Cincinnati Reds spring training: Full squad workout dates set

The Cincinnati Reds spring training is set to open in Goodyear, Arizona. According to The Athletics’ C. Trent Rosecrans, the pitchers and catchers report next week with their first full workout on February 18th. The team’s full squad workouts scheduled are scheduled to begin on February 22nd.

Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray, Michael Lorenzen, and the other Reds hurlers will descend on Arizona next week. Along with the pitchers, Gold Glove-winner Tucker Barnhart and rookie backstop Tyler Stephenson will be in attendance.

Reds spring training begins on Thursday, February 19th.

The Reds, fresh off their first postseason appearance since 2013, will return to Goodyear looking to gear up for the 2021 season. It’s been a strange offseason for Cincinnati, and more transactions are expected between now and the time the Reds spring training begins.

Cincinnati began the offseason by extending a qualifying offer to starting pitcher Trevor Bauer. The reigning Cy Young-winner promptly rejected the offer and eventually signed a three-year contract with the World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers. Bauer’s new deal guaranteed the Redlegs an additional pick in the upcoming MLB Draft.

The Reds non-tendered veteran catcher Curt Casali, preferring instead to roll with the tandem of Barnhart and Stephenson. Cincy also non-tendered Brian Goodwin and Archie Bradley, two players the front office had traded for at last year’s deadline.

Raisel Iglesias is also gonzo, as the team’s closer was shipped to Los Angeles in exchange for reliever Noé Ramirez and a minor league infielder. It appears as though the trio of Amir Garrett, Lucas Sims, and the newly acquired Sean Doolittle will duke it out for the closer’s role during spring training.

Full workouts for the Reds begin on Monday, February 22nd.

The elephant in the room is the void at shortstop. After saying they’d like to add a shortstop to replace the departed Freddy Galvis, the Reds front office has done little to address the issue this offseason.

Didi Gregorius, Marcus Semien, and Andrelton Simmons all signed elsewhere while Cincinnati traded for minor league infielder Kyle Holder and signed Dee Strange-Gordon to a minor-league contract. Strange-Gordon hasn’t played meaningful time at shortstop since 2013 with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

As Reds spring training approaches, it appears as though David Bell will need to rely upon a lesser team than he had last season. That said, a great deal of those players underperformed in 2020, and if they play up to their potential, this team could make some noise in the National League Central.