Where does the Reds roster stand once free agency begins?

The World Series will come to a close this weekend. Will the Houston Astros reward Dusty Baker with his first ever championship as a manager, or will the Philadelphia Phillies comeback and take the title?

Fans throughout Reds Country may be passively watching the Fall Classic, but the Cincinnati fanbase is much more intrigued by what will be happening in the coming weeks with free agency on the horizon.

While it's unlikely that the Cincinnati Reds will chase after any big-name free agents during the offseason, there are a few players on the 40-man roster who'll be free to sign elsewhere heading into next season.

Where does the Reds roster stand once free agency begins?

The Cincinnati Reds have five impending free agents, and it's unlikely that any will return in 2023. The only name on the list who might make sense would be Austin Romine. The Reds need a backup catcher and Romine worked well with the pitching staff over the final two months of the 2022 season.

The other four players (Donovan Solano, Chase Anderson, Justin Wilson, and Hunter Strickland) will most likely be playing elsewhere next season. Solano had a solid season, but the Reds will looking to give his at-bats to some of the younger players and prospects within the organization.

As for the three pitchers, there's an outside chance that Chase Anderson could return in 2023. The right-hander has familiarity with pitching coach Derek Johnson and Cincinnati will be in the market for a low-cost starter. Wilson will not be available until midseason due to Tommy John surgery and Strickland was an absolute disaster.

With all the free agent departures, the Cincinnati Reds 40-man roster will be sitting at 34 about this time next week. Once the Reds make the decision not to pick up Mike Minor's club-option, that number will dip to 33.

The question then becomes how many prospects the Reds plan to add to the 40-man roster in order to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. Noelvi Marte, Elly De La Cruz, and Brandon Williamson are locks to be added. The other additions will greatly shape how the Reds plan to address other needs through free agency or offseason trades.