2019 Pre-Season Profile: Cincinnati Reds

#19

The Cincinnati Reds have been building up a strong farm system over the last couple years, but their on-field production has been lacking.  Will bringing in some veteran leadership finally bring about the change in the Reds' fortunes they have been waiting for?

2018 Predictions

5th in NL Central

This will be Bryan Price's last season as the Reds' manager.

2018 Results

67-95, 5th in NL Central

Last season was Bryan Price's fifth season as the Reds manager, and only lasted 18 games.  Apparently, losing over 90 games every season finally wasn't good enough.  The Reds, and especially their pitching staff, have been underwhelming all throughout his tenure.  It was long past time to move on.  There were some breakout performances from players like Scooter Gennett and Eugenio Suarez.

Additions / Subtractions

Rarely do you see a team with a streak of losing like this become buyers in the offseason.  However, that is exactly what happened with the Reds and their new manager David Bell.  They made several blockbuster trades to make them interesting.  They acquired Tanner Roark from the Nationals and Sonny Gray from the Yankees.  Then, in what might be the biggest surprise of the offseason, the Reds sent Homer Bailey (who was quickly released) to the Dodgers for Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, and Alex Wood.  The only other notable subtractions were speedster Billy Hamilton and starter Matt Harvey.

Most Important Hitter

Yasiel Puig

The Reds made some big moves in the offseason to help change their culture.  So they picked up one of the most polarizing players in the big leagues over the last decade.  When Yasiel Puig is on, he is one of the best in the league.  When Puig is off, he is bad and a distraction.  If nothing else, Puig is exciting.  He is instantly the most interesting player on the Reds and might be able to anchor their lineup with Joey Votto,  It all depends on what Puig shows up.  Maybe the change of scenery will be good for him.

Most Important Pitcher

Sonny Gray

For a struggling pitching staff, a proven commodity is exactly what they need.  Sonny Gray has had a bit of a rocky road over the last year or so.  He started 2017 in Oakland before being traded mid-season to the Yankees.  In 2018, he struggled greatly in the Bronx with one of his worst seasons as a professional.  The Reds acquired him with the idea that a change of scenery, and a reunion with his college pitching coach, will bring him back to his All Star level.  If he does, he may stabilize this entire pitching staff.

Prospect to Watch

Nick Senzel

The second overall pick in the 2016 Draft, Nick Senzel is the 6th best prospect in the league and about ready to break out when given the opportunity.  He tore up AAA in 2018 with a .310 average.  The only problem is his two positions, second and third base, currently have two of the Reds best hitters in Gennett and Suarez.  This season, either one of them will be moved or Senzel will be sen t off to bring back more veterans that can help now.

2019 Prediction

4th in NL Central

All the moves the Reds made this offseason definitely have them moving in the right direction for the first time in awhile.  The problem is their division might have two or three playoff teams in it with possibly every team finishing above .500.  They will compete, which is more than could be said of them for the last five years.  However, their division will keep them away from the playoffs.  They will still be a fun team to watch all season though.

Fearless Prediction

Scooter Gennett will be traded mid-season.

This team is headed in the right direction for sure, but it doesn't mean they can't continue to seel off some pieces and rebuild.  With Nick Senzel waiting in the wings, Scooter has a chance to be expendable and bring back an impressive haul.  Look for him to be available and possibly moved by the Deadline.

2017 Pre-Season Profile: Atlanta Braves

#20

The Atlanta Braves continue to design the blueprint for how to rebuild a franchise.  Will their youth movement open up their new ballpark with a successful 2017 season?

My 2016 Predictions

4th in NL East

The Atlanta Braves will lead the league this year in big league debuts.

2016 Results

68-93, 5th in NL East

The 2016 was an interesting one for the Atlanta Braves.  Their youth movement started off horribly as they were easily the worst team in the league the first half of the season, leading to the firing of manager Fredi Gonzalez 37 games in.  However, the end of the year started to see a turnaround as they were one of the hottest teams in the league in September.  They may have had one more win too, but they were the opponent in the cancelled game following the death of Marlins' star Jose Fernandez.

Additions / Subtractions

The Braves were one of the most active teams this offseason.  Their approach seemed to be to surround their youngsters with solid veterans that will help make them successful.  This led to acquiring guys like Bartolo Colon, RA Dickey, Kurt Suzuki, and Brandon Phillips.  Add to that Matt Kemp, who was acquired mid-season last year, and you have a really good balance between rising stars and proven veterans moving forward.  Possibly the two most significant additions this offseason have nothing to do with the lineup.  Brian Snitker, a lifetime Brave, had the interim tag removed as th team's manager in 2017.  However, the biggest change for the team is the opening of their brand new ballpark, replacing the Olympic-Stadium-turned-baseball-park Turner Field.  The opening of a new stadium always brings some heightened excitement to any season.

Most Important Hitter

Adonis Garcia

The Braves are a roster filled with either kids trying to prove themselves or veterans helping fill in the holes.  Then there is Adonis Garcia, who doesn't really fit either category.  At 32 years old, this Cuban defector is only entering his third season in the big leagues.  He is still figuring out how to hit in the league, but he is too old to be considered one of the young guys.  This season could be a make-or-break year for Garcia.  If he has a successful season, then he will be considered part of the new young core moving forward.  If he struggles, he could easily be considered one of the expendable veterans that could be dropped or traded at any point for the next phenom to take over.

Most Important Pitcher

Jaime Garcia

Amidst all the old guys picked up over the offseason, the move to get Jaime Garcia (no relation to Adonis) could easily slide under the radar.  However, this is the kind of "low-risk-high-reward" moves that could really pay off for the Braves.  It wasn't long ago that Jaime Garcia was considered one of the better young pitchers in the game.  However, a few injuries in recent years have derailed a once promising career.  Now the 30 year old lefty is looking to resurrect his career in Atlanta.  If he can recapture some of his glory from St. Louis, he could really solidify a fascinating starting rotation.

Player to Watch

Ozzie Albies

Everyone knows about Rookie of the Year favorite Dansby Swanson.  However, one of the guys to watch for this season is Ozzie Albies.  Overshadowed by Swanson, Albies is still a top 10 prospect in all of baseball.  Because of Swanson, this 20 year old has been transitioning from shortstop to second base.  With Brandon Phillips now starting at second, it allows the Braves to have some patience with Albies, but it also gives him a mentor.  In his prime, nobody did it better than Phillips.  Watch for Albies to be brought along slowly, but once he hits Atlanta, enjoy what will become one of the best young double play combos in the league.

2017 Prediction

3rd in NL East

It sounds like a bit of a stretch, but this team has so much going for it moving into 2017.  They have a young core that ended 2016 with a lot of positive momentum.  They brought in a lot of veteran talent that can stabilize the roster and bring some consistency.  They also have the buzz surrounding the opening of SunTrust Park, which often inspires teams to overachieve.  The Braves are still several years away from truly competing, but they are going to make some great strides in the right direction this season and really surprise a lot of people.

Fearless Prediction

The Atlanta Braves will be over .500 at the All Star Break.

What will lead to a strong season for the Braves is a fast start.  Look for them to be one of the hottest teams in baseball at the start of the season.  Eventually they will cool off as the veterans slow down or get traded and the team hands some spots over to kids like Ozzie Albies.  However, the fast start will have them as the talk of the league for a good portion of the early summer.

2015 Pre-Season Profile: San Diego Padres

After an uneventful 2014 season that saw a fourth straight losing season, the San Diego Padres had arguably the most exciting offseason in recent memory.  Will all the moves lead to success in 2015?

Last Season

77-85, 3rd in NL West

It could be said that the Padres were one of the most boring teams in baseball in 2014.  They had a solid pitching staff, but a lack of offense led to a sub-par season.  They only reason their record and standing were that good is because they happened to have the Rockies and the Diamondbacks in their division.

2015 Additions / Subtractions

To say the Padres' lineup went through a transformation this offseason would be a grand understatement.  Of the 2014 Opening Day starting lineup, only two players (Jedd Gyorko, Yonder Alonso) will remain come Opening Day 2015.  Many of the former starters will now be backing up the likes of Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Justin Upton, Will Middlebrooks, and Derek Norris.  All these players were acquired via blockbuster deals this offseason.  Add to that pitching ace and staff mentor James Shields, and you have gone from one of the most boring teams in the league to the of the best and most exciting.  Who cares what they lost?  They upgraded every position around the diamond.

Most Important Hitter

Matt Kemp

The new heart of the Padres' batting lineup now features the likes of Justin Upton and Derek Norris.  However, the player that may determine the success or failure of the 2015 season is Matt Kemp.  Only a few years removed from being votes away from winning an MVP, Kemp's career is on the rebound.  After some injury plagued seasons, he finally seemed to be back on the right track in the second half of 2014.  Kemp had, however, overstayed his welcome in the extremely crowded Dodger outfield.  If he was going to make it back to who he once was, it would be for someone else ... like the Padres.  Now the Padres are counting on the end of 2014 being a sign of things to come instead of a flash of what could have been if it weren't for another injury.

Most Important Pitcher

Andrew Cashner

After being the Padres' Opening Day starter in 2014, Andrew Cashner never lived up to the billing of ace.  Suffering through an injury plagued season, he only tallied 5 wins last year.  Now with Big Game James taking the pressure off, Cashner can live up to his potential and be the type of guy that can seemlessly slot in behind the new ace of the staff.

Player to Watch

Austin Hedges

The Padres' number two prospect, catcher Austin Hedges, is not slated to be ready until next season.  However, if they get a chance at a postseason run, look for him to be a potential impact bat off the bench a la Andrew Susac last year for the Giants.  Also, watch for Hedges to get an early look if there is an injury to Derek Norris.  However, with most of last year's starters now serving as this year's bench, don't look for many, if any, rookies to pop up with any significant time this year.

Prediction

2nd in AL West, WILD CARD, lose in Wild Card Game

This complete overhaul of the roster has the Padres poised for a postseason already in 2015.  They brought in enough proven bats that Petco Park will not even prevent them from scoring runs.  Add to their young pitching staff a solid ace and another year of experience, and the Padres are destined to make the biggest leap in the standings and be a contender for the foreseeable future.