After a rough start to the regular season, the Reds went on a late-year tear to finish 31-29 and earn their first playoff berth since 2013. But the postseason didn’t go well for the Reds, who failed to score a run in 22 innings during a two-game sweep against the Braves. The Reds’ offseason is now underway, and president of baseball operations Dick Williams discussed their plans with reporters (including John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Bobby Nightengale of the Enquirer and Mark Sheldon of MLB.com).
In the wake of a pandemic-shortened season, the Reds aren’t sure how their payroll will look in 2021, as Williams said, “Unfortunately, as you go into next year, I think we’re all still dealing with some very large unknowns.”
Re-signing NL Cy Young candidate and pending free-agent right-hander Trevor Bauer would presumably drive the Reds’ payroll way up, but they’re nonetheless hopeful they’ll be able to bring him back. If not, though, Williams said the Reds could turn to Tejay Antone, Tyler Mahle, Michael Lorenzen or Jose De Leon as replacements in a starting group that could also lose Anthony DeSclafani on the open market. And they do have veterans Luis Castillo, Sonny Gray and Wade Miley already locked in for next year.
Turning to the offensive side, Williams said he expects Tyler Stephenson to compete for a regular catching role prior to 2021. Stephenson, the 11th overall pick in the 2015 draft, posted outstanding numbers during his Double-A debut last year and logged a .294/.400/.647 line with two home runs in his first taste of MLB action this season, though he totaled just 20 plate appearances and struck out nine times. He figures to compete with Tucker Barnhart and Curt Casali for a job in a few months.
Meanwhile, the Reds could lose right fielder Nick Castellanos to free agency, as he has the ability to opt out of the remaining three years and $48MM on the four-year, $64MM deal he signed last winter. Williams, though, does not expect Castellanos to leave. That’s not surprising news, considering Castellanos’ numbers plummeted after he began the season on a hot streak. The 28-year-old ended 2020 with a pedestrian .225/.298/.486 line and 14 home runs in 242 plate appearances.
Castellanos is so overrated
yeah, I dont see the appeal. granted, he was actually a pretty good hitter the past few years going into this one, but his perception seemed to be somewhat inflated.
Meh…reds mo was to swing for fences every stroke. He’ll bounce back if they get a new coach
The Reds blew it in my opinion. They could have owned the central for a handful of years if they’d pumped the brakes two offseasons ago instead of the gas. Forget making the playoffs in this years format no .500 team should be there that’s not a playoff birth in any other season in baseballs enormous recorded history. They’ve made some really smart trades and I’d give them the due credit for those if they’d made them when it made sense. Bauer was great and if they’d been able to acquire him when they’re window was opened or opening I’d sing their praises but he was a top arm of a .500 team who’s a free agent. But his performance makes it increasingly unlikely he returns. Looking at the broad picture of the central and where teams are at I think it was a big misstep. The Cubs are entering their last season of any control on a huge core of their top players. The Cardinals are really in flux right now trying to keep up with the Cubs but falling short much like the Reds. The Brewers have Yelich but have shown no signs of being willing to commit to winning a WS with him and they may not make that move im not sure what they’re doing. That leaves the Pirates who just blew it up everyone saw that coming and they are years from returning to a threat. The Reds could have stocked the system and put money they spent in 2019 and 2020 towards 2021 and beyond. They could have been the Cubs of recent years and Cardinals before them but they tried to fight wounded instead of rehabbing themselves and coming back for a fight strong. Now two years later they have nothing to show but a middling couple of years. I don’t think it’s hindsight at all either. They absolutely should have seen this coming. The Cubs were the team to beat(even though they fell short last year)and the Brewers and Cardinals were trying to take overtake them. Why try to make it a four team fight when you aren’t very good and your farm isn’t anything to speak of? I’m not sure how they put a team on the field in 2021 that was any better than the .500 team they have now. They should have had plenty of money and a very strong farm ready to start the fight this year and beyond.
It will be an interesting year in 2021 in the NL Central .. The Reds blew it in my opinion when the trades they made for Aroldis Chapman, Jay Bruce , Johnny Queto didn’t work out very well. I wish they would have kept Puig and although i like Moustakus he is a similar player to Scooter Gennett . I wouldnt be surprised if they make a serious run at Trevor Bauer and in fact Dick Williams has said they intend to try to sign him. With the expanded playoffs this year it was very disappointing to see how bad the Reds struggled offensively. Overall at least the fromt office tried to improve the club and that falls on the players to perform once the games start and i have said often i dont believe the Reds will win big until Votto is gone and so is his contract .
Be nice to hear his thoughts on his club’s behavior in ATL. Seems like they were more concerned with theatrics and talking trash than making the NLDS.
Outside of Bauer being Bauer, who else?
Saw where one of the Braves pitchers said the trash talk was pretty relentless from their dugout but he didn’t mention any specifics.
I became a somewhat Reds fan ever since Bauer went over because I am a fan of good pitching, but I doubt they retain him.
Of course when they were rebuilding they could hit. Now they have the pitching and the offense is abysmal.
No mention of Sims starting? He’s turned it around with that shortened delivery.
Obviously, they’d rather consider Jose De Leon and his career 8.49 ERA. Smh…
Sims has been very successful out of the bullpen. I suspect they want to leave him there, potentially for a greater role after 2021 when the Reds potentially lose Iglesias, Bradley and Lorenzen.
Gotta find a top notch SS. No other position is open for an obvious upgrade. Votto sucks, but he’s not going anywhere. Suarez, Moustakas, Castellano, Senzel, and Akiyama are locks. Send Barnhart packing. Cheap contract, excelent D. Ought to be able to get a decent bullpen piece maybe. Let Casali catch 35-40 games with Stephenson taking the balance. Really just need a SS that can hit a darn baseball. Try to bring Bauer back, but don’t break the bank. Not so sure he’s a Cy Young guy in a non-contract season…
They are going to stick with Garcia at shortstop. They love that guy and will definitely want to see him for a full season in 2o21. Whether that is the right choice or not is irrelevant, because it likely will be their choice. I could see them bringing in a Galvis type vet backup infielder that could play in a pinch if Garcia doesn’t learn to hit. Maybe someone like Jonathan Villar or Joe Panik or maybe even a Zack Cozart reunion.
Garcia isnt ready yet . He is so overmatched at the plate they need a shortstop for the next two years thats when Garcia will likely be ready . They should have signed Jose Iglesisas he had a great year ion 2019 and is better defensively than Galvis .
I agree with you completely, but according to all reports I have heard the Reds front office doesn’t.
Good call on this one. Bauer should be the Cy Young but, the voters don’t like people who talk trash too much. They needed to trade for Seager before the year started and still need to give it a go. His contract is up after this year. Great hitting SS with a good glove. Try to sign him since he can play SS, 3B and (probably) 2nd. If not, Garcia should be ready in another year.
OK, make me an offer for Lindor.
Actually, Seager is a slightly better hitter and the Reds would have a chance to resign him. Lindor would cost way to much and be another one year rental.
And can anyone please explain to me why Kyle Farmer is on a post season roster, let alone batting in the 12th inning of a wild card game with runners in scoring position?
Bauer always had potential but never pitched a season like this. I’d be careful.
Honestly this team is so loaded, it’s amazing they didn’t perform better. I think they should have the money on starting pitching and build a dominant pen.
Leadership is required to win. That’s why results are what they are. Reds are loaded w talent yet ran by a bunch of bonafide losers ! So results will always be same until they swallow pride and hire someone who can win
Every time I see the name Dick Williams, I think of the A s manager.
Reds should of signed Didi last year. He’s available again show him the money.
I can see the Reds trying to sign a guy like Taijuan Walker. Has potential to be a solid major league rotation piece and maybe he could buy into what Johnson worked on with Gray. I know they had a previous relationship at Vandy, but to see Bauer pitch as well as he did this year and see Castillo be an up and coming arm, Walker might be intrigued
I saw the headline and thought it meant Dick Williams, the manager of the 1967 Impossible Dream Red Sox (and no less than 5 other MLB teams). But then I realized that THAT Dick Williams is still dead.
Cross him off the list then.
Bravo Briffle! Most of these guys never had a prime.
But he’s still better than some of the managers.
David Bell is an awful manager. He has too many temper tantrums! If the Reds wanna win then they need a new manager!
Yes we need a Manager! And a hitting coach!
100% agree. I thought they hit the bottom of the barrel as far as on field tactics with Bryan Price, but lo and behold they lifted up the barrel and found David Bell.
BTW, his father is in my opinion the worst manager of all time for any team.
David Bell acted like a tough guy for attacking an obese old man with bad hips.
Never been impressed by him.
I agree Bell needs to go, and the list of potential new managers should have one name on it… Barry Larkin.
Dick should do reds fans a favor and retire. He’s a prideful loser. As in he’s never won yet won’t hire a winner to run his team- which means, by actual definition- he’s a loser and so is his management team and most certainly the trash can manager they hired!
Bauer will never consider re-signing w this bottom feeder program. He was the best pitcher in the post season and got 1 start. Reds can offer him 40 mil and he will still pass. He was also the best player on team by a significant margin. So when he’s gone – reds will be competing for 4th place in the worst division in baseball.
If you are a reds fan- find a new team ! They are terrible for life and have no chance in the future !!
You’re a moron
He’s a bot… but you are still correct. Lol…
Dick Williams is completely tarnishing the name of the other Dick Williams.
Dick is completely tarnished.
bell is the worst, depends on stat, waste time arguing with the umps over nothing.
bell is the worst, depends on stat, waste time arguing with the umps over nothing.
The Reds have many problems. Votto being number one . He plays like his mind is somewhere else, Winker needs to go he is way too streaky and inconsistent and Senzel
either needs to bulk up or something because he gets hurt doing normal baseball activities
more than any player i have seen . Dsclafani is too inconsistent Stephenson has never really evolved into a reliable piece out of the bullpen and Barnhart leaves more runners in scoring position because he just cant hit .
Another moron.
maybe one of these days we will all grow up and be like Bigball11…