Cincinnati Reds positional preview vs. NL Central: first base

5. Justin Smoak, Milwaukee Brewers

Justin Smoak, a fine major league player, comes in at No. 5 on the list. Smoak was signed to a one-year/$4M deal this past offseason with a team option for 2021. Smoak will be counted on to replace the departed Eric Thames who signed with the Washington Nationals. Smoak has spent the previous five seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays.

During his time North of the border, Justin Smoak hit .237/.338/.459 with 117 home runs and 321 RBIs. Smoak has made one All-Star appearance during his 10-year big league career, and last season put up his worst statistical performance since 2014 with the Seattle Mariners.

Justin Smoak does possess decent power, hitting 20-plus homers in the past three seasons with a .470 slugging percentage. However, his defense leaves a lot to the imagination. According to FanGraphs, Smoak has -30 defensive runs saved throughout his tenure in the big leagues, with a -7 DRS last season in Toronto.

4. Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds

Speaking of Toronto, Joey Votto comes in at No. 4 on this list, a position few in the baseball world would’ve predicted following his near-MVP performance during the 2017 season. But, two years later, Reds fans are hoping for a bounce-back season from the six-time All-Star, as his standing on this team is beginning to be questioned by the fanbase.

Reds Country has been spoiled by Votto over the years. The former second-round pick enters the 2020 season in need of a rebound. The past two seasons, Votto’s batting average has dipped well below the expectations of both Reds fans and Votto himself. The 36-year-old put up a combined .272 batting average the past two seasons after hitting .313 for the previous 11 seasons.

This may be the best Cincinnati Reds team to surround Joey Votto since 2012. The additions of Mike Moustakas and Nick Castellanos provide power behind him in the batting order, and Shogo Akiyama will fit nicely as the Cincinnati leadoff hitter. Votto has a chance to be good, but the years of the former MVP to be great are likely behind him.