Cincinnati Reds have a set of great individuals, but no team

The Cincinnati Reds roster is filled with great individual players, but they don’t add up to a winning team.

Looking around the Cincinnati Reds roster, they have a laundry list of players that other teams would love to add to their roster.  The obvious two players are former All-Stars first baseman Joey Votto and left fielder Adam Duvall.  There are several more players beyond that.

The player that any team in baseball would love to have is Jesse Winker.  He is an inexpensive on-base machine.  The Reds got a glimpse of what Winker could do this season.

Next year Winker will compete for an everyday spot.  There is a bit of a logjam in the outfield.  That could cause someone to move to another team.

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The other player on the top of other GM’s list is Scooter Gennett.  He is a power hitting second baseman.  With an affordable contract and a smooth, left-handed swing Gennett is a great piece for any team whether as a starter or on the bench.

The last position player to discuss is Tucker Barnhart.  With his contract extension he become even more valuable to other teams.  His starter money with the Reds is bench player money for other teams.

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The Cincinnati Reds also have a handful of pitchers that other teams want to add to their staffs.

Every team that calls the Reds about pitching this off-season will ask about the same pitcher that they did last off-season.  Raisel Iglesias was a hot target at the winter meetings and will be again this year.  Due to the Reds’ lackluster season, Iglesias didn’t get enough saves to earn too prohibitive an amount if he elected arbitration (so he may not).

The Reds already lost Luke Farrell.  Farrell drew interest because of his ability to be a swingman.  He is on the Chicago Cubs roster after they claimed him from the Reds.

A third pitcher that teams may feel the Reds are willing to part with is Deck McGuire.  McGuire was a first round draft pick by the Toronto Blue Jays all the way back in 2010.  After bouncing around the minors with three different organizations, he finally made the big leagues with the fourth.

Next: Why doesn't MLB like Cincinnati?

Despite these inexpensive players, the Reds ended 2017 with a 68-94 record, good for fifth place in the National League Central.  Add in superstars like Votto and Duvall and this teams should be better than it is.  Starting pitching is keeping the Reds from acting like an MLB team.