Cincinnati Reds: Three dark horse candidates to make the taxi squad

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CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 25: Scott Schebler #43 of the Cincinnati Reds (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images) /

MLB rosters will likely be expanded to 30 players with a 20-man taxi squad. Who are some dark horse candidates to make the Cincinnati Reds taxi squad?

For me, the idea of a 20-man taxi squad is easily the most intriguing aspect of a potential 2020 baseball season. How will teams like the Cincinnati Reds select who’s placed on the taxi squad? How will service time be handled? Will the 40-man roster be expanded to a 50-man roster? There are so many questions to be answered.

For those unfamiliar with the situation, Major League Baseball is looking to make every team’s active roster consist of 30 players while also having a 20-man taxi squad. What is a taxi squad? Simply put, it’s a group of reserve players who can “called-up” to replace a player on the 30-man roster.

Whether it’s fatigue, injury or illness, there’s no doubt that an abbreviated season with several doubleheaders likely to be played will result in teams having to shuttle players on and off the active roster. Pitchers, more than any other players, run the risk of injury and fatigue, so you can bet that more than half of a team’s taxi squad will consist of hurlers.

If we approach this idea under the assumption that the Cincinnati Reds will find spots on the 30-man roster for players like Mark Payton, Derek Dietrich, José De León and Joel Kuhnel, just to name a few, who might find their way onto the team’s taxi squad? Let’s look at three dark horse candidates.

MESA, AZ – OCTOBER 14: Tyler Stephenson #36 of the Glendale Desert Dogs (Cincinnati Reds) (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

1. Tyler Stephenson, Cincinnati Reds top catching prospect

While it’s true that Kyle Farmer filled in admirably during a period last season when both Tucker Barnhart and Curt Casali were on the injured list, the University of Georgia product will likely be tied up playing all over the infield in 2020. Tyler Stephenson was added to the 40-man roster last fall, and with no minor league season to speak of, it’s time to get him some reps in the big leagues.

While it’s unknown how adding a player to a team’s taxi squad will affect service time; who cares? The Reds have built a contender this season and service time issues should be thrown out the window. If Cincinnati’s front office believes that Stephenson can help the Reds win, then by golly he belongs on the taxi squad.

Stephenson would benefit greatly from just getting reps. The right-handed hitting catcher was expected to be the starting backstop for Triple-A Louisville this coming season. It’s unclear, but unlikely that we’ll see a minor league season, so even if Stephenson if never “called-up” to the bigs, just getting in some practice will be of great benefit to the 23-year-old.

Spending heading into 2021 will be lean. The coronavirus pandemic has halted baseball, causing losses in revenue for the Cincinnati Reds and every other major league team. If the Reds are looking to cut costs heading into next season, replacing Casali with Stephenson is a good place to start. That said, you’ll want to know what you’re getting, so it’s time to see what Stephenson can do.

CINCINNATI, OH – APRIL 09: Scott Schebler #43 of the Cincinnati Reds (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) /

2. Scott Schebler, Former Cincinnati Reds starter

I’m sure to get a lot of flack for this choice, but I don’t care. I firmly believe that Nick Senzel should’ve been the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day starter in center field last season, but I want to be clear that Scott Schebler put up some phenomenal numbers last spring and earned a spot on the roster. Schebler should, at the very least, get a seat on the taxi squad.

I know, with the plethora of outfielders on the Reds, why would you want to keep a player like Scott Schebler. Heading into the season, you’d have to figure that the Reds were going to carry five outfielders (Nick Castellanos, Shogo Akiyama, Nick Senzel, Jesse Winker and Phillip Ervin). If the active roster is now going to sit at 30, go ahead an add Aristides Aquino or Mark Payton as well.

So, under the prediction that either Aquino or Payton make the active roster, you’d have to assume that the other would be on the taxi squad and likely the first outfielder called-up if needed. So who else fills out the outfield of the taxi squad? I’d make the case for Schebler to be the No. 2 outfielder on the taxi squad.

Yes, his horrendous start to the 2019 season has been well-documented. But, so was the injury that cut short his minor league season as well. Schebler hit 30 home runs in 2017; don’t forget that. Schebler offers a better bat than Travis Jankowski and Stuart Fairchild needs more seasoning. I think Schebs makes the cut and finds his way on the Reds taxi squad.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – JUNE 04: A baseball sits on the mound before the game between the Cincinnati Reds (Photo by Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images) /

3. Nick Lodolo, Cincinnati Reds No. 1 prospect

No way! There’s no way that Nick Lodolo makes the taxi squad, right? Don’t be so sure. Last year’s No. 7 overall draft pick was thought to have had a chance to make his major league debut during September. While I think a bullpen role in 2020 might be more up his alley, if the Reds are in contention, having Lodolo on the field for a playoff push would be a huge boost.

Nick Lodolo was the Reds first-round pick last June. After a stellar career at Texas Christian University, Lodolo spent the 2019 season pitching in 18.1 innings for the Billings Mustangs and the Dayton Dragons. In eight games, Lodolo struck out 30 and didn’t walk a single batter.

Now, the jump from Single-A to the majors is tremendous, which is why I would never advocate for Lodolo to be put in as a starter. However, a quality left-handed reliever outside of Amir Garrett is not a viable option for the Reds in 2020. Lodolo could fill that role and not be overexposed.

Starting Lodolo’s service time clock so soon seems like a risk, but with the Reds starting rotation beyond 2020 up in the air, it’s possible that Lodolo was going to be put in position to claim a spot anyway. Both Anthony DeSclafani and Trevor Bauer will be free agents next winter, and with the current financial constraints, it seems likely that both will not be back in 2021.

Next. Reds options for DH in 2020

All three players mentioned are dark horse candidates to make the Cincinnati Reds taxi squad, but there’s so many unknowns going forward, thinking outside the box may be necessary to compete in a shortened-season. Which unexpected addition would you most like to see in 2020?

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