Predicting the Cincinnati Reds 2022-23 offseason roster

While the postseason is in full-swing for several teams throughout Major League Baseball, it's the offseason in Reds Country. Heck, fans of the Cincinnati Reds have been looking at the offseason since their team got off to a 3-22 start.

The Reds have already made some changes by relieving five members of their coaching staff of their duties. Among them are first base coach Delino DeShields and hitting coach Alan Zinter.

But no real change to the overall structure of the team is going to change until adjustments are made to the Cincinnati Reds offseason roster. The front office will need to decide who stays, who goes, and which prospects to protect from the Rule 5 Draft. Let's preview what the Reds 2022-23 offseason roster might look like.

Stone cold locks to be part of the Reds 2022-23 offseason roster (25)

Joey Votto, Jonthan India, Michael Siani, Connor Overton, Nick Lodolo, Jake Fraley, Jeff Hoffman, Graham Ashcraft, TJ Friedl, Alexis Diaz, Tyler Stephenson, Tony Santillan, Stuart Fairchild, Reiver Sanmartin, Alejo Lopez, Lucas Sims, Kyle Farmer, Hunter Greene, Tejay Antone, Allan Cerda, Spencer Steer, Luis Cessa, Jose Barrero, Justin Dunn, Fernando Cruz

Yes, it's a long list, but these 25 players are all but assured to be part of the Cincinnati Reds 2022-23 offseason roster. There are a few names that may come as a bit of surprise, but no one should be shocked to see these players as part of the 40-man roster over the winter.

Stalwarts like Joey Votto and Kyle Farmer will certainly be retained. Rookie standouts like Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Alexis Diaz, and Graham Ashcraft will be back next season, as will rookie performers from the 2021 season like Jonathan India, Tyler Stephenson, and Tony Santillan.

Tejay Antone missed the entire 2022 season following Tommy John surgery. But he, along with others on the 60-day IL (Lucas Sims and Jeff Hoffman) will need to be added back to the 40-man roster in order to retain their standing with the team.

A few rookies like Spencer Steer and Michael Siani were added to the roster later in the season, and Allen Cerda never even stepped onto a major league field. But the Reds feel as though these players will be a key part of the team's future. Fellow rookies like Reiver Sanmartin and Alejo Lopez are virtual locks to be on the offseason roster as well.

Free agents who will not be part of the Reds 2022-23 offseason roster (6)

Hunter Strickland, Austin Romine, Chase Anderson, Justin Wilson, Donovan Solano, Mike Minor

Free agency officially begins shortly after the World Series concludes. There aren't many free agents among those players on the Cincinnati Reds roster, but with an emphasis on developing young players, it's almost a guarantee that any free agent to-be who's currently on the Reds roster will not return in 2023.

Pitchers Hunter Strickland and Mike Minor were brought to Cincinnati this past season and neither one pitched up to expectations. Strickland lost his job as the team's closer near the end of the summer, and an injury-riddled season allowed Minor to start just 19 games. The Reds hold a team-option over Minor that will, no doubt, be declined.

Justin Wilson blew out his elbow weeks into the season and required Tommy John surgery. He'll be allowed to enter free agency and likely sign an incentive-laden deal with another team. Wilson may not even pitch until closer to next year's All-Star Game.

Donovan Solano was a savvy addition to the Cincinnati Reds roster this past spring, but if the veteran is looking to win next season, he'll have no interest in returning to the Queen City. Look for Solano to sign elsewhere.

Finally, there's the duo of Chase Anderson and Austin Romine, both of whom could return in 2023. For now, however, it's most likely that the Reds' brass allow both veteran to pursue other opportunities in free agency.

Players who'll be cut and lose their 2022-23 offseason roster spot (6)

Mike Moustakas, Aristides Aquino, Derek Law, Jared Solomon, Kyle Dowdy, Daniel Duarte

This will be the most intriguing group of players on the Cincinnati Reds roster heading into the offseason. Will these players be retained, released, or non-tendered? Let's look at every one of these avenues, shall we?

First is Mike Moustakas. The Reds are already on the hook for the $22M he's owed. But if Cincinnati is serious about letting their young players develop, then Moose can no longer be part of the team. It's an expensive, but necessary cut that the front office needs to make.

Aristides Aquino is the other big name here. The Punisher has a cannon for an arm, but the ability to throw out runners at the plate cannot be the only reason he remains in Cincinnati. Aquino has had more than enough chances, and it's time for the Reds to move on.

Catchers Michael Papierski, Aramis Garcia, and Mark Kolozsvary were all recently plucked off waivers. Chuckie Robinson was outrighted to Triple-A, but you have to believe he'll receive an invite to spring training. However, as it stands, Tyler Stephenson will be the only catcher on the offseason roster.

Finally, the four relievers on this list should come as no surprise to anyone who watched more than a handful of games in 2022. Daniel Duarte was injured during the first week of the season, Derek Law provided little down the stretch, Jared Solomon was shellacked in the big leagues and the minors, and Kyle Dowdy needn't return in 2023.

Prospects who will be added to the Reds 2022-23 offseason roster (7)

Elly De La Cruz, Noelvi Marte, Brandon Williamson, Levi Stoudt, TJ Hopkins, Daniel Vellojin, Ricky Karcher

Finally, we get to the good stuff. These decisions that the Cincinnati Reds front office will need to make in the coming weeks have the biggest bearing on who else remains part of the team's offseason roster. All of these additions are made with the Rule 5 Draft in mind.

The Rule 5 Draft allows other teams to poach a club's young "unprotected" talent. So how does a team "protect" their talent? By adding them to the 40-man roster before the deadline. Some of these players are locks to be added while others may be a borderline choice.

Elly De La Cruz and Noelvi Marte are quite possibly the future left side of the Cincinnati Reds infield. You can write this in permanent ink; De La Cruz and Marte will be added to the Reds 40-man roster later this year.

The same can be said for pitchers Brandon Williamson and Levi Stoudt. Both were former prospects in the Seattle Mariners organization with Williamson coming to Cincinnati in March and Stoudt making his way to the Queen City in July. Both will be added to the offseason roster and could be in line for a spot on the 2023 Opening Day roster.

TJ Hopkins has played his way onto the offseason roster as well. One of the few outfield prospects who may be deemed major league-ready, Hopkins posted a .792 OPS, 107 wRC+, and crushed 21 homers while playing for Double-A Chattanooga and Triple-A Louisville last season.

Daniel Vellojin is one of the Reds' most advanced catching prospects. Though he struggled after making the leap to Double-A, Cincinnati's catching depth is very thin after watching Aramis Garcia, Mark Kolozsvary, and Michael Papierski claimed off waivers late last week.

Last but not least is Ricky Karcher. The right-hander split his 2022 season between Double-A and Triple-A and posted a 3.65 ERA and 35.1% strikeout-rate. After seeing the Reds add Alexis Diaz to the 40-man roster last season, Cincinnati seems quite willing to add relief prospects that can fill up the strike zone.