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

The Cincinnati Reds are likely to make some major additions to the team this offseason, but they already have a lot of talented players on the team. What five players should Reds fans be most thankful to have on the roster as we head into next season?

With the offseason revving up and the Hot Stove chatter in full swing, the Cincinnati Reds are sure to make some improvements to their roster this winter. However, the Reds are not devoid of talent. In fact, outside of their starting pitching, the Reds roster is loaded with talent. But, who tops the list as far as production, potential, and contract status heading into 2019?

The Cincinnati Reds front office has made it abundantly clear that they’re going to upgrade the roster and increase payroll this offseason. But, before the lineup gets stuffed this holiday season, let’s break down some of the players that Reds fans should be most thankful for as the team hopes to end a long-suffering stretch of losing.

5. Jesse Winker, Outfielder

Jesse Winker’s 2018 season didn’t end the way he had planned, but he sure showcased his abilities and what he can bring to the team in 2019. Winker slashed .299/.405/.431 and smashed 7 home runs and 37 RBIs in 74 starts last season.

Jesse Winker had a roller coaster season in 2018. During the first month of the season, the rookie hit .305 off opposing pitching with a .414 on-base percentage. Those are Joey Votto-esque. The power wasn’t there early, as he didn’t hit a homer through the first 44 games of the season. Winker did, however, have 9 RBIs during the month of April.

May was none to kind to the rookie, as his average was only .174 and his OBP dropped below .300. Winker was in a slump, so much so that he was effectively benched for the three-man outfield rotation of Adam Duvall, Billy Hamilton, and Scott Schebler.

His benching didn’t last long and neither did his slump. Winker returned to form in the month of June, slashing .408/.432/.513 with 5 round trippers and 20 RBIs. Jesse got his groove back and every pitcher he faced was on notice.

Unfortunately for Winker, his season ended abruptly when he injured his shoulder while rounding the bases during a ninth-inning rally against the St. Louis Cardinals. Winker was placed on the 60-day DL and declared out for the remainder of the season.

Reds Country should be excited for the lefty’s return to the lineup in 2019. Winker will bring a power bat back to the middle of the batting order that the Reds sorely missed in the second half of the season. Winker is just 25-years-old and under team control through the 2023 season. Reds fans have a lot to be thankful for with Winker occupying rightfield in 2019.

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.

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!