The annual Reds Caravan made their stop in Maysville on Thursday to talk shop and meet and greet for those who were invited at the Maysville Conference Center put on by radio sponsor and hosting the event, WFTM.

The event was closed to the public, but members of the tour that included manager David Bell, CEO Phil Castellini, Assistant General manager Sam Grossman, broadcaster Thom Brennaman, outfielder Jesse Winker, outfielder Phillip Ervin, minor league outfielder Stuart Fairchild, catching instructor Corky Miller and Mr. Redlegs fielded questions and signed autographs for those in attendance.

With the trade in December that netted Yaisel Puig, Alex Wood and Matt Kemp from the Dodgers, Reds fans have some excitement and optimism as the season nears with pitchers and catchers reporting to Spring Training in Arizona on February 13. The club also added Tanner Roark from Washington and were finally able to rid from Homer Bailey and his underwhelming play the last few seasons in the Dodger trade.

Manager David Bell takes over a team that’s failed to crack the 70-win marker the last four seasons. Bell is excited for the opportunity.

“I know this organization well from being in this division and working here in the past. It was quite a ways ago now, but I do know this group that we have and when I walked in here it was a group I was really excited about. It’s a good group, so much work has been done by people in this organization,” Bell said. “Past staffs, the players…to really get on the brink of having a lot of success. I’m walking into a situation where a lot of work has been done. From day one I love the group that we have and now we’ve added to that. That’s part of it, you’re always trying to build the best team on the field and we’re committed to that. The entire organization is committed to that and that’s what you have to do. It’s a great group, again I feel like I’ve been around the job for a bit, but know the best part starts soon and I get to be around the guys everyday and really get to know them.”

Based off discussions in the trade market and in the media, the Reds may not be done adding to the roster yet as they look at possibly adding another starter to the rotation. Cleveland’s Corey Kluber’s name has come up constantly over the past few months, or it could come via free agency in possibly adding another veteran arm or two, Dallas Kuechel’s name surfacing in those talks.

“We’re talking to all the agents, all the clubs constantly. We feel like the depth of our farm system is good. We feel like we do have a little bit of financial flexibility still. We’re talking to teams everyday trying to figure out how to make the team better,” Assistant General Manager Sam Grossman said.

Making the team better remains a constant search for the front office. In an ultra-competitive NL Central that still has the Cubs with virtually the same roster, a Brewers team that was two wins from making the World Series and a Cardinals team that upgraded their roster, additional depth would be a plus if the Reds want to compete and get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2013. In order to do so, some more guys on the farm system may have to be dangled around to get a deal done, much like with the Dodgers trade.

“We hated to give up guys as talented as Jeter Downs. It comes back to the last couple of years we’ve been investing in the farm system and the draft and we feel like we have the ability to give up a guy like that because we wanted to infuse talent into the team,” Grossman said. “Even if some of those guys are one-year guys we think it’s important for David, the club, Phil and his guys to step forward. We’ll see what happens but we think putting that talent on the field is going to pay off relative to what we gave up.”

The lineup looks stacked with guys like Joey Votto, Eugenio Suarez, Puig, Kemp, Scooter Gennett and Winker up and down it. But one question lurks in the field…who plays centerfield with Billy Hamilton’s departure?

“I would tell you, but I want to tell them first,” Bell said. “We would go into the season exactly where we are right now and feel great about it. These guys are athletes, just because they may not have come up at a certain position, we’re not afraid to move guys around and challenge guys. We have athletes on our team that are capable of playing multiple positions and I think you may see that a little bit more. We see that as a positive.”

Thom Brennaman was asked about the news of his father, Marty, announcing yesterday that the 2019 will be his last with Reds in the broadcasting booth.

“He’s had an incredible career. Thank God he’s been healthy and he’s been an incredible announcer for a long, long time. I don’t say that as his son, I say it as a person that tries to do the same thing he does for a living,” Thom Brennaman said. “I tried to talk him out of it for about the last two years, shows what kind of pull I have. I’m excited for him, I’m really happy for him. He’s glad about it, he’s able to walk away.”

The Q & A session closed with a fan asking Ervin and Winker what their favorite moments were so far as a Major Leaguer. Ervin’s answer was simple.

““My first hit. I hit a homerun,” Ervin said.

Winker’s was more of a team accomplishment when the Reds were playing their best baseball of the season last year.

“My favorite moment was when we swept the Cubs at home last year. That was my welcome to Cincinnati moment. That just showed the excitement of the fans,” Winker said. “Opening Day is great, Opening Day is always going to be great. This was in the middle of the season, we were playing well, our record wasn’t the best, but it just showed the excitement of the fans and beating that team at home and sweeping them.”

Winker is getting back to 100 percent after shoulder surgery, who said he’s been hitting off the tee and getting closer and closer to a clean bill of health.

Just 32 more days until the Reds will be in Goodyear, Arizona, to start workouts for Spring Training, 37 for their first Spring Training game against Cleveland and 70 days until the Reds open up with Pittsburgh to start the season.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell answers questions from the crowd, Thursday, at the Maysville Conference Center during the Reds Caravan. Bell is set to enter his first season with the team.
https://maysville-online.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_011819-spt-Bell.jpgCincinnati Reds manager David Bell answers questions from the crowd, Thursday, at the Maysville Conference Center during the Reds Caravan. Bell is set to enter his first season with the team.

Evan Dennison

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