What Should the Cincinnati Reds Do With Jose Peraza?

As the Cincinnati Reds trim down their spring roster and we edge closer to the start of the regular season, they’ll be faced with several crucial roster decisions, from left field to the starting rotation to the bullpen. One of the more intriguing decisions they’ll face is with middle infielder Jose Peraza.

The Reds targeted Peraza in the Todd Frazier trade, in part, because he was major-league ready. He made his debut last season with the Los Angeles Dodgers, playing in seven games before a groin injury ended his season. With the intention of making Peraza the starting second baseman in 2016, the Reds attempted to deal Brandon Phillips to the Washington Nationals and Arizona Diamondbacks over the offseason, but the veteran exercised his 10-and-5 rights to block both trades.

Since Phillips still has two years left on his contract, that left the organization with an issue. Unless he has a change of heart, he seems intent on playing out the last two years of his contract in Cincinnati. Do the Reds really want to wait that long to give the second base job to Peraza? Some have suggested the Reds should bench Phillips, but manager Bryan Price has said that will not happen this season.

The problem has been compounded this spring due to Peraza’s offensive performance. The 21-year-old has been as advertised with the bat, batting .385/.407/.538 in 27 plate appearances, racking up four multi-hit games along with four stolen bases.

For the 2016 season at least, the Reds do have some options with their prized infield prospect. In addition to second base, he has also seen time at shortstop and center field, which would potentially give Price other ways to get Peraza at-bats.

Incumbent shortstop Zack Cozart is coming off of a major knee injury and figures to get plenty of days off during the season. Like Phillips, he won’t become a free agent until 2017, which could make him a prime trade candidate before this year’s deadline (if he can return to last year’s form, an obvious question mark with his knee) and free up a spot for Peraza to become a starter.

Center fielder Billy Hamilton has yet to play a game in the field during spring as he works his way back from right shoulder surgery. If he’s still unable to throw by the time Opening Day rolls around, there’s a possibility of him starting on the disabled list. Hamilton has also been hard pressed to get on base in his short big-league career and if that doesn’t improve this season, Peraza could very well steal playing time in center.

But will giving Peraza starts here and there at those three positions be enough to give him the playing time he needs? If he remains a super-sub off the bench all season, it seems unlikely that he’d get much more than 300 plate appearances.

Would the Reds be better served to send him to Triple-A Louisville? The plus is that he would be able to play second base every day with no questions asked. The downside is that he’d be stuck in the minors despite being ready to contribute and gain valuable experience in the majors.

Right now, the most likely outcome is sending him to Louisville until more playing time in Cincinnati can be found. There’s no opening for a starting spot (unless Hamilton starts the year on the DL) and the Reds already have a reserve middle infielder in Ivan De Jesus Jr., along with a plethora of backup center field options.

The choice clearly won’t be easy for the Reds. There are a lot of different variables at play and there’s no sure-fire answer. However, at the end of the day, helping Peraza continue to develop is of the utmost importance to the franchise.