Cincinnati Reds have truly disappointing off-season

After the Cincinnati Reds lost more than ninety games each of the past three season, they do little to improve over the off-season.

There is little positive momentum from the Cincinnati Reds off-season.  The Reds had specific needs and neglected most of them.  Now the team is staring another 90-loss season in the face.

The Reds had three needs heading into the off-season.  They needed to add a veteran starter for depth, a versatile reliever, and a true MLB shortstop.  They went one for three.

The Reds signed veteran relievers David Hernandez and Jared Hughes.  The case could be made that in signing two veterans, they added a starting pitcher as well.  With the free agent duo added, Michael Lorenzen is back pitching of a spot in the rotation.

Of course, the issue here is what happened once again.  Anthony DeSclafani has an oblique strain and Brandon Finnegan also came up lame.  That puts the Reds best two young veteran starters on the DL to start the season, the same as where they ended it.

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As far as shortstop goes, the Reds signed a pair of minor league free agents.  They needed someone to back-up Peraza, but instead got a pair of guys that could be playing the entire season in Triple-A.  The shortstop depth is scary thin.

Besides the signings that the Cincinnati Reds didn’t make, they also neglected to make the needed trades.

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The Reds have three players that are blocking their top prospects.  Rather than move them for prospects, the Reds held onto them.  They are also eating up salary cap money.

Devin Mesoraco, Billy Hamilton, and Eugenio Suarez are all blocking top prospects.  Tyler Stephenson may not be ready to make his MLB debut, but he is darn close.  He could replace Tucker Barnhart behind the plate.

Hamilton has been close to leaving the Reds each of the past two seasons.  With Jesse Winker ready to play everyday, Hamilton is a pricey extra piece. His value is also slowly starting to decrease.

Speaking of decreasing value, third baseman Suarez could bring a king’s ransom right now.  He is blocking top prospect Nick Senzel and is a legitimate 20 home run slugger.  He should have been moved as an auctioned off bat.

Next: Two starting pitchers are down for the count

That is what the Reds don’t do well.  They don’t understand when to hold ’em and fold ’em, know when to walk away and know when to run. They just don’t take the chances that they need to turn this rebuild into a finished product.