Cincinnati Reds clean up roster in preparation for Opening Day

With opening day tomorrow, the Cincinnati Reds have 27 players on big league roster.

The Cincinnati Reds have optioned out eleven players to Louisville.  They still have 27 players on the big league roster.  Plus they haven’t cleared any space for non-roster invitees, yet.

With sixteen pitchers not counting Anthony DeSclafani, nor non-roster invitee Kevin Quackenbush, the Reds have some moves to make.  Disco will likely end up on the 60-day DL making room for Quackenbush on the roster and Tyler Mahle in the rotation.  That still leaves four pitchers that won’t make the team.

Jose Lopez and Zack Weiss are both likely to get optioned to Double-A at some point.  Michael Lorenzen will start the season on the DL.  Then either David Hernandez will land on the 10-day DL or the Reds will option one of the their two right handed middle relievers in Kevin Shackelford and Austin Brice to Louisville.

The infield and catching roles are pretty well set.  The Reds sent Stuart Turner, who cost them a roster spot all last season, to Louisville where he will back up Tyler Stephenson.  With Shed Long and Alex Blandino also in the minors, the Reds have no back-up infielder on the 25 man roster.

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The outfield will have the starting rotation of Adam Duvall, Billy Hamilton, Scott Schebler, and Jesse Winker with back-up center fielder Phil Ervin.  The Reds released veteran Ben Revere so that he can prursue other opportunities.  Ervin will rarely start, but will often pinch hit and be a defensive replacement.

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The non-roster situation for the Cincinnati Reds could cause some issues.

Catcher Tony Cruz is still with the big league team as they leave Arlington.  Manager Bryan Price mentioned keeping him around, so Devin Mesoraco could pinch hit more often.  However, the Reds reassigned him to minor league camp, effectively ending his chances to start the season in Cincinnati.

The Reds also have Phil Gosselin and Cliff Pennington traveling with the MLB squad.  The team has announced that both have made the team.

The Reds haven’t made any corresponding roster moves, yet.  However, once the injured players go onto the 60 day DL, there may be enough space.

The real odd man out here is Vance Worley.  Kennys Vargas and now Justin Nicolino took the roster spot that the Reds saved for him initially.  He appears destined for Triple-A.

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That’s the way things are this time of year.  The Reds are trying to make sure that they have the best combination in Cincinnati.  they also have to figure out where everyone else needs to go to start the season.