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One of the league's worst offenses teams up with an elite pitching staff. Is it a wacky sitcom? No, its the Cincinnati Reds!

The Cincinnati Reds

Last Season’s Result: 74-88, 5th place in the NL Central

Major Offseason Changes

• Added CF Willy Taveras (Signed from Colorado)
• Added RF Jonny Gomes (Signed from Tampa)
• Added RP Arthur Rhodes (Signed from Florida)
• Added OF Daryle Ward (Signed from Chicago Cubs to a minor-league deal)
• Added OF Jacque Jones (Signed from Florida to a minor-league deal)
• Lost RP Jeremy Affeldt (Signed with San Francisco)
• Lost C Paul Bako (Signed with Chicago Cubs)

Letter Grades

• Offseason Moves: D+ The Reds didn’t get any worse, but like most of the central they didn’t improve their team with the moves made in the offseason. The Reds’ pitching staff is good enough that they could compete this year if they’d have added a single big bat to the lineup.

• Rotation Grade: A- The 5th spot is still up for grabs, most likely it will be Micah Owings or Homer Bailey that gets the job. The other four spots are locked up, and looking pretty good. Harang struggled in 2008, but is still possibly the most underrated starter in baseball. Phenoms Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez return after grabbing headlines with great rookie campaigns in 2008. Volquez especially made it clear he is a #1 starter from here on out.

• Bullpen Grade: A- The Reds return an excellent bullpen led by Francisco Cordero, that finished 3rd in the NL in ERA in 2008. The lost Affeldt, but replaced him with the veteran Rhodes. They won’t be able to lean on Rhodes as much as they did Affeldt, so for another good year from this group to be possible, guys like Burton and Bray will need to continue their success in larger roles.

• Lineup Grade: D This team was near the bottom of the league in runs scored in 2008, and they traded away their biggest runs producer last season when they Adam Dunn to Arizona. Jay Bruce is nice, but unless somebody else has a career year, these guys will among the league’s worst offenses.

Player most closely linked to team’s 2009 hopes: Whoever hits leadoff. Willy Taveras? Chris Dickerson? I'm not sure right now. The team wants Taveras' speed at the top, but he is a terrible on-base guy. In his entire career he has walked 116 times over 4 seasons. Adam Dunn did that last season alone. Taveras has low BA and OBP and shouldn't be at the top. Then again, they don't really have a better option.

Biggest Breakout Star Potential: Jay Bruce. After grabbing headlines with a monstrous first week, Bruce settled in and had a fine rookie season. This year Bruce has the chance to become a star if he can improve his batting eye.

Best Case Scenario: The kids have to hit beyond expectations. If that happens then these guys can win the division or the wildcard.

Worst Case Scenario: The kids play as expected, and the team is below .500 despite the good staff.

Prediction for 2009: 72-90

Local Thoughts

By: Justin Inaz

• Letter Grade for Offseason Moves: It depends on what you consider their goal to be. If they are trying to win in 2009, then you probably have to give them a D or F. They did very little to improve the team over what they had at the end of last year. The biggest acquisition was probably Hernandez at catcher, and he's hardly a sure thing to pan out. But if the Reds are biding their time until 2010 or 2011, then I'll give them a C. They didn't make any moves that will cause extended hardship, nor did they trade away any youth this offseason that is likely to negatively affect them in future years. But they also didn't really do anything to improve their long-term future.

• Most Essential: Probably Jay Bruce? The Reds are going to have a pretty lousy offense this season. If they're going to score any runs at all, they'll need a bopper to step in and be a genuine force in the lineup. With all due respect to Votto and Encarnacion, Bruce is probably the only guy who can really be a true force in the lineup.

• Breakout Potential: I like Bruce to break out, but I also like Johnny Cueto. Cueto just turned 23 in February, essentially skipped AAA last year, and yet still posted 8+ k/9 totals along with respectable walk totals. If he can improve his walk rates--and at times last season he seemed to have pinpoint control--and if he can get his homer rates a bit more under control, the could emerge as a really nice #2ish starter. Add him to Volquez, Harang, and Arroyo and you have the makings of a pretty darn good rotation.


• Prediction for 2009: I've been pretty pessemistic all winter. But several recent objective projection systems have the Reds right around 0.500 due to significantly improved defense and steadily improving pitching, though admittedly with a crappy offense. I'm starting to drink that Kool-aid, so I'll say 81-81, finishing third or fourth in the division depending on what the other teams do.

Here's our second set of Reds questions from Chad Dotson of RedlegNation.com

Letter Grade for Offseason Moves: --D+. There really isn't much to discuss. The Reds signed Willy Taveras, which wouldn't be so bad if Dusty Baker weren't going to put Taveras' .308 OBP in the leadoff spot. The only other moves worth mentioning are Arthur Rhodes, Jonny Gomes, and Daryle Ward. Jacque Jones signed a minor league contract, but unless Dusty's reputation for veteran-love intervenes, I'm not sure he can make the roster.

• Most Essential: --RF Jay Bruce. With the departures of Adam Dunn and Junior Griffey, the Reds lost a lot of offensive production. Bruce (and 1B Joey Votto) really need to have big years to take up some of the slack.

• Breakout Potential: --I'd go with Bruce here, as well. The kid is a superstar waiting to happen. Honorable mention go to Gomes, who is healthy and may finally live up to some of the promise he showed as a rookie in Tampa, and Homer Bailey. Bailey was the top pitching prospect in baseball at one time, he's still only 22 years old, and early signs this spring are very encouraging.

• Prediction for 2009: --I'm going to choose to be VERY optimistic: 81-81, 3rd place. Truthfully, I'm not sure there is any chance the Reds reach .500, but there is hope for the future. The Reds have a great group of prospects ready to hit the big leagues late this year, or next. 2010-2012 could be very special years for Cincinnati.