Reds latest roster cuts quietly reveal Opening Day direction

The Cincinnati Reds continued to trim the fat from the roster on Monday after announcing that both outfielder Blake Dunn and left-handed pitcher Anthony Misiewicz have been reassigned to Minor League camp.

Dunn suffered an injury earlier this spring, but was able to get back into a Cactus League game over the weekend. Operating as the team's designated hitter, he went 0-for-3 with a strikeout and was lifted in favor of Yerlin Confidan during the eight inning. Dunn was hitting just .136 this spring and always felt like a fringe roster candidate.

Misiewicz was a non-roster invite and has been pitching well this spring. He logged one strikeout during Sunday's game against the Seattle Mariners, which brought his Cactus League total to six over six innings. He's only allowed one run on three hits this spring, but in order to add him to the Opening Day roster, Cincinnati would need to make a corresponding move.

Reds roster cuts provide good news for Dane Myers and Sam Moll

Based on these two roster cuts, it would seem that Dane Myers will open the year as the Reds fourth outfielder — a move that was becoming more and more likely by the day. Myers was acquired in an offseason trade with the Miami Marlins, and has been on fire this spring. Heading into play on Monday, he owns a .350 batting avearge and a 1.202 OPS.

Misiewicz heading down to Minor League camp is certainly good news for Sam Moll. The Reds lost Caleb Ferguson to an oblique injury last week, and with Misiewicz now out of the way, it would seem that Moll will join Brock Burke as Cincinnati's left-handed relief options to begin the season.

The Reds camp roster is currently sitting at 37, and Terry Francona still has some difficult decisions to make. Cincinnati hasn't settled on who'll man the backend of the starting rotation. With Hunter Greene set to open the year on the 60-day IL, the competition between Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, and Brandon Williamson has expanded from one spot to two.

Since it's now assumed that Myers will be part of the Reds Opening Day roster, the focus turns to the quartet of Will Benson, JJ Bleday, Rece Hinds, and Nathaniel Lowe. Only two of those four will find their way onto the roster, and it's becoming quite the contest with less than two weeks to go.