Shuffle on in middle infield
Notable spring face
u2B Dilson Herrera: The Reds will try to juggle playing time for a few players between shortstop and second base after trading mainstay Brandon Phillips. Presumed starting shortstop Zack Cozart is a known quantity with debatable trade value because of market conditions, and Jose Peraza, 22, caught fire toward the end of 2016 to earn more time this season. Arismendy Alcantara also has a shot at playing time.
But the Reds don’t know what they have in Herrera, the former New York Mets prospect they acquired at the deadline in August’s Jay Bruce trade. Because of a shoulder issue, Herrera barely played with Class AAA Louisville after the deal, but he will burn his last option if he spends significant time in the minors this season. With Cozart heading to free agency after the season, Herrera is on the clock to prove his worth. Burning question Do the Reds have enough starters?
If their young pitchers reach their potential, it’s an easy yes. But if they fall short, the Reds might be thin when it comes to rotation depth with Homer Bailey out until at least June with an elbow injury and after the trade of Dan Straily to the Miami Marlins. The top two spots in the rotation belong to right-hander Anthony DeSclafani and left-hander Brandon Finnegan. DeSclafani has dealt with injuries the last two seasons. Finnegan had a solid first season in the rotation in 2016, but it’s just one year.
Beyond those two are a bunch of young question marks. Top prospects Robert Ste- phenson and Cody Reed struggled in their taste of the majors. There are appealing arms behind them — Amir Garrett, Rookie Davis, Sal Romano and Nick Travieso to name a few — but none of them is guaranteed success either. —