3 Reds players most in danger of losing their 40-man roster spot

2. Reds outfielder Stuart Fairchild is in danger of losing his 40-man roster spot.

After seeing the Cincinnati Reds add another outfielder to the 40-man roster last week, Stuart Fairchild's seat might be getting a little bit warm. While several Reds fans loved what they saw from Fairchild last season, it's questionable as to whether or not the Cincinnati front office feels the same way.

After all, Fairchild was part of the Reds organization previously but was traded to the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2020. Fairchild was plucked off waivers last summer and slashed .279/.374/.523 with a wRC+ of 146 according to FanGraphs.

But, of all the outfielders on the Reds 40-man roster, most would have to agree that Fairchild is in the most precarious spot. Wil Myers is the team's likely Opening Day starter in right field, TJ Friedl and Jake Fraley are sure to be part of the 26-man squad that breaks camp, and Michael Siani was just added to the 40-man roster last season.

It's likely to be a three-horse race between Fairchild, the recently acquired Nick Solak, and former first-round pick Nick Senzel. Both Solak and Senzel have defensive versatility, while Fairchild is strictly an outfielder.

The Reds do maintain a minor league option with regards to Stuart Fairchild, so even if the 26-year-old doesn't break camp with the big league squad, he can be sent down to Triple-A Louisville to begin the 2023 season. One would think Fairchild showed enough last season to remain with the team, but the same could have been said for Alejo Lopez.