Reds still have moves to make
CINCINNATI — The Reds roster remains in flux.
It might remain that way until the 11:30 a.m. Thursday deadline to set it. Opening day was been postponed from 4:10 p.m. Thursday to 4:10 p.m. Friday because of the weather forecast.
The reason the roster remains in flux? You guessed it: A pitcher's health.
Right-hander David Hernandez, one of the two free agents brought in to bolster the bullpen, is dealing with a sore shoulder.
“We’re defining the health of David Hernandez — if it’s realistic for him to start on the opening day roster,” manager Bryan Price said. “That will have a ripple effect on those here with us. We still have a couple — or at least one — decision to make in regards to finalizing the bullpen roster.”
The 25-man roster is currently at 29, but four pitchers still on the active roster will start the year on the disabled list: Right-handers Anthony DeSclafani, Michael Lorenzen and Kevin Shackelford and lefthander Brandon Finnegan.
The Reds re-assigned right-hander Vance Worley to the minor league camp.
The Reds’ 40-man roster is at 40.
If Hernandez starts the year on the DL, they would have to add another pitcher. But there’s another factor. “As we’ve been known to do historically, you never know when we might grab someone off the roster before all rosters are set,” Price said. “If that’s the The youth of the Reds’ starting rotation made veteran Homer Bailey the natural choice to start Friday’s opener, which was moved back a day because of rain.
case, you don’t want to commit to everybody and then have to backtrack. We’re waiting for the dust to settle on all the other rosters.”
Last year, the Reds added Scooter Gennett late with a waiver claim. In previous years, they did the same with Dan Straily and Alfredo Simon.
The Reds told Kevin Quackenbush, Phil Gosselin and Phillip Ervin they made the team before the team left Arizona.
No one has been added to that list.
“Unfortunately, we have a couple of guys that are out there blowing in the wind,” Price said. “We hope to alleviate that and make some final decisions quickly.”
Despite the injuries, Price likes his roster.
“With the young rotation,” Price said, “Homer (Bailey) being back at full strength, the addition of Jared Hughes, Hernandez to the bullpen, a stronger bench with veteran presence.
“There’s a lot of areas we’ve improved. Our young players are a year older.”
Bailey, 31, will start his first opening day. With four pitchers — Luis Castillo, Tyler Mahle, Sal Romano and Amir Garrett — barely above rookie status currently in the rotation, Bailey was really the only choice.
“I think having a veteran presence is a better approach to a situation or circumstance like this,” Price said.