CARLSBAD, Calif. – The Cincinnati Reds spent most of their summer trying to address their bullpen, first through waiver claims and then they acquired three relievers at the trade deadline.
The bullpen, which had disastrous results in the first half of the season, stabilized in the last six weeks of the year. The team, however, couldn’t take advantage of a soft schedule in September and dropped below the St. Louis Cardinals for the National League’s second wild card.
Two key members of the bullpen, Michael Lorenzen and Mychal Givens, departed in free agency. Tejay Antone, arguably the team’s best reliever this year, is out for the 2022 season after he underwent Tommy John surgery for the second time in his career.
“We’re going to need to rebuild some of the bullpen,” Reds General Manager Nick Krall said, “there’s no question about it.”
The Reds didn’t commit to a full-time “closer” all year with a franchise-record 10 relievers recording at least one save. It seems likely they will keep that same approach because they are unlikely to sign a veteran closer in free agency. Lucas Sims might be the top internal option after he’s thrived in a setup role over the last two seasons.
Hunter Greene and Jose Barrero:Where Reds prospects stand heading into the 2022 season
Nick Castellanos:Free agent on his Silver Slugger Award, free agency, Joey Votto and Jonathan India
'No shortage of interest in a lot of different things':Reds GM Nick Krall on trade talks
'We've got problems':Agent Scott Boras says MLB's structure is incentivizing tanking
Sims finished the 2021 season with an inflated 4.40 ERA, but he had a lot of dominant moments in August and September after returning from an elbow sprain. He struck out 32 in 18 1/3 innings while walking three and giving up seven earned runs. Among relievers who pitched at least 40 innings this year, Sims ranked fourth in strikeout rate behind only Josh Hader, Aroldis Chapman and Craig Kimbrel.
“You don’t always find out who a closer is until they assume the closer role,” Krall said. “I think Lucas is a good back of the bullpen pitcher that has pitched in the setup role. We’ll see where he is in spring training and where he is going into the season to see how to best maximize it. He had some really good games early then we had that Arizona rain game. It really inflated his ERA, but I do think overall he had a pretty good season.”
Luis Cessa had the best season of his career and gives the Reds a multi-inning option in the bullpen. He was targeted by the Reds for a few years before their trade with the Yankees last summer, so they’re confident he can replicate his success.
Art Warren shined when he was healthy with his fastball-slider combo and Tony Santillan could fit in the back of the bullpen if he doesn’t return to a starting role.
“Tony is going to come in and we might lengthen him out to start,” Krall said. “If we lengthen him out to start, does he win a job? Does he go to Triple-A? Does he go back to the bullpen? He can perform a lot of different roles. What’s the best role for him and our team? I think that’s what we have to figure out. Art Warren is another guy that was really good for us for a stretch.”
Justin Wilson returns to the bullpen after exercising his $2.3 million player option for the 2022 season. He didn’t pitch in many high-leverage situations after he was traded from the Yankees, but he has a long track record.
Amir Garrett is projected to make $2.2 million as an arbitration-eligible player, according to MLBTradeRumors.com, and he’s coming off his worst season in the bullpen. If the Reds are looking for areas to further shed payroll, he’s a candidate to be released.
The Reds don’t want to give up on Garrett’s potential, knowing he possesses a slider that can overpower any left-handed hitter in the league.
“He’s in our bullpen at this point,” Krall said. “I think this was a tough year for him. He came out of the gate, he was hurt for a little bit in spring training, delayed if you will. He just never really got on track, especially at the beginning, and I think it derailed some of his season. I do think he’s a quality member of the bullpen that should be able to help us.”
The only other lefty reliever on the 40-man roster is Cionel Pérez, who struggled with his command this year. Pérez will be out of minor-league options next year, so that could make it more likely the Reds keep Garrett under contract.
Jeff Hoffman is another arbitration-eligible player, projected to make around $1.1 million, according to MLB Trade Rumors. Hoffman was out of minor-league options this year, and he looked better in the bullpen (3.54 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 28 innings) than the rotation (5.20 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 45 innings).
The Reds may be looking to fill more innings out of their starting rotation if they trade Luis Castillo and/or Sonny Gray, so it’s possible Hoffman could be an option for a starting role again.
“Jeff ended the season in the bullpen and pitched much better in the bullpen role than he did in the rotation,” Krall said. “I think it’s a wait-and-see. He’ll come into spring training and see where he is.”
Right-hander Jared Solomon missed the 2021 season because of Tommy John surgery, but the Reds were high enough on him that they placed him on their 40-man roster afterward to prevent another team from taking him in the Rule 5 Draft. Solomon, 24, was the talk of the organization’s instructional league last year. Dauri Moreta and Ryan Hendrix are both on the 40-man roster and should compete for spots next spring.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the Reds active on the waiver wire again this winter as they search for more bullpen depth. Heath Hembree and Brad Brach had key roles for stretches last summer. The Reds jumped the waiver-wire line and paid $100,000 to add Warren last offseason.
“Waiver claims aren’t perfect; that’s why they are on waivers to begin with,” Krall said. “You try to get guys with the tools and see if our guys can develop skills with them where they can play at the big-league level.”
Source link
