CINCINNATI REDS

Starting Lineup
CF Willy Taveras: if he can come closer to the .367 OBP he posted in 2007, as opposed to the .308 OBP in '08, the Reds will be very happy with this signing
LF Chris Dickerson: batted .304 with 6 HR's and 5 SB's in 102 AB's in '08, making him a leading contender for the fourth outfielder spot if he doesn't win the LF job outright
RF Jay Bruce: the 21 year-old burst onto the scene with 21 hits in his first 47 AB's but batted just .230 the rest of the way; star in the making
2B Brandon Phillips: averaging 23 HR's, 82 RBI's, and 27 SB's in three seasons with the Reds; already named the #4 hitter for the upcoming season
1B Joey Votto: impressive rookie season included a .297 BA, 24 HR's, 32 2B's, 84 RBI's, and 7 SB's
3B Edwin Encarnacion: shaky defensively (.930 Fielding Pct) but put together a decent season offensively (.251 BA, 26 HR, 68 RBI's)
SS Alex Gonzalez: hoping to return after missing all of 2008 with a knee injury; batted .272 with 16 HR's in his debut season with the Reds in '07; appears on track to start the season
C Ramon Hernandez: 32 year-old is capable of putting up some good numbers (.263 BA, 137 HR's in 10 ML seasons) if he can stay healthy

Bench
C Ryan Hanigan: was impressive in 31 games for the Reds in '08, batting .271 and throwing out 8 of 23 attempted base stealers
IF Paul Janish: UPDATE 3/31 - the backup IF job is down to Janish, who is hitting .234 with 4 2B's and 2 3B's thi spring, and Adam Rosales, who is hitting .239 with 3 2B's and a homer
UTL Jerry Hairston, Jr.: waited until age 32 to have a breakout season (.326 BA, 6 HR, 15 SB) but it earned him a spot back on the Reds roster for 1 year and $2 million; could also start the season at SS if Gonzalez isn't healthy UPDATE 3/8 - emergence of Dickerson and health of Gonzalez at SS should push the versatile Hairston to the bench to start the season
OF Laynce Nix: former Ranger will get a shot to win a backup OF job; hit .284 with 23 HR's in AAA in 2008 UPDATE 3/8 - in the mix for the starting LF job, he's off to a 4-for-14 start with 2 doubles and 1 HR this spring UPDATE 3/23 - McDonald is having a better camp but the bench is lacking a left-handed batter so I'll give Nix the edge
OF Darnell McDonald: UPDATE 3/13 - 30 year-old veteran of 11 minor league seasons is off to a good start this spring (9-for-20, 2B, 3B, HR, 7 RBI's) UPDATE 4/5 - appears to have made the team over Jonny Gomes

Starting Rotation
RHP Aaron Harang: followed back-to-back 16-win seasons with a disappointing 6-17 year UPDATE 3/14 - named the opening day starter
RHP Edinson Volquez: 25 year-old was 12-3 with a 2.29 ERA at the All-Star break but was only 5-3 with a 4.60 ERA after the break
RHP Bronson Arroyo: has 200 IP in four straight seasons and at least 14 wins in 3 of those 4 seasons UPDATE 4/5 - will skip his first start of the season and make his debut next Sunday
RHP Johnny Cueto: the 22 year-old was inconsistent in his rookie season (9-14, 4.81 ERA) but has the potential to join Volquez at the top of the rotation in the near future
RHP Micah Owings: best-hitting pitcher in baseball has a good chance to win the #5 spot after being acquired for Adam Dunn last season UPDATE 3/13 - despite Bailey's strong spring, Owings is pretty close to locking down the #5 spot with his performance (14.2 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 2 BB, 16 K)

Bullpen
RHP Francisco Cordero: overall numbers were good (3.33 ERA, 34 Saves) in his first season with the Reds, although his 4.94 ERA and .296 BAA in the 2nd half is worrisome
RHP David Weathers: 39 year-old still a reliable workhorse, posting a 3.25 ERA in 2008 and is averaging 71 appearances per season since 1999
RHP Jared Burton: 9-3 with a 2.92 ERA in 101 relief appearances over two seasons with the Reds
RHP Mike Lincoln: posted a 4.48 ERA in 64 games in 2008 after missing the previous 3 1/2 seasons due to injury
LHP Arthur Rhodes: 39 year-old veteran still tough on lefties (.157 BAA in 2008)
RHP Nick Masset: pitched well (2.08 ERA in 17.1 IP) after coming to the Reds in the Ken Griffey, Jr. trade
UPDATE 3/5 - also in contention for the #5 starter job UPDATE 3/17 - could be on the trading block UPDATE 3/23 - officially out of the competition to be the #5 starter
LHP Danny Herrera: UPDATE 3/13 - coming off of a strong season in AAA (2.78 ERA, 55 IP, 50 K), he's thrown 3 scoreless innings so far this spring UPDATE 3/30 - looks like he's very likely to make the opening day roster

In limbo
OF Jonny Gomes: was 3rd in the Rookie of the Year voting back in 2005 after hitting .282 with 21 HR's in just 348 AB's with the Rays but he fell out of favor after hitting just .182 in 2008 UPDATE 3/13 - off to a .364 start with 3 HR's and 10 RBI's, he is making a strong case to at least platoon in LF UPDATE 3/22 - it sounds like he has made the team UPDATE 4/5 - in a surprise, Gomes was cut; he'll have to decide if he'll accept an assignment to AAA

Traded
IF Jeff Keppinger: versatile 28 year-old batted .266 with 3 HR's in 459 AB's in 2008 UPDATE 3/31 - traded to the Astros, opening up a spot for Paul Janish or Adam Rosales

Optioned to the Minors
RHP Carlos Fisher: UPDATE 3/17 - with news that the Reds could shop Nick Masset, the 26 year-old Fisher could get a look; he's allowed 1 ER and 5 hits in 4.2 IP this spring with 7 K's UPDATE 3/21 - optioned to the minors today
RHP Ramon Ramirez: pitched very well in four late-season starts for the Reds, allowing only 17 hits in 24 IP with a 3.00 ERA
IF Danny Richar: former White Sox infielder was 8-for-36 filling in at 2B after Phillips went down with an injury
OF Norris Hopper: was only 10-for-50 in an injury-plagued season in 2008 but was coming off an impressive 2007, in which he batted .329 with 14 SB's UPDATE 2/23 - will have to hold off a host of competitors (Gomes, Jones, Nix, etc) to win a roster spot UPDATE 3/30 - optioned to AAA
RHP Josh Roenicke: pitched well in the minors in 2008 (2.80 ERA in 57 relief appearances between AA and AAA) before pitching in 5 games for the Reds after a September callup UPDATE 3/31 - optioned to AAA
IF Adam Rosales: UPDATE 3/24 - 25 year-old competing with Keppinger for the backup IF job UPDATE 4/5 - will be optioned to AAA
RHP Homer Bailey: former top prospect has been a disappointment as a major leaguer (4-8, 6.72 ERA in 17 starts) and has been the subject of off season trade talk UPDATE 3/2 - making a case for the 5th starter spot after four scoreless innings with six strikeouts to start the spring UPDATE 3/17 - also a candidate to fill a long-relief role UPDATE 4/5 - optioned to AAA
LHP Bill Bray: will serve as the primary left-hander out of the bullpen after posting a 2.87 ERA in 66 games in 2008 UPDATE 3/30 - could start the season in AAA UPDATE 3/30 - on second thought, Bray could be ready to go on opening day UPDATE 4/5 - optioned to AAA
IF/OF Wilkin Castillo: UPDATE 4/1 - still in the hunt for the backup IF job UPDATE 4/5 - optioned to AAA

Reassigned to Minor League Camp
LHP Ron Flores: former Oakland A's pitcher pitched for the Cardinals AAA affiliate last season, posting a 4.26 ERA in 63.1 IP
OF Jacque Jones: hoping that a reunion with former manager Dusty Baker will do him some good; playing for Baker in '06 with the Cubs, Jones hit .285 with 27 HR's and 81 RBI's UPDATE 3/30 - reassigned to the minors; has yet to accept or refuse assignment
LHP Pedro Viola: UPDATE 3/24 - could be an option out of the bullpen if Bray is dealt UPDATE 3/31 - reassigned to the minors

Released
LHP Aaron Fultz: journeyman will have a chance to compete for a bullpen spot; posted a 2.92 ERA for the Indians in 2007 UPDATE 3/23 - released
1B Daryle Ward: hit just .216 but was coming off of consecutive .300+ seasons in 2006-07; career .234 BA with 11 HR's as a PH UPDATE 3/23 - released