Cincinnati Reds: Predicting the all-decade team for the 2020s

Relief pitchers (8)

RHP Robert Stephenson, RHP Michael Lorenzen, LHP Amir Garrett, RHP Tejay Antone, RHP Tony Santillan, RHP Ryan Hendrix, RHP José De León, RHP Alex Powers

Easily the most difficult position to project is that of relief pitcher. One year, a reliever can be on top of the world, then the following year come crashing back down to earth. Other times, a starter can be moved to the bullpen, like we saw from Robert Stephenson last season, and the transition turns out to be the best thing that ever happened.

Stephenson’s talent was never the question. He certainly figured it out last year, and I think he has a legitimate shot to be the Reds closer in the future. The back end of the bullpen could be very solid if Michael Lorenzen can keep up the torrid pace he was on last season. Lorenzen is under team control through 2021 and is likely in line for a contract extension in the near future.

Amir Garrett came out of the gate firing last season and was one of the best left-handed relievers in the game. If Garrett can return to that level of performance we saw before he made a trip to the injured list, Cincinnati may be counting on AG for quite some time.

Some young guns may be give a chance during the upcoming season. Tony Santillan, once projected to be a starter, may be better for a role in the bullpen. The Reds could always use a power arm late in games. Speaking of power, Alex Powers put up great numbers in the minors last season. He’ll find his way onto a major league roster soon enough.

Rounding out the bullpen, we’ll go with Tejay Antone, Ryan Hendrix and José De León, all of whom were added to the Reds 40-man roster this offseason. Hendrix has wicked stuff out of the pen and De León was former top prospect in the Tampa Bay Rays organization. Antone is currently labeled as a starter, but he may have to make the transition to the bullpen in order to find the field.