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

Predictions are difficult, especially when you’re predicting 10 years into the future. Who will make the Cincinnati Reds all-decade team for the 2020s?

As Doctor Emmett Brown once said, “Your future hasn’t been written yet. No one’s has. Your future is whatever you make it.” While no one throughout Reds Country has any idea what’s in store for their favorite team, it’s always a fun exercise to predict what will happen next. As we enter a new decade, what will the Cincinnati Reds all-decade team look like for the 2020s?

Not too long ago, Blog Red Machine took a look back at the best players from the last decade. Fans fondly remember players like Brandon Phillips, Adam Duvall, Jay Bruce and Todd Frazier from the Reds teams that returned to the playoffs three times from 2010-2019.

Would you have predicted the success we saw from Joey Votto or Billy Hamilton back before the 2010 season began? Maybe, maybe not. But there in lies the fun. The Cincinnati Reds have a relatively young roster with plenty of players capable of playing multiple seasons in the Queen City. Several young prospects look the part of elite-level major leaguers as well.

So, knowing what we know, what might the next decade of Reds baseball look like? Obviously none of us thought we’d be sitting here in the middle of April with no games having yet been played, so there’s no exact science to this, just some educated guesses. Let’s see what the all-decade team from the 2020s might resemble.

Starting pitchers (5)

RHP Luis Castillo, RHP Hunter Greene, LHP Nick Lodolo, LHP Packy Naughton, RHP Tyler Mahle

The Reds current strength is the starting rotation. Heading into the 2020 season, the rotation is headlined by breakout star Luis Castillo and two former All-Stars in Sonny Gray and Trevor Bauer. Anthony DeSclafani and Wade Miley will bring up the rear, but both are coming off impressive 2019 performances. But looking forward, the future is a bit murky.

Both Bauer and DeSclafani will be free agents at the end of the year and one, if not both, will test the free agent waters. Bauer has previously said he’ll be looking for one-year deals and could return to the Reds, but it’ll cost Cincinnati a pretty penny. Disco could be had for much less, but his injury history may scare teams off, including the Reds.

Miley is nearing the end of his career and will come off the books following the 2021 season. Gray, who had a bounce-back year in his first season with the club, becomes a free agent in 2022 with a team-option for 2023. The question is, at 33-years old, would Gray merit another contract? For now, we’ll say no. But, for the sake of the team’s success, let’s hope Gray exceeds expectations.

Not to worry, as the cupboard is not bare. Cincinnati’s top two prospects are both starting pitchers. Nick Lodolo will likely make his major league debut in 2021, and provided Hunter Greene recovers from Tommy John surgery, he won’t be far behind. Both are former first-round picks and are likely to help anchor the Reds rotation for years to come.

Castillo is under team control through 2023 and a contract extension is likely coming his way very soon. Tyler Mahle is still a big part of the Reds plans for the future, and like Castillo is under team control through 2023. Rounding out the rotation could be up-and-comer Packy Naughton who saw a nice improvement in Double-A last season.

Infielders (7)

1B Robert Hassell III, 2B Tyler Callihan, SS Jose Garcia, 3B Eugenio Suárez, C Tyler Stephenson, UT Rece Hinds, UT Josh VanMeter

The Reds infield is a bit long in the tooth as far as baseball is concerned. Joey Votto is entering his 14th season at age 36 and his contract runs through 2023. Votto will be 40-years old when his contract expires. Freddy Galvis, the team’s starting shortstop, is on a one-year deal and Mike Moustakas is 31-years old. Of those three, Moustakas has the best chance to make an impact.

An infielder who’s entering the prime of his career is third baseman Eugenio Suárez. The 28-year-old from Venezuela broke into the mainstream with 49 home runs last season, setting the record for most home runs in a season among National League third basemen. Suárez is under contract through 2024 with a team option for 2025.

Cincinnati has two top prospects expected to make an impact in the very near future. Catcher Tyler Stephenson and shortstop Jose Garcia showed off their stuff during spring training and Reds Country got a nice preview of what’s to come if those two young studs continue to develop. Stephenson may make his big league debut later this year.

With Votto’s performance on the decline, the Reds need a young first baseman to develop in the minor leagues over the next couple years. Enter high school phenom Robert Hassell III. The prep star is committed to Vanderbilt, but the right amount of money could pry him away should the Reds select Hassell III in the first-round of the upcoming draft.

Finally, with Moustakas under contract through 2023, there’s certainly the chance that he could make the all-decade team. However, last year’s draft choice Tyler Callihan has a big bat and will make likely make his debut around the time Moose’s contract is up. Another draft pick from last year (Rece Hinds) and Josh VanMeter could round out the infield.

Outfielders (5)

RF Aristides Aquino, CF Nick Senzel, LF Stuart Fairchild, OF Mike Siani, OF Quin Cotton

The Reds did a lot to upgrade their outfield this offseason, but the additions of Shogo Akiyama and Nick Castellanos are both short-term solutions. Akiyama is 31-years old and only signed for three years, while Castellanos essentially signed a one-year deal because his four-year contract has opt-out clauses after the 2020 and 2021 seasons.

Though he struggled early during spring training, we saw exactly what Aristides Aquino was capable of last August. If The Punisher can regain that level of confidence, he’ll be a force to reckon with for years to come. Aquino is also under team control through the 2025 season.

Speaking of 2025, Nick Senzel’s not slated to leave Cincinnati until then either. Last year’s rookie needs to prove he’s healthy during the upcoming season, as a variety of injuries limited Senzel to just 104 games last year. Though an infielder by trade, I think Senzel will be a fixture in center field for years to come.

Jesse Winker does not appear to be the long-term answer in left field, though he’ll be given a chance to prove the doubters wrong during the upcoming season. Much like Senzel, Winker has to prove he can stay healthy. He’ll have a youngster nipping at his heels as Stuart Fairchild, one of the up-and-coming prospects in the Reds farm system, is eager to prove he’s ready.

Mike Siani is an athletic freak. When you think of Siani, think Billy Hamilton. Siani is quick and can make spectacular plays in the outfield. If his bat catches up, Siani will rocket through the Reds minor leagues very fast. Keep an eye on Quin Cotton as a nice young prospect whose maturity and versatility could elevate him to the bigs rather quickly.