Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings February 19, 2019 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY

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1 Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings February 19, 2019 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1919-The Reds trade Hal Chase to the Giants for Bill Rariden. Chase spent three years with the Reds, amassing a.306 batting average while collecting 69 doubles and 206 RBI Puig ready to take Cincy by storm: 'I love red' By Mark Sheldon Feb. 18th, 2019 MLB.COM GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- New Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig has been in camp for about a week, often hitting on his own on the backfields. With the first full-squad workout taking place on Monday, Puig was able to warm up, throw and hit with his teammates. Puig, acquired in December's seven-player trade with the Dodgers, clearly enjoys his new club. "Now I've met all of my teammates here in Spring Training the last couple of days and today was our first day working together," Puig said. "Today was an amazing day. We are having fun on the field. We're hitting in the cage. We're working out and talking about expectations as a team and working together as a family to have success for the season." During batting practice with Jesse Winker, Matt Kemp, and Scott Schebler, Puig chatted between turns as the group kept track of points while competing. Puig hit a couple of long balls that cleared the fence in left field. Reds manager David Bell also sensed Puig's happiness and upbeat personality. "He has a lot of energy, and he's been interacting with players, coaches, a lot of people," Bell said. "It's been great because you don't really know guys until they get here. You get to know them a little bit. He's very positive. It's been great to have him around." Puig, 28, batted.267/.327/.494 with 23 home runs and 63 RBIs over 125 games last season for the Dodgers while being worth 2.7 WAR. Because Puig struggled vs. left-handed pitchers the past couple of seasons, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was prone to use a reverse platoon in right field. In 2018, Puig batted.209 with a.360 slugging percentage vs. lefthanders, while he batted.297 with a.564 slugging against righties. Puig admitted Roberts' decision bothered him. "When I have opportunities like I had in the playoffs to face lefties last year, I can hit lefties and I can hit righties," Puig said. "But from the bench, you can't hit nobody. Then in the seventh inning, he wants you to be the hero. And you can't be the hero because from the beginning, he doesn't trust you to have a good game that day." Bell has not sorted out Cincinnati's corner outfield plans, with Winker, Kemp and Schebler in the mix. Mainly a right fielder, Puig could get time in center field depending on whether top prospect Nick Senzel can earn the regular spot there.

2 "That's not my decision. But also, I can play every day," Puig said. "When I play every day, I can help my team win more games. I can help myself to be a better baseball player, because I'll have more opportunities to face lefties and righties -- no matter who is pitching that day." A free agent after this season, Puig is preparing to have a big year as he forges a new life on a new team in a new city. "I need to have my best season ever and next year have a new contract. I don't know where I'm going to be. I'm going to do the best I can this year," Puig said. Would he be willing to stay longer? "I don't know. You can ask the GM if he wants to sign me," Puig replied. "If he signs, gives me the money, I will be here as many years as he wants. I love Ohio. This is my color. I love red." 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. Bell facing tough decisions for OF alignment Starting center-field job up for grabs; Kemp unlikely to play first base By Mark Sheldon Feb. 18th, 2019 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds manager David Bell has great corner outfield depth, but he doesn't have a regular center fielder. Determining who will get to play where and sorting out the logjam should be a challenge for Bell in his first season as a skipper in the big leagues. Five players are in the mix for the three spots -- Yasiel Puig, Jesse Winker, Scott Schebler, Matt Kemp and top prospect Nick Senzel. "At some point, we may get to where we have to make tough decisions," Bell said on Monday ahead of Cincinnati's first full-squad workout. "For now, I really do believe it's such a plus to have these guys. I really do believe those things do work themselves out in a lot of different ways." Bell hasn't tipped his hand on which way he's leaning. "I'm looking forward to making tough decisions based on the fact that we have a lot of guys who can contribute every single day," Bell said. "That's how I'm looking at it now. It's a plus to have these guys. They'll all want to play. That's how it should be." The big domino that could decide the rest of the decisions is Senzel. Ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the organization and sixth overall by MLB Pipeline, he is competing for the everyday spot in center field. A natural infielder, Senzel is actively learning a new position. "That is a factor for sure," Bell said. "He's such an important part of our organization. We all know he has a bright future. It will be important to make the right decision for our team, but also the best decision for him." Another complication is that Winker is still one of the team's best young hitters and would benefit greatly from getting 500 at-bats this season. "He does need to continue to develop, but we want him to contribute at that level and as an everyday player," Bell said of Winker. "Again, it's challenging having a lot of guys that can contribute, but I'm confident that it will work out. I really am. He's going to be a big part of what we're doing." Kemp at first base unlikely

3 Kemp is a three-time All-Star outfielder. But without a firm spot on the field, as of now, could he be an option to play first base when Joey Votto needs a break? Bell didn't seem keen on that idea. "We hope Joey plays every day for the most part, but I think there's going to be some thought to making sure he's strong all the way through," Bell said. "Matt Kemp has never played there. I know we talk about moving positions a lot and try to talk about how possible it is because I believe that, but that's a tough thing. At this point in his career, to have never played the position, that would be a big ask." Senzel changes agents MLB.com learned on Monday that Senzel has ended his relationship with agent Scott Boras and signed with the Wasserman Group and agent Joel Wolfe. Senzel has been with Boras since he was the second overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, and it was the only meeting he took at the time because some of his teammates were also signing with the Boras Corporation. "There's no hard feelings. I wanted to see what else was out there," Senzel said. "I found a group that I really like and heard great things about. I made the decision to switch." Senzel, 23, is expected to make his big league debut in At some point soon, he could be looking for a multiyear contract. "I know they've done really good work," Senzel said. "I'm not thinking about that. It was my decision. I felt like it was the best decision at this time to do that." 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. 30 intriguing position battles -- 1 for each team MLB.com Feb. 18th, 2019 Stars might put fans in the seats, but baseball is a sport that rewards the most complete clubs. That's what makes Spring Training more than a series of exhibitions; big league jobs are on the line, and they could end up having a major impact on the season-end standings. The next five weeks will see lots of shuffling on Major League rosters. Here are the most intriguing positional battles on each of the 30 MLB clubs. Reds: Center field By far the most interesting position battle on the Reds will be who becomes their regular center fielder. After nontendering Billy Hamilton, the front office looked at the trade and free-agent market but did not make an acquisition, choosing instead to look in-house. Scott Schebler and Yasiel Puig -- both natural corner outfielders -- have some experience in center field. Then there is No. 1 prospect Nick Senzel (No. 6 overall according to MLB Pipeline), an infielder who is learning center field and competing for the job simultaneously. The club has no starting spots for Senzel besides center field, so if he can earn the spot it would solve the problem of finding him a place to play. -- Mark Sheldon CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Spring Training report: 3 observations from the Cincinnati Reds' first full-squad workout Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 12:22 a.m. ET Feb. 19, 2019 Updated 12:23 a.m. ET Feb. 19, 2019 FEBRUARY 18

4 Monday was the first full-squad workout during spring training. Pitchers and catchers continued their routines while position players took batting practice on some of the back fields. In their first full team meeting, rookie manager David Bell said he was planning to give mostly the same speech that he gave to pitchers and catchers last week. There are a lot of people to introduce in this building, so all the players know who s here with all the new faces, Bell said. We ll do some introductions. It will be somewhat of a repeat for pitchers and catchers. Injury report Curt Casali had offseason surgery to repair the labrum in his left hip. He s catching bullpens and doing some hitting but may be limited during some games. Alex Blandino is recovering from a torn ligament in his knee. He s completing agility drills and has fielded ground balls. It s still to be determined whether he will be ready for Opening Day. Right-handed pitchers Matt Bowman (strained right lat) and Robert Stephenson (right shoulder inflammation) have been limited since they reported to camp. Puigmania After Monday s workout, Puig met with the media for more than 20 minutes. He hopes it s the start of the best season of his career. I only have five days with this team and people treat me like I m the older guy here and I have five years with this team, he said. That s made myself work hard and work with the team to have the best year for my career and for the team. Three observations 1. One of the outfield groups for batting practice Monday included Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Jesse Winker and Scott Schebler. They created a game based on the number of home runs and where they hit the home runs. Puig and Winker were animated at the end when Winker won on his last round. Winker celebrated by faking a home run trot, flipping his hat backward and raising both of his arms in the air. 2. Set up near the batting cages, pitchers practiced bunting off of pitches from a machine. Reliever Amir Garrett looked good laying a few bunts down. 3. After position players took batting practice on the back fields Monday, top prospects Nick Senzel and Taylor Trammell stayed behind for extra fielding work in center field. Reds outfield coach Jeff Pickler hit balls to them off a fungo. It wasn t a game situation, so it's hard to judge, but Senzel looked like a typical center fielder. Yasiel Puig to the Cincinnati Reds: Give me the money and you can name the years John Fay, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 4:07 p.m. ET Feb. 18, 2019 Updated 9:07 p.m. ET Feb. 18, 2019 GOODYEAR, Ariz. Yasiel Puig is a free agent after this season. He sees this year, his first as a Red, as a springboard to a big contract. "That's going to help me out to have a new life in a different city," he said. "Now, I need to go over there and have fun and try to have my best season ever. Next year, a new contract. I don't know where I'm going to be. I'm going to be the best I can." What about signing with the Reds? "If I can sign here, you say?" Puig said. "I don't know. You been asking the GM if he wants to sign me? If he gives me the money I want, (and) I'm going to be here all the years he wants. I love Ohio. This is my color. I love red."

5 And there's that contract to play for. "The last couple of years, I didn t work hard because I still have a contract to go," Puig said. "Now, I think work harder than any year of my life." The Reds don't talk about such things as contract extensions. But Puig has been a match since the Reds brought him in as part of a six-player trade with the Dodgers. He seems really happy to be here," Reds manager David Bell said. "He s interacted with people. He has a lot of energy, and he s been interacting with players coaches, a lot of people. It s been great because you don t really know guys when they get here. You get to know them a little bit. He s very positive. It s been great to have him around. Puig has felt welcome. "These people and all my teammates help me a lot this year," he said. "We have only like five days together, and everybody treats me like I ve been here the last five years. I only have five days with this team and people treat me like I m the only guy here and I have five years with this team. That s made myself work hard and work with the team to have the best year for my career and for the team." Puig spent his entire career with the Dodgers, but he was not happy over his playing time in the last year. He went from 570 plate appearances in 2017 to 440 last year. He sat against left-handers. "I'm going to have more opportunity on this team maybe I play every day," Puig said. 'I'm going to do the best I can. The last couple of years for the Dodgers, I do a lot of things for the team, and the Dodgers do a lot for me." Puig in meeting with media Monday mentioned getting to the postseason over and over again. "I like the playoffs," he said. "I like October. I like the World Series lefties, righties. I'm going to do my best I'm going to do damage on pitchers there." That's what Reds fan want to hear no matter how long Puig's here. Juggling outfielders' playing time will be Reds manager David Bell's toughest early test John Fay, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 12:47 p.m. ET Feb. 18, 2019 Updated 6:53 p.m. ET Feb. 18, 2019 GOODYEAR, Arizona The biggest early test of Cincinnati Reds Manager David Bell s skills will be how he fits five outfielders in three spots. Bell has been coy about how he ll do it. At some point, we may get to where we have to make tough decisions, Bell said. For now, I really do believe it s such a plus to have these guys. I really do believe those things do work themselves out in a lot of different ways. But, as we get closer, hopefully, we keep everyone healthy. I m looking forward to making tough decisions based on we have a lot of guys who can contribute every single day. That s how I m looking at it now. It s a plus to have these guys. They ll all want to play. That s how it should be. The outfield plan revolves largely around top prospect Nick Senzel s ability to play center field. That is a factor for sure, he said. He s such an important part of our organization. We all know he has a bright future. It will be important to make the right decision for our team but also the best decision for him. But I think this is just a great experience for him. He believes he can do it. We believe he can do it. There s a little bit of unknown there. It s not easy moving to a new position.

6 But Senzel is not one to lack confidence. That s nice to have that, Bell said. I don t ever want to take that away from him. If Senzel wins the job, Yasiel Puig, Matt Kemp, Scott Schebler and Jesse Winker will get the bulk of their time at the corner positions, although Schebler and Puig will play some center as well. I think it ll be good for (Puig), Bell said. I think it ll be good for us to see him. He s done it before. I would say the bulk of his time will come in the corner spots, but it ll be good to see him in center. Schebler is the in-house candidate to play center if Senzel struggles. We ve talked about how he s deceptively fast, Bell said. He covers ground. He s aggressive. I don t have any hesitation playing him at all three. As far as better at the corners, I think he s a good enough athlete that I don t want to limit him and say he s better in one of the two. I think he can be equally as good at all three. WINKER WON T SIT: Winker showed last season that he s a professional hitter (.299/.405/.431 in 281 at-bats). The plan is to get him 500 at-bats if he s healthy Not so much does he need it..., Bell said. He does need to continue to develop, but we want him to contribute at that level and as an everyday player. Again, it s challenging having a lot of guys that can contribute, but I m confident that it will work out. I really am. He s going to be a big part of what we re doing. KEMP AT FIRST? Bell didn t sound like playing Kemp some at first base is an option. He s never played there, Bell said. I know we talk about moving positions a lot and try to talk about how possible it is because I believe that, but that s a tough thing. At this point in his career, to have never played the position, that would be a big ask. It might be something I ask him about, but it s not something we re expecting. WEDNESDAY MORNING LIVE: The Reds will begin live hitting Wednesday. A normal offseason was a welcome change for Cincinnati Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer Published 2:23 p.m. ET Feb. 18, 2019 Updated 3:29 p.m. ET Feb. 18, 2019 GOODYEAR, Ariz. It was a different type of offseason for Reds pitcher Anthony DeSclafani. He didn t have to worry about rehabbing his arm from an injury. He didn t feel rushed to make sure he was ready for spring training. In the best way, it was just normal. After missing the entire 2017 season with elbow injuries and another two months in 18 with a strained oblique, DeSclafani was more than happy with a normal offseason. He stayed busy, getting married in January, and had time to focus on things other than baseball. Looking back at last season, DeSclafani wished he pitched better but feeling healthy was just as important to him. It was the first time he pitched in Major League games in about 21 months. Obviously, the numbers weren t pretty, but I guess just being injured so much, I would say it counted as a positive to be able to get back on the mound and make 20-plus starts and whatnot, said DeSclafani, who had a 4.93 ERA in 115 innings. His strikeout rate was up, but he surrendered a career-high 24 homers. When DeSclafani is healthy, he feels like he can be as good as anybody. It s clear the Reds share that same belief. Manager David Bell, on the first day of camp, said DeSclafani would be included in the starting rotation.

7 I think he s earned that because when he is healthy and when it s been right, it s been really good, Reds pitching coach Derek Johnson said. From that end, it s just kind of betting on him. I want to bet on him. I think that s the right approach. He s a guy who, gosh, being on the other side and watching what he s doing when he s healthy and everything s right, we need that. I feel really good about betting on him. When DeSclafani struggled at the end of the 2018 season, posting a 6.75 ERA in six September starts, he said that confirmed that he needed to make some mechanical changes during the offseason. His goal is consistency whether it s his arm slot when releasing pitches or making sure he s putting his body in a more efficient position to stay healthy. The Reds are one of the many teams across baseball using high-resolution cameras capable of logging video in super slow motion. Other devices can log a pitch s speed, spin rate and the ball s axis. I ve never been on these high-def cameras, DeSclafani said. I feel like there s just a lot to learn about myself in general. I feel like there s so much more potential in there that maybe these coaches can unlock and maybe these cameras can help pull, put it into perspective. The willingness to learn is there, it s just sometimes I don t know what direction to go. DeSclafani, who will turn 29 in April, highlighted the Reds rotation in He had a 3.28 ERA in 20 starts, recording a 2.9 WAR (wins above replacement), according to Baseball Reference. Among pitchers, his WAR only ranked behind Dan Straily, who threw nearly 70 more innings. The Reds are hoping he can return to that level, especially after they made multiple moves to improve the team. The vibe is upbeat, DeSclafani said. I think now everyone can tell there s an expectation to win and to actually make a playoff run instead of just trying to win a few more games than last year. THE ATHLETIC How the Reds roster shakes out as position players report By C. Trent Rosecrans Feb 18, 2019 GOODYEAR, Arizona The math for the Reds Opening Day lineup is pretty simple, it s the details that make it more difficult. As the team sits on the day of the first full-team workout, most of the roster spots are spoken for, leaving really four spots left two in the bullpen, one in the starting lineup and one on the bench. Here are the sure things: The rotation (5, in alphabetical order, because the actual order is still to be determined): Luis Castillo, Anthony DeSclafani, Sonny Gray, Tanner Roark and Alex Wood. The bullpen (6 of 8): David Bell has already said he sees the team carrying eight relievers for the majority of the season. There are six who more or less have spots locked up: Raisel Iglesias, Jared Hughes, David Hernandez, Zach Duke, Michael Lorenzen and Amir Garrett. Starting 8: This gets a little murky because of the abundance of outfielders, but the infield is set with Tucker Barnhart behind the plate, Joey Votto at first base, Scooter Gennett at second, José Peraza at shortstop and Eugenio Suárez at third base. Four outfielders are guaranteed spots on the roster, even if their spots in the lineup are unsure Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Scott Schebler and Jesse Winker. The bench (2 of 4): Curt Casali is the backup catcher, accounting for one of the spots. The other will go to one of the outfielders (or possibly two) listed above.

8 Nick Senzel is the biggest wildcard of the entire process. Senzel will be the everyday center fielder if he shows he can handle the position. If Senzel makes the team and one of the other four aren t traded that leaves just one bench spot. That last spot was complicated on Monday with the addition of Derek Dietrich on a minor-league deal. Dietrich has played all three non-shortstop infield spots and both corner outfield spots in the majors (though less than two innings in right). Alex Blandino would make the most sense because he has played all the infield positions, including shortstop, but he is coming off a major injury. He s expected to be ready to play in spring training, but it s uncertain if he ll be ready for Opening Day. There are also two catchers who can play other spots in Kyle Farmer and Connor Joe. Joe, a Rule 5 pick, would have to be on the team s big-league roster or the Reds risk losing him. Blake Trahan and Christian Colon are true backup shortstops, with Trahan already on the 40-man roster. Then there s Phillip Ervin, who played in 78 games last season as a backup outfielder. Right now, there s no center fielder, but the way everyone is talking, it seems to be Senzel s to lose. He s such an important part of our organization. We all know he has a bright future, so it will be important to make the right decision for our team but also the best decision for him, Bell said. But I think this is just great experience for him. He believes he can do it. We believe he can do it. There s a little bit of unknown there just because it s not easy moving to a new position, but we believe in him. Puig and Schebler will be the team s center field options if Senzel isn t in Cincinnati to start the season, or even early in the season after service time games are played. The team used a four-man rotation for much of last season, juggling Winker, Schebler, Billy Hamilton and Adam Duvall. Schebler started 14 games in center last season, 73 in right field and six in left. Then there s Winker, who hit.299/.405/.431 in his first full season. He played in 89 games and had 334 plate appearances before a shoulder injury ended his season. Bell said he sees Winker as a full-time player. We want him to contribute at that level and as an everyday player, Bell said. Again, it s challenging having a lot of guys that can contribute but I m confident that it will work out. I really am. He s going to be a big part of what we re doing. The Reds also added Kemp, who was an All-Star last season for the Dodgers. A guy with his experience, the amount of success he s had, the ability to put up really big numbers and even carry a team, Bell said. What a great spot to be in to have a guy like that who doesn t have to carry you, but it s going to be difficult to not play him, let s put it that way, with what he can do and has done on good teams and big situations. Bell speaks highly of all the outfielders, but when it comes down to it, there will only be three outfield starting positions every day and perhaps four or five players who believe they are worthy of starting every day. That s where all of this gets tricky, as well as backups in the infield. Just having the versatility is nice because even though you have a four-man bench, if guys can move around, that helps a lot, Bell said. Robert Stephenson would seem to have an edge in the bullpen because he is out of options, as is Matt Wisler. Three lefties could vie for a spot in Wandy Peralta, Cody Reed and Brandon Finnegan.

9 Finnegan was moved to the bullpen last season in Triple-A and he will be used as something of a swingman this season, Bell noted. He falls into that category of a guy we re going to try to build up to three or four innings where he can kind of go either way, he said. We know he can do both, so we ll try to put him in a situation that gives him his best chance and gives us the most options. Sal Romano, Kerry Mella, Lucas Sims and Jackson Stephens could also be used in similar roles. Romano and Tyler Mahle showed promise as big-league starters last year, but with the full rotation in the big leagues, they may start the season in Louisville and be ready if a starter is needed. There are plenty of players fighting for spots as camp opens, it s just that there aren t that many spots available. I m looking forward to making tough decisions based on we have a lot of guys who can contribute every single day. That s how I m looking at it now, Bell said when addressing the outfield situation specifically, but he could be talking about the entire roster. It s a plus to have these guys. They ll all want to play. That s how it should be. WCPO - Channel 9 Many questions face Reds as spring training gets underway in Arizona Posted: 5:07 PM, Feb 18, 2019 Updated: 5:07 PM, Feb 18, 2019 By: John Popovich GOODYEAR, Ariz. Monday was the first day the whole Reds squad and new manager David Bell were together for spring training. Bell said the team has a lot of ground to cover in order for him to get a look and feel for the players he'll put on the field in late March. He held a meeting with the players to introduce himself and his staff, as well as his way of doing things as the Reds' skipper. Bell said he wants to create an environment where people are comfortable being who they are. "Everyone's here for a reason, and they know what it takes," Bell said. "But it is new and there's a lot of new faces, so we just took time to explain how we're trying to create an environment where the players can be comfortable, to challenge each other, to be as good as we can and do it together as a team." There's a lot of work being done as the Reds try to claw their way back to respectability. Looking around Reds camp, there were a lot of questions: Will pitchers Sonny Gray, Tanner Roark and left-hander Alex Wood give the starting rotation some maturity and stability? Can Yasiel Puig be an every day player? They didn't think so in LA. Does Matt Kemp have anything left in the tank, and will he still bere here by Opening Day? How about Joey Votto, last season wasn't his best, which way is he trending? Are his best days behind him? Scooter Gennett has had two amazingly productive seasons. Can he deliver a third? Eugenio Suarez became an All-Star in Was that a one-year flash? Shortstop Jose Peraza made major strides. Will that continue, and can he hit leadoff?

10 If he can't, is Jesse Winker a possibility? Is he ready to hit at the big league level with some pop? Finally, there's one serious question to this camp: who can play centerfield. Billy Hamilton is gone. Nick Senzel says he can. He's been working with Eric Davis. We'll follow his progress in the days ahead. DAYTON DAILY NEWS Report: Reds to sign free agent who spent last six season with Marlins Feb. 18, 2019 By David Jablonski CINCINNATI The Cincinnati Reds will sign free agent infielder/outfielder Derek Dietrich to a minor-league contract, pending a physical, according to a report Monday by Ken Rosenthal, of The Athletic. Dietrich will receive an invitation to the major-league spring training camp in Goodyear, Ariz., and his contract will be worth more than $2 million. Dietrich, 29, hit.265 with a career-high 16 home runs and 45 RBIs in 149 games last season with the Miami Marlins. He started 84 games in left field and 29 at first base. He played parts of six seasons with the Marlins after making his debut in Dietrich is from St. Ignatius High School in Cleveland and played college baseball at Georgia Tech. The Tampa Bay Rays drafted him in the second round in WHIO-TV Reds pitcher on 2019: I think we re going to play postseason baseball Feb. 19, 2019 By Mike Hartsock, WHIO TV GOODYEAR, ARIZ. It s easy to associate spring training with sunny skies and warm temperatures, but neither of those conditions greeted the Reds for the first full squad workout on Monday. The valley of the sun was covered with gray clouds and a little bit of rain, but that didn t dampen the spirits of a team trying to dig out of the National League Central Division cellar for the first time since Rookie manager David Bell was anxious to get the full squad together for the first time with the clock ticking down to the season opener March 28 at Great American Ball Park against the Pirates. This time of year it s easy to be optimistic, even for a team that s finished last four years in a row, but several players said there is a different feel this spring ever since the front office started making some moves in the offseason. The Reds acquired three starting pitchers Tanner Roark (Nationals), Alex Wood (Dodgers) and Sonny Gray (Yankees) in trades. They also beefed up an already potent offense with the addition of outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp in the deal with the Dodgers. You can t ask for anything more than to play postseason baseball and I fell we all think we can play it, Reds righthanded starter Anthony DeSclafani said. I think we re going to play postseason baseball this year and I think we ll surprise a lot of teams. Gray, a right-hander, is no stranger to the playoffs first in Oakland and then the last couple of seasons with the Yankees. He likes what he sees in the clubhouse. That group of position players in there can rival any group that we will play this season, Gray said. Watching guys compete, that s what I m excited about.

11 A year ago, first baseman Joey Votto told reporters he was looking to win a couple of World Series titles before he left Cincinnati. The Reds leader was much more subdued, but still optimistic, when he sat down in front of the microphones Monday morning. I feel very strongly and I think as a group we feel strongly that we can win the division and be competitive this year, Votto said. That s really all you can ask for going into camp. The Reds have four more workouts before they open Cactus League play against the Indians on Saturday at Goodyear Ballpark. MLB tiers: Ranking baseball's best outfielders Bradford Doolittle ESPN Staff Writer Feb. 19, 2019 ESPN.COM Methodology Players are rated statistically according to anticipated 2019 value, playing time and primary position. The core metric being used is hwar, which stands for harmonic wins above replacement. The ratings are based on a cross section of projections, including my system (MLBPET), the Steamer projections from FanGraphs.com, PECOTA from BaseballProspectus.com and the Davenport projections from ClayDavenport.com. Using forecasts for runs created, fielding runs, pitching runs allowed, a consensus version of projected wins above replacement was calculated for each player. This consensus WAR is referred to as hwar in the rankings. Data from FanGraphs for Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating were incorporated into the fielding component for each position player. Win Probability Added data from FanGraphs was incorporated into the ratings, primarily to better capture the value of top relief pitchers. For players likely to spend the majority of their time this season at designated hitter, their primary position was considered to be where they've spent the most time on the field in recent years. The Angels' Shohei Ohtani was included with the right fielders, as that is the position -- other than pitcher -- at which he appeared most often in Japan. Each player's Tier status was determined by his overall MLB rank, not the rank within his base position. The idea was to give a snapshot of where the production is coming from in baseball right now. How many Tier I first basemen are there right now? What about Tier II relief pitchers? This kind of grouping gives us a sense of how players are being evaluated and deployed, and an idea what the talent pool looks like at present. The Tiers are defined as follows: TIER DEFINITIONS: I. Franchise Guys (players ranking 1 to 15). II. All-Stars (players ranking 16 to 60). III. First-division regulars (players ranking 61 to 135). IV. Second-division regulars (players ranking 136 to 270).

12 V. Role players (players ranking 271 to 750). VI. Extras (everyone else). 'BEST IN BASEBALL' REIGNS Cy Young, (3 years, ) Honus Wagner, (7 years, ) Ty Cobb, (3 years, ) Walter Johnson, (2 years, ) Tris Speaker, (1 year, 1914) Ty Cobb, (6 years, ) Babe Ruth, (13 years, ) Lou Gehrig, (5 years, ) Mel Ott, (2 years, ) Joe DiMaggio, (3 years, ) Ted Williams, (2 years, ) Stan Musial, (2 years, ) Hal Newhouser, (1 year, 1945) Ted Williams, (5 years, ) Stan Musial, (7 years, ) Mickey Mantle, (7 years, ) Willie Mays, (6 years, ) Hank Aaron, (1 year, 1967) Carl Yastrzemski, (2 years, ) Pete Rose, (2 years, ) Joe Morgan, (5 years, ) Mike Schmidt, (8 years, ) Tim Raines, (1 year, 1985) Wade Boggs, (3 years, ) Will Clark, (1 year, 1989) Barry Bonds, (14 years, ) Albert Pujols, (7 years, ) Miguel Cabrera, (1 year, 2011) Robinson Cano, (1 year, 2012) Andrew McCutchen, (1 year, 2013) Mike Trout, (5 years, ) LEFT FIELDER TIER III: FIRST-DIVISION REGULARS 13. Jesse Winker, Cincinnati Reds (2.49 hwar) CENTER FIELDER TIER IV: SECOND-DIVISION REGULARS 18. Nick Senzel, Reds (1.58 hwar) TIER V (ROLE PLAYERS) 21. Scott Schebler, Reds RIGHT FIELD TIER III: FIRST-DIVISION REGULARS 11. Yasiel Puig, Reds (2.64 hwar)

13 ASSOCIATED PRESS Reds' Joey Votto tries to rebound from subpar season Posted: 2:10 PM, Feb 18, 2019 Updated: 2:11 PM, Feb 18, 2019 By: Gary Schatz Associated Press GOODYEAR, Ariz. (AP) Joey Votto has spent the offseason trying to make sure he doesn't have another subpar season. The Cincinnati Reds star led the NL in on-base percentage last year but hit 12 homers, his fewest in a full season, and batted.284, his lowest since He had 67 RBIs. "It was the first year where I had a poor offensive year," Votto said. "It is hard to speak on this without sounding arrogant. I've always performed at a certain level. Last year was a bit of a shock. I didn't perform anywhere near to what I'm used to." Votto, who turns 36 in September, was hit on the right knee by a pitch from Ryan Madson in August and went on the disabled list. His numbers were down even before the injury. Votto hit 37 homers during his 2010 NL MVP season and had 36 with 100 RBIs in He spent this offseason refining his swing. "I did things differently, so I hope it works," Votto said. "Intuitively, I know why I wasn't ready and came up short last year. I just made sure I didn't do that again and learn from my mistakes. I feel very confident. I'm excited to work." Votto is owed $25 million annually through 2023, and the Reds have a $20 million option for 2024 with a $7 million buyout. He has spoken over the years about his desire to help the Reds become a winning team again. Cincinnati overhauled its roster following its fourth straight season of 94 or more losses, adding starting pitchers Alex Wood, Sonny Gray and Tanner Roark along with outfielders Yasiel Puig and Matt Kemp. "We've added All-Stars," Votto said. "We've added guys with long track records. They have a lot of things to gain by playing very well here. Hopefully, we carry that into a winning performance." REDSREPORTER.COM The Cincinnati Reds are still rebuilding, they re just making it more fun Ya know what? That s a totally fine admission. By Wick Feb 18, 2019, 3:05pm EST The Cincinnati Reds just reported to Goodyear, Arizona to begin their spring training work for the 2019 season. So, let s talk about the 2020 Reds, shall we? That s the point anyway, right? The Reds just invested five full seasons of abysmal play under the banner of rebuilding so that we Reds fans could look forward to a winning franchise again at some point in the future that was, shall we say, sustainable. Not a one-time affair, not a single season where the front office and ownership pushed all of their chips into the middle of the table to chase a banner, but a club with good players who ll be around for awhile at an affordable rate and in-house depth to bolster that for good. Yasiel Puig is an excellent baseball player, an even better draw for fans, and is now a Cincinnati Red. Most average fans couldn t pick Tanner Roark out of a lineup, but if they stared at the back of his baseball card for a quick second, they d instantly be happy to know he s now a Red, too. Matt Kemp has had a phenomenal career, and while there may not be a ton left in his tank, there should still be some mighty dingers, and he, too, is a Red for now. Alex Wood looks on paper to be the best left-handed starter the Reds have had in their fold for years. Even Scooter

14 Gennett and David Hernandez are still around as Reds despite the front office s M.O. of trade veteran players as they enter their walk year that we ve seen play out time and time again over previous years. The 2019 Cincinnati Reds season is designed to be significantly better than the 2018 vintage - including its awful 3-18 start - and that s a welcome respite from what we ve endured watching them for a half-decade. But if you roll your memory all the way back to late November, you ll remember that this was a club fresh off a 95 loss season thanks in large part to a young starting rotation that floundered egregiously all season long. Tyler Mahle, former top 100 prospect that he was, hit a wall mid-year and struggled after a brilliant start. Luis Castillo failed to live up to the expectations after a brilliant rookie campaign thanks largely to falling flat out of the gate for a month. Jesse Winker s hot start was curtailed by a busted shoulder and season-ending surgery, and even top prospect Nick Senzel s pending debut remained pending due to a season-ending surgery of his own. What s the absolute coolest part about the 2019 Reds being infinitely better on-paper than the 2018 Reds is that the 2018 Reds are all still around - almost every single one of them, especially the ones that were supposed to contribute to the 2019 Reds all along. Castillo and Mahle are still Reds, still pre-arb, and enter 2019 without the weight of the world on their shoulders to resurrect the morbid pitching staff. Sonny Gray, Wood, and Roark bought them an extra year to figure that out. Winker, too, is still around despite the additions to the outfield of Puig and Kemp, and is still under team control until The 2019 Reds brought in Puig, Kemp, Wood, Gray, and Roark, and did all of that without ever considering dealing Senzel, still the brightest piece of the rebuild s future, or his cohort Taylor Trammell, who has jumped as high as #12 in rankings of the top prospects in all of baseball. Dick Williams, Nick Krall, and the Reds front office made the rebuild much more fun for 2019, but they never deviated from the plan they embarked on four plus years ago. That s still the plan, to build from within, and to one day turn in a lineup card with Winker, Senzel, Trammell, Suarez, Peraza, etc. on it almost every single day. It s just that they finally realized that there might just be a way to make the product on the field and the number in the wins column bring a bit more joy to Reds fans in 2019 while still sticking to that overriding mantra. If you think about it, the front office turned a pile of players from their franchise that weren t ever going to contribute in and weren t the favorites at their positions to ever contribute as starters given the rest of the farm around them beyond and picked up a pile of players that might well lead the contributions in 2019, and did so without dealing a single piece that projects to be a roster cog beyond this season. And, they did so without completely breaking the bank, as their payroll of just north of $120 million is still below league average and only a hair above the team record they set at some $118 million in In essence, they made each and every best possible move this winter while still staying firmly within the rebuild s parameters. It s brilliant, really. Assuming we see no Sonny Gray-esque extensions doled out, just look at what the 2020 Reds might look like. The infield core of Joey Votto, Jose Peraza, and Eugenio Suarez will all still be around, with Tucker Barnhart and Curt Casali behind the plate. 2B still looks increasingly as if it ll belong to Senzel long-term, but if he takes to CF in 2019 as well as we all hope, that just increases the roster flexibility the Reds will have beginning next season. The outfield should boast the talent of Winker, Trammell, and Scott Schebler even if Senzel returns to the infield, but a successful 2019 in the outfield for Cincinnati s top prospect would only serve to provide an even greater option out there beyond this season for manager David Bell. A bullpen headlined by Raisel Iglesias, Jared Hughes, and Amir Garrett will still be around, while a rotation headlined by Gray, Castillo, Mahle will also be available, with the talented Tony Santillan poised to enter that fray alongside will-be veterans Sal Romano, Cody Reed, Brandon Finnegan, and the likes. Then, factor in the nearly $63 million of payroll coming off the books. If any of those pieces who ve been given a pressure-free 2019 season to mature still don t look the part of regulars, there should be ample money available to chase better alternatives. The Reds have made themselves better in 2019, but have also built-in a significant roster overhaul for the 2020 season one way or another, whether it s by again promoting from their in-house depth or by pursuing upgrades on the open market with money they ve actively freed up. Almost to the tee, that s the definition of a rebuild, though they ve managed to stay on that course while hopefully, probably bringing a hell of a lot of fun back to the fans along the way.

15 You should be excited for these 2019 Reds, as they re going to be a fun bunch while they re around. But even if a large number of them predictably aren t Reds beyond this year, the team has managed to still be building a core that ll be a fun bunch in 2020 and beyond, too - and maybe, just maybe, be even better in those years than in this one. TRANSACTIONS 02/18/19 New York Mets signed free agent SS Adeiny Hechavarria to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Pittsburgh Pirates signed free agent RHP Rookie Davis to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. Tampa Bay Rays invited non-roster LHP Matt Krook to spring training. Chicago Cubs invited non-roster OF Charcer Burks to spring training. Los Angeles Angels signed free agent RHP Luke Bard to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.