Cincinnati Reds: Make-or-break season for these five players in 2020

1. Cody Reed, Left-handed pitcher

Cody Reed enters the 2020 season with one last chance to make an impact. The left-hander who was acquired as part of the deal that sent Johnny Cueto to Kansas City, is out of minor-league options. Much last Robert Stephenson last spring, Reed will likely be given every opportunity to make the 26-man roster, but a poor spring will sink any chance he has to make the squad.

Reed put together some solid stats last season, unfortunately, a knee injury limited him to just three games. The Memphis native needs to put up some solid numbers this spring in order to lock up a spot in the Reds bullpen. The one plus for for Reed is that Amir Garrett is the only lefty who’s guaranteed a spot among Cincinnati’s relief corp this season.

The Reds have a few other southpaws looking to compete for that final spot in the Reds pen. In addition to Reed, Jesse Biddle, Josh Smith and Brooks Raley are looking to crack the Opening Day roster. Biddle has an outside shot to make the team, but Reed may have the inside track.

The new rule requiring pitchers to face a minimum of three batters will have an impact on David Bell‘s decision of whom he decides to keep as part of his bullpen. For his career, Reed is much better against lefties (.637 OPS against) than he is against right-handed hitters (.897 OPS against). Biddle actually has reverse splits, meaning he’s better against right-handers than he is lefties.