returning to the Reds after pitching for them during the 2013 season, a stint that helped turn his career around after being released by the Nationals earlier that year. Duke had a 0.84 ERA in 14 relief appearances with Cincinnati. After he departed the Reds as a free agent, Duke pitched for the Brewers, White Sox, Cardinals, Twins and Mariners. He's also previously pitched for the Pirates, D-backs and Nationals. The 2018 season saw Duke's ERA elevate, but his fielding independent percentage (FIP) dropped from 5.29 in '17 to 3.01 last year. That could be an indication that he had some bad luck or poor defense behind him in Minnesota and Seattle. Reds pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training in Goodyear, Ariz., on Tuesday and hold their first workout on Wednesday. Duke's addition makes the battle for bullpen spots even tighter. Cincinnati already has right-handers Raisel Iglesias, Jared Hughes, David Hernandez, and Michael Lorenzen with lefty Amir Garrett and now Duke likely locked in for roles. That could leave two spots -- or maybe just one -- up for grabs among Sal Romano, Robert Stephenson, Cody Reed, Wandy Peralta and others. "I think there's a good chance that we're prepared to carry eight relievers at times throughout the season, if not the majority of the season," Williams said. "A lot of that will depend on the starting rotation and how it produces." 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.

2 CINCINNATI ENQUIRER 2019 Cincinnati Reds questions: How many games will they win this year? John Fay and Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 6:16 p.m. ET Feb. 11, 2019 Editor s note: With Spring Training approaching, we ll answer an important question about the Cincinnati Reds each day until pitchers and catchers report Feb. 12. Today's question is the final question in our series: How many games will the Reds win? Fay s take: 82. That would be encouraging for the Reds because it would end the streak of losing seasons and would be a sign of progress. And it would be deeply disappointing for the Reds because it wouldn t get them into the postseason. The number crunchers at fangraphs.com also predict an season for the Reds and have them finishing third in the National League Central behind the Chicago Cubs (88), St. Louis (86) and ahead of Pittsburgh (80) and Milwaukee (79). Vegas has the Reds win total over/under at 77 or 77 ½. Clearly, the Reds have done a lot to improve the team after last year s debacle. They added three starting pitchers in Tanner Roark, Alex Wood and Sonny Gray. They added big-name outfielders in Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp. They could add bullpen lefty Zach Duke. And they ll probably do more before Opening Day. But will it be enough? Going from to a winning record is a long trip. To get there, a lot has to go right. Roark, Wood and Gray all have to be better than they were last year to make the rotation competitive. The three combined to with a 4.67 ERA. That s not going to cut it. But trio all have been better in the recent past. There are other questions as well. The Reds are banking on top prospect Nick Senzel winning the center field job. He s never played center field in a real game and doesn t have an at-bat in majors. But even with all the adding the Reds the numbers don t add up to a huge jump in the win total. Consider this: Last year, 25-man Opening Day roster had a total of WAR (Wins Above Replacement) of 30.7, according to baseballreference.com. This year projected roster has a WAR total of That doesn t get you from to So why do I think they ll make such a big jump? The whole is greater than the parts often in baseball. The moves the Reds made buoyed returning players. They ll go into the season more confident. Senzel should give the club a dose of youthful enthusiasm. Puig brings some baggage with him. But on his whirlwind visit, he seemed very happy to be with the new team. And he could put up scary numbers in Great American Ball Park. So I m going with 82. The Reds are going to have to stay healthy to get there, and they can t stumble out of the gate like they did last year. But the potential for a winning team and even contention is there for the first time since Nightengale's take: 76. Between fans and players, there s a lot of excitement around the Reds after a busy offseason. They have a new coaching staff. They addressed their starting rotation, added depth in their lineup and they should have an improved bullpen. But the Reds still need a lot of things to go according to plan to compete for a playoff spot.

3 They will need all their new pitchers to adjust to Great American Ball Park. Sonny Gray was a buy-low trade target after falling out of the New York Yankees rotation, but they need him to look like the pitcher that was dominant in Oakland. Tanner Roark had a 3.43 ERA following the All-Star break last year and the Reds are hoping for similar numbers. Outfield defense will likely be a weakness, especially in center field. It was noticeable when Billy Hamilton wasn t in games in previous seasons and now that s their new reality. Their lineup will benefit, but defense can be key in one-run games. Another concern is that it could turn into a four-month season. The Reds have several players in the final year of their contracts and if the club isn t in contention in July, those players could turn into trade candidates. There s no question that the Reds improved from the end of last season. They certainly have the potential to win more than 81 games, but that will be decided by their play against National League Central opponents. They had a record against divisional opponents last year and that record will determine how far they go in Lefty reliever Zach Duke signs 1-year contract with Cincinnati Reds Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 9:58 p.m. ET Feb. 11, 2019 The Reds signed their first Major League free agent of the offseason Monday. Left-handed reliever Zach Duke agreed to a one-year, $2 million contract, giving the Reds another lefty option in their bullpen. The Reds designated right-handed pitcher José López for assignment to make room for Duke on the 40-man roster. Duke had a 4.15 ERA in 52 innings last season with the Minnesota Twins and Seattle Mariners, striking out 51. The Reds hope he can provide similar value to their free agent signings from last year, relievers Jared Hughes and David Hernandez. Duke, a groundball pitcher, will turn 36 in April. During the 2018 season, Duke limited left-handed batters to a.220 batting average last season with a.319 slugging percentage. Right-handed hitters had a.311 batting average and.370 slugging percentage. Duke, who will wear No. 32, pitched in 14 games with the Reds in 2013, allowing one run in 10⅔ innings. He did not pitch in the 2013 National League Wild Card game, the last time the Reds advanced to the postseason. He s played in nine organizations throughout his 14-year Major League career. Reds manager David Bell had five hits in 11 at-bats against Duke during his playing career. López, a sixth-round pick in the 2014 MLB Draft, had a 4.47 ERA in 26 starts at Triple-A Louisville last season. He struck out 117 and walked 41 in 141 innings. THE ATHLETIC Reds spring training guide: What s new, what s needed and what to watch By C. Trent Rosecrans Feb 11, 2019 GOODYEAR, Arizona The early days of spring training usually feature handshakes and short introductions of a couple of new faces in camp. Those coming in new were the exception, not the rule the last couple of years here. It will be vastly different this week as Reds pitchers and catchers report Tuesday and position players report Sunday. The coaching staff is almost entirely overhauled under new manager David Bell. In most years, Bell s arrival would be the biggest of the offseason, but a flurry of moves after Bell s hiring have overshadowed the new leadership. That s a good thing for a team coming off four seasons with at least 94 losses and five straight losing seasons.

4 It s actually easier to look at what s not new than what is new. What s old The infield: The starting infield will likely be the same as it was last Opening Day Tucker Barnhart behind the plate, Joey Votto at first base, Scooter Gennett at second, José Peraza at shortstop and Eugenio Suárez at third. That core group was a strength of the team last season and returns intact. Only Gennett isn t under team control beyond this season. The back of the bullpen: As bad as the 2018 season was for the Reds, when they had a lead late, they held it. The team went 57-3 in games they led after seven innings and 57-1 in games led after eight innings. Raisel Iglesias, Jared Hughes and David Hernandez combined for a 2.26 ERA. What s new The rotation: Reds starters gave up the most hits, runs, earned runs and home runs in the National League last season and also led the league in losses. Bob Castellini promised to get the pitching this offseason in a statement that was hashtagged on Reds Twitter as #getthepitching. The Reds certainly #gotsomepitching if not THE pitching. New are Sonny Gray, Alex Wood and Tanner Roark. Only Gray is signed past this season, while Wood and Roark are in walk years. Those two were overshadowed in their previous stops by some of the game s biggest pitching names. The Reds didn t get a bonafide ace like Corey Kluber, but they certainly improved their starting pitching with those three, who will likely join Luis Castillo and Anthony DeSclafani in the team s rotation. Half the outfield: The 2018 Reds spent much of the time mixing and matching outfield combinations. That looks like it ll be happening again, but only two of the participants will return, Jesse Winker and Scott Schebler. Those two will be joined by a pair of former Dodger All-Stars, Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp. Top prospect Nick Senzel could be in that mix, as well. The coaching staff: Bell s hiring was just the beginning. He s loaded up his staff, starting with pitching coach Derek Johnson from the Brewers. Johnson was followed by Dodgers hitting coach Turner Ward. Bench coach Freddie Benavides is the only holdover from last season on the Reds big-league staff. What s needed Where s Senzel: The spotlight was going to be on Senzel, the team s top prospect, regardless. But his move to the outfield has intensified that light. Senzel s bat is ready and will play in just about any spot, but he s blocked at third base (Suárez) and second (Gennett). So the team put him in the outfield during instructional league. He s been working out there, but this spring more people will see how he s doing in the new position. Center field is open with the non-tender of Billy Hamilton and the hope is Senzel has the mix of athleticism and savvy to adjust quickly to the position. There will also be a question of service time manipulation that could keep him off the Opening Day roster but bring him into the big leagues shortly afterward. Identify a CF: If not Senzel in center, who? Schebler and Puig have played center field and would likely be fine in games at Great American Ball Park, but away from the friendly confines of GABP, bigger outfields could be an issue.

5 Make a decision on Robert Stephenson: Stephenson was the team s top prospect for several years, but has yet to find any sort of consistency at the big-league level. The right-hander is out of options, so he ll either make the team in the bullpen or have to go through waivers, where he would likely be claimed. Stephenson s talent has never been in question, but putting together that puzzle will fall on Johnson and his pitching staff. Develop young pitching: The Reds still have other young pitchers they believe in like Tyler Mahle, Sal Romano and Cody Reed. All three started last season with varying degrees of success. They all have options remaining, so they can start the season in Louisville and come up when needed. Non-Senzel prospects to watch 1. Taylor Trammell: Trammell, the top position prospect after Senzel, is in his first big-league camp and will get a chance to show what he can do. Trammell was the MVP of last year s Futures Game, but didn t play above High-A. He ll likely start the season in Double-A Chattanooga, but spring training will give the team an idea just when he can be expected at Great American Ball Park. 2. José Siri: Siri is the best defensive center fielder on the Reds current 40-man roster, but his offense trails his defense, despite his loud tools. He hit just.229/.300/.474 in 66 games after his promotion to Double-A last season but he s coming off a great showing the Dominican Winter League. Siri was the team s Minor League Hitter of the Year in 2017 and invited to big-league camp in 2018, but suffered a wrist injury crashing into the wall in his first game last spring. He ll get a chance to make an impression during spring. 3. Tony Santillan: The 21-year-old right-hander has turned himself into the team s top pitching prospect (non- Hunter Greene category), dominating high-a before earning a promotion to Double-A last summer. He went 4-3 with a 3.61 ERA at Pensacola, maintaining his walk rate (2.3 walks per nine innings at both levels) and increasing his strikeout rate at the higher level. DAYTON DAILY NEWS Cincinnati Reds sign pitcher on eve of spring training Feb. 11, 2019 By John Boyle, Staff Writer The Cincinnati Reds on Monday signed pitcher Zach Duke to a one-year contract. The veteran left landed has pitched for nine different teams during his 14-year major-league career, including part of the 2013 season with the Reds. Duke, 35, is with a 4.30 for his career. He spent his first six seasons with the Pirates as a starter. Since then, he s almost exclusively been used out of the bullpen. He was fifth in the rookie of the year voting in 2005 after going 8-2 with a 1.81 in 14 starts. Duke was an all-star for the Pirates in To make room for Duke, the Reds designated right-handed pitcher Jose Lopez for assignment. Pitchers and catchers report to spring training on Tuesday in Goodyear, Ariz. The first workout is Wednesday. Position players must report by Sunday. The first full-squad workout is Monday, Feb. 18.

6 TRANSACTIONS 02/11/19 Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Brad Brach. Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent OF Melky Cabrera to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Cincinnati Reds signed free agent LHP Zach Duke. Cincinnati Reds designated RHP Jose Lopez for assignment. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster RHP Seth Elledge to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster RHP Connor Jones to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster LHP Evan Kruczynski to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster RHP Andrew Morales to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster RHP Jake Woodford to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster C Jose Godoy to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster C Andrew Knizner to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster C Jeremy Martinez to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster C Brian O'Keefe to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster C Dennis Ortega to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster C Francisco Pena to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster C Julio Rodriguez to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster OF Dylan Carlson to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster OF Randy Arozarena to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster SS Tommy Edman to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster 1B Rangel Ravelo to spring training. St. Louis Cardinals invited non-roster 2B Max Schrock to spring training. Cleveland Indians sent RHP A.J. Cole outright to Columbus Clippers. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster RHP Stetson Allie to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster RHP Joe Broussard to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster RHP Tony Gonsolin to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster RHP Dustin May to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster RHP Jesen Therrien to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster RHP Mitchell White to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster C Will Smith to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster SS Omar Estevez to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster SS Gavin Lux to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster 2B Jake Peter to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster OF Kyle Garlick to spring training. Los Angeles Dodgers invited non-roster OF DJ Peters to spring training.