Cincinnati Reds: Five bold predictions for spring training

4. Scott Schebler makes the Opening Day roster

Whoa! Wait a minute. Is Scott Schebler still on the team? Surprisingly, yes, Schebs is still on the 40-man roster. I, like many fans, am curious as to why. However, the Reds have had ample opportunities to let Schebler go, but the 29-year-old is still hanging around. This makes me think that Cincinnati knows something we don’t.

Now, it seems really presumptive to think that Scott Schebler will earn a spot on the Opening day roster with the likes of Nick Castellanos, Shogo Akiyama, Jesse Winker and Nick Senzel already on the roster. I mean, c’mon, would the Reds really keep Schebler and let a player like Phillip Ervin go?

I’m not suggesting that Schebler makes the team over the likes of Winker or Ervin, but I’m not ruling out a trade either. With such a plethora of talent in the Cincinnati outfield, I wouldn’t be shocked if the Reds made a deal at some point between now and the beginning of the regular season.

Might Dick Williams and Nick Krall look to replenish the farm system a bit? After all, Cincinnati let go of a lot of talented minor leaguers over the past two seasons. Taylor Trammell, Shed Long, Josiah Gray, Jeter Downs and Scott Moss are all playing for other teams.

If Cincinnati decides to deal one of the trio of Schebler, Winker or Ervin, there’s little else the Reds may be looking to add to the big league roster aside from a reliever or two. The probably of Schebler making the team with the roster as it is currently constructed is slim, but if the Reds make a deal before Opening Day, don’t rule out Schebs’ presence on the squad.