Cincinnati Reds: Five players to be thankful for heading into next season

4. Luis Castillo, Starting pitcher

Luis Castillo was the best starting pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds last season. La Piedra went 10-12 with a 4.30 ERA and 165 strikeouts through almost 170 innings pitched in 2018. Castillo was the best among a poor group of starters last season, but the final month of the season showed Castillo’s potential as a top-of-the-rotation starter.

Castillo has one of the most deceptive changeups in all of baseball. It’s his go-to pitch when he’s looking for a strikeout, and when he’s on, it’s virtually unhittable. Castillo led all starting pitchers in starts, innings pitched, strikeouts, ERA, and ERA+.

Unfortunately, Castillo also led all Reds starters in home runs allowed. If Castillo has an Achilles heel it’s his propensity to give up the long ball. Castillo finished among the top of the National League with 28 home runs allowed.

If the Cincinnati Reds make no additions to the starting rotation, which is highly unlikely, Castillo will be the unquestioned No. 1 among the starters. Honestly, unless the Reds bring on board a bonafide ace this winter, Castillo could still be the Opening Day starter when the Reds start the season against the Pirates.

Castillo closed out the 2018 season on fire. The month of September saw Castillo post a 1.09 ERA while allowing opposing batters to hit only .172. If Castillo can carry that type of performance into 2019 he will no doubt lock down the role of ace, regardless of who the Reds add this offseason. Castillo is just about to turn 26-years-old and is not yet arbitration eligible.

If he continues to build on his success Castillo’s got a bright future ahead of him. Reds fans should be thankful that one of the best young pitchers in the National League resides in Cincinnati for the foreseeable future.

3. Joey Votto, First baseman

Even during a down year, Joey Votto finds a way to lead the National League in on-base percentage. Votto is a tactician at the plate and fans of the Cincinnati Reds should be thankful every day they get to see one of the greatest hitters of his generation step into the batter’s box.

Votto did not play up to his standards last season and he’d be the first one to tell you that. The power numbers were not there, as he hit only 12 home runs in 2018 after sending 36 out of the yard in 2017. Votto slashed .284/.417/.419 in 2018. Not too bad for the 35-year old.

But, not too bad is not good enough for Votto. Reds fans expect Votto to lead the NL in on-base percentage, as he’s now done it seven times. Reds fans also expect Votto to be in the MVP conversation, as he has been during 6 of his 12 seasons in Cincinnati.

An injury to his right knee did not help his struggles during the 2018 season. After being intentionally hit in the knee by Nationals pitcher Ryan Madson, Votto tried to gut out a handful of games before eventually landing on the DL for several games.

I for one fully expect Votto to return to form in 2019. Votto was in contention for the MVP in 2017 and arguably should’ve won the award. That kind of talent doesn’t just disappear over a winter. Reds fans should expect Votto return to his normal self in 2019.

With a .400-plus OBP, I’d love to see new manager David Bell bat Votto in the No. 2 hole. With the power bats of Eugenio Suárez, Scooter Gennett, and Jesse Winker hitting behind him, Votto could lead the club in runs scored next year.

Votto’s contract has been questioned over the years, but his talent never has. Reds fans have had the pleasure to watch Votto’s mastery at the plate over the past 12 seasons and 2019 will be no different. Every Cincinnati Reds fan should count their blessings each time they get to watch Votto at the plate.

2. José Peraza, Shortstop

Is there a player on the Cincinnati Reds who generates more excitement over his potential than José Peraza? We know what to expect from players like Joey Votto, Scooter Gennett, and Eugenio Suárez. In fact, I think Peraza is in a similar position that Suárez was in last year. The sky is the limit for this young, talented shortstop.

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Cincinnati has been searching for their shortstop of the future ever since Barry Larkin left the Reds. They thought they finally found a permanent replacement when Zack Cozart was called up, however, injuries derailed what could’ve been a fantastic career with the Cincinnati Reds. Cozart is now on the west coast with the Los Angeles Angels.

Peraza looks the part with his 181 hits last season, falling just short of Barry Larkin’s record for shortstops. Peraza led the National League in singles and started to show the promise that the Reds were hoping to see when they acquired him from the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The entire Reds infield, except for Peraza, went to the All-Star Game last season. I firmly believe that Peraza could join his teammates this coming season and represent Cincinnati in the Midsummer Classic next year in Cleveland.

If there’s one hole in Peraza’s game, it’s his defense. He led all shortstops in the NL in errors last season. If Peraza truly wants to be thought of as one of the elite shortstops in the game, he needs to improve his defensive skills while at the very least maintain his offensive game.

Peraza reached Super 2 status this offseason and will be arbitration eligible for the first time. MLB Trade Rumors predicts Peraza to make in the neighborhood of $3.6 MM in 2019. That’s a bargain for someone of Peraza’s skillset and one has to wonder if the Reds would entertain the idea of a contract extension this season.

Peraza is just 23-years-old and appears to be coming into his own. While he has yet to put it all together, the potential is there for Peraza to be one of the cornerstones of this Cincinnati Reds franchise for years to come. Reds fans can be thankful that they may have finally found their shortstop of the future.

1. Eugenio Suárez, Third baseman

It’s debatable as to who was the MVP of the Cincinnati Reds last season. Both Eugenio Suárez and Scooter Gennett had phenomenal seasons. But while the debate for last year’s team MVP can rage on, there’s no doubt which player has the bigger upside. Suárez is the best player on this Reds team heading into 2019 and Cincinnati fans should be so thankful to have Geno on their team.

Suárez is one of the first third basemen in baseball. He was up for a Silver Slugger Award this season, and with the numbers he put up, the only surprise is that he didn’t win. Geno hit .283 with an OPS of .892. His OPS+ was an impressive 135 to go along with a team-leading 34 homers and 104 RBIs.

Suárez signed a seven-year, $66-million contract last offseason. The base salary for Suárez’s contract is only $7 million this season and it slowly increases over the life of the contract to $11 million in 2024, with an option-year in 2025. Rumors were flying earlier this offseason regarding a potential trade involving the Reds budding superstar, but they appear to be unfounded. I don’t see any way the Reds move on from the sweet deal that Geno signed just a year ago.

Suárez is the future of this club. He took a greater role with team leadership last season, has become a big hit with the Cincinnati fans and media, and made major strides on the field during the 2018 season, earning his first trip to the All-Star Game.

Geno even missed a few weeks earlier in the season with a broken thumb. He returned earlier than expected and got right back to being his old self at the plate. Suárez came within a game of tying the club record for most consecutive games with a home run when he put together a streak in late July of five straight games with a round-tripper.

Eugenio Suárez will be a big part of the Cincinnati Reds organization for the foreseeable future. His blonde hair, giant bubbles, and beaming personality make him a favorite among Reds fans. All of us should be thankful for players like Suárez and every single player that laces ’em up for our Redlegs. From Blog Red Machine, we’d like to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving, and Go Reds!