3 Reds players who should be cut before Opening Day, but won't be

3. Reds RHP Chase Anderson should be cut before Opening Day, but won't be.

If Chase Anderson breaks camp with the Cincinnati Reds and is a member of the bullpen, I'm fine with that. But if Anderson takes away a roster spot from Reds prospect Brandon Williamson, that's not okay.

The Reds have already demoted Elly De La Cruz, Christian Encarnacion-Strand, and Matt McLain, so how about giving the Cincinnati faithful something to cheer about in the first couple of months by adding Williamson to the starting rotation.

As it stands, Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, and Graham Ashcraft are locked in. Luke Weaver, if healthy, seems likely to be ticketed as the No. 4 starter. That final spot in the rotation is now down to Anderson, Williamson, Luis Cessa, and Connor Overton.

Anderson hasn't been awful this spring and pitched well in spurts at the end of last season. But the 35-year-old is not going to be part of the rotation by midseason. The Reds should assign Anderson and Cessa to the bullpen, send Overton back to Triple-A, and make Williamson the fifth starter.

But they won't. This goes back to David Bell's fondness of veteran players and Derek Johnson's history with Anderson from their time in Milwaukee. Again, I've got no problem with Chase Anderson on the team, but not if it takes away an opportunity from Brandon Williamson.