Cincinnati Reds: Three players who could benefit from expanded rosters

Expanded rosters could be a possibility this coming season. Which three Cincinnati Reds players would benefit the most if expanded rosters become a reality?

When will the 2020 baseball season start? As of right now, Opening Day has been postponed until at least mid-May, but early-June might be more realistic with a later start date still a possibility. Regardless of when the season starts, Major League Baseball is committed to playing as many games as possible. The Cincinnati Reds will need reinforcements.

The possibility of a shorten-season definitely exists. Will it be 100 games? 81 games? A 50-game race to the postseason? Who knows. What we do know is that, according to MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, Major League Baseball is hopeful to play a full season. How they’ll do that remains to be seen, but if doubleheaders are part of the discussion, then teams will need more players.

Typically, when a doubleheader is played, a team’s roster expands by one player, usually a pitcher. Last year, you would’ve seen rosters go from 25 to 26. With the additional player added to the active roster effective this season, rosters would now expand from 26 to 27 on the day of a doubleheader.

Given that off days may be few and far between and weekly doubleheaders part of the 2020 schedule, there’s a good chance that MLB will expand rosters for this season only. Dick Williams noted, via C. Trent Rosecrans of The Athletic, that there’s a possibility of expanded rosters once the season gets underway. Which three Reds players would benefit from more roster spots?

2. Mark Payton, Outfielder

The Cincinnati Reds outfield is crowded. The additions of Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos will certainly impact the playing time of last year’s holdovers Nick Senzel, Phillip Ervin and Jesse Winker. However, Rule 5 draftee Mark Payton may find a home as a reserve outfielder if the roster is expanded.

Few players within the Reds organization may have been more impacted by the halt of spring training than Mark Payton. In 14 Cactus League games, the left-handed hitter connected on nine hits and racked up four RBIs with a .333 on-base percentage. Payton, being a Rule 5 Draft pick, must be on the Reds Opening Day roster or be offered back to the Oakland A’s.

If the rosters are expanded by two to three spots, the Reds would be foolish not to take advantage of the loophole and keep Payton on the roster. The former New York Yankees farmhand is a versatile defender who’s able to play all three outfield positions.

Last season for Triple-A Las Vegas, Mark Payton put up some fantastic offensive numbers. The 28-year-old hit .334/.400/.653 with 30 doubles, 30 home runs and 97 RBIs. Payton’s potential should be enough to keep him on the roster.

Given that Aristides Aquino had opened up Cactus League play so poorly and has one minor-league option remaining, it makes the most sense for Cincinnati to hang onto Payton and send The Punisher back to Triple-A Louisville. Payton also offers more upside than fellow outfielders Scott Schebler and Travis Jankowski, both of whom are still on the 40-man roster.

3. Derek Dietrich, Infielder

While an additional relief pitcher could be advantageous, should the rosters expand, Derek Dietrich  may have an outside shot to make the squad. I think Dietrich’s chances of making the team are better than 50% without an additional spot or two, but if the rosters are expanded, Dietz chances of making the Opening Day roster really increase.

Yes, we all know about Dietrich’s fall from grace last summer. After an explosive start to the 2019 season, Dietrich fell apart after May and found himself as little more than a bench bat who had fewer singles (18) than he did hit-by-pitches (25).

Still, Dietrich has ridiculous power from the left-side and finished third on the team in home runs despite over 300 fewer plate appearances (306) than the team leader, Eugenio Suárez (662). Dietz hit 19 homers and put up a .790 OPS.

The likely recovery of Suárez, thanks to the delayed start to the 2020 season, may put Dietrich’s chances in jeopardy. Josh VanMeter had outplayed Dietrich during Cactus League play, and despite having minor-league options remaining, deserves a spot on the club over the former Miami Marlin.

That said, if a few additional spots exist, Derek Dietrich should be considered. It was obvious that Dietrich’s attempt to play through injury last season was partly to blame for his poor performance down the stretch. Dietz brings fun to the clubhouse and is the ultimate team player, something that can’t be understated and may be very necessary in a condensed season.