3 ways the Cincinnati Reds could surprise the fanbase this offseason

3. Reds begin the 2022 season with three rookies in the rotation.

Whether it's Sonny Gray or Tyler Mahle or Luis Castillo, there's no way the Cincinnati Reds head into the 2022 season with three-fifths of the starting rotation returning. While Castillo would offer the organization the most in return, opposing executives would also be intrigued by the potential of trading for Mahle and/ or Gray.

The Reds have been known to manipulate service time in order to gain an added year of team control; see Nick Senzel. But the team did not do that last season; see Jonathan India. And the odds are high that after a new CBA is announced, that issue may be put to bed.

Cincinnati's top two prospects are MLB-ready and another surprising candidate has entered the mix as well. Nick Lodolo and Hunter Greene will both enter spring training eyeing a spot in the starting rotation. But Reiver Sanmartin showed what he was made of in two starts to end the year versus the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Though Sanmartin started two games last season, in the eyes of Major League Baseball, he's still considered a rookie. The same was true of Jose Barrero and Tyler Stephenson last season despite making their debuts in 2020.

With Wade Miley off to Chicago, one spot in the Cincinnati rotation is already up for grabs. Should one of the remaining trio have a new home in 2022, a second spot in the rotation will emerge. Two of the remaining veterans are likely to claim a spot, and I'm sure Vladimir Gutierrez will be in the mix as well.

But given what we've seen from Lodolo and Greene, I believe that proven all they can in the minor leagues and expect them to find their way onto the Opening Day roster. The question then becomes, can Sanmartin beat out Gutierrez for the last spot in the rotation? I believe he will and thus the Cincinnati Reds will begin the 2022 season with three rookies in the starting rotation.