Wow! I'm entering a second post in three days--remarkable. All sarcasm aside, in case there was any doubt about whether the Reds are planning on Yonder Alonso to be the primary left fielder next year, check out this post from The Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay.
Granted it's still September of 2011, but let's take a guess at what the 2012 roster will look like:
INF-- Votto, Phillips, Cozart, Rolen, Francisco, Cairo, Janish
OF-- Bruce, Stubbs, Alonso, Heisey
C-- Hanigan, Mesoraco
Rotation -- Cueto, Leake, Bailey, Arroyo, Chapman
Bullpen -- Cordero, Ondrusek, Bray, LeCure, Arredondo, Wood, Boxberger
Boxberger is Brad Boxberger. Combined at Double and Triple-A, he was 2-4 with a 2.03 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 62 innings. Reds love his stuff.
I'm assuming Boxberger will be on the roster because of who will not be. Let's begin with the premise that the club will part ways with Ramon Hernandez and Edgar Renteria after the season as both are free agents. From there let's say the Reds re-sign Francisco Cordero to an extension rather than pick up his $12M option. Figure that Aroldis Chapman is moved into the starting rotation. With both Nick Masset and Edinson Volquez being arbitration eligible, and despite their performances this season, both could get raises in the arbitration process. Don't you love MLB's salary structure. So, it wouldn't surprise me if Masset and Volquez are packaged in a trade (major or minor), or flat out not offered a contract (or non-tendered). The Reds need cost certainty in budgeting the payroll for next year and arbitration is always a roll of the dice. Again, a lot of assumptions on my part but that's what makes the offseason fun.
FYI -- the Redlegs won again last night! They now stand at 73-76 with 14 games left. Back-to-back winning seasons remain a possibility. Dare to dream True Believers!
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