Biggest Offseason Addition(s)

Brayan Pena Skip Schumaker

Biggest Offseason Losses

Bronson Arroyo & Shin-Soo Choo

Name to Watch in Spring Training: Billy Hamilton

There is a lot that will be placed on Hamilton’s shoulders this season, and spring training will be his first opportunity to prove that he can handle the load.  With the loss of Choo, who manned center for the team and served as the team’s primary leadoff man, Hamilton will have big shoes to fill.  He will have to prove that he can be more than a stolen base expert and can give the team solid defense in center, and prove that he can get on base enough for the big bats to knock him in.  In a short stint in 2013 he hit over .350 and had an on base percentage over .400, but it was a very small sample and spring will be his chance to prove he can do it.

Biggest Spring Training Battle: Todd Frazier and Jack Hannahan

The only real battle that will be going on for the team will be at third base.  In an under the radar move they signed veteran Hannahan presumably to battle with Frazier after he struggled in the 2013 season.  It is likely that this is Frazier's job to lose, but if he can’t show a serious turnaround in spring training he will at the least be the right handed half of a platoon at third and lose serious playing time to the lefty Hannahan.

What Went Right in 2013

2013 was another good year for the Reds.  They won a wildcard spot for the second year in a row, had a no-hitter for the second year in a row and had Joey Votto again finish as one of the top vote getters for National League MVP.  The only thing that could’ve gone better for the Reds is if they could’ve taken the next step in the playoffs.

Biggest Areas of Improvement in 2014

There were not many areas of improvement for the Reds this offseason, but they did do a little to improve the team.  They did add infield depth with the signings of Hannahan and Schumaker that will be a big boost if Frazier struggles or either of Brandon Phillips or Zack Cozart go down.  They also get a slight upgrade at the backstop with the addition of veteran Pena to pair with the up and coming Devin Mesoraco.

Overall Spring Training Preview

Even though the Reds have the majority of their team returning for 2014, they will have to establish who will set the table at the top of the order.  It is assumed that Hamilton will be batting leadoff at the top of the order, but if he can’t handle it they will have a serious problem and very little time to solve it. They also have an issue of who bats second for the team. Last season Phillips filled in for most of the season at the cleanup spot and was very effective with 103 runs batted in, but they may very well move him back up into the two hole to create a dangerous one-two punch with Hamilton.  The Reds will need to use spring to tinker with this lineup and make and find out what works best.