Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings

April 2, 2016

THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 2007 - Cincinnati mayor Mark Mallory's ceremonial first pitch prior to the Reds' home opener lands thirty feet up the first base line from home plate, widely missing its intended target, a bewildered Eric Davis. The terrible toss will receive national media attention, including the politician receiving a second chance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live, an opportunity in which His Honor will also widely miss the mark. 2012 - 1B Joey Votto inks a 10-year deal with the Cincinnati Reds worth $225 million.

MLB.COM Reds claim Straily off waivers from Padres By Andrew Simon / MLB.com | April 1st, 2016 + 86 COMMENTS Right-hander Dan Straily is now on his third team this week, after the Reds claimed him off waivers from the Padres on Friday. On Monday, the Astros traded Straily to San Diego for catcher Erik Kratz, but the pitcher's tenure with the Padres turned out to be brief. He could get more of an opportunity in Cincinnati, which is dealing with injuries to several starting pitchers as Opening Day approaches. Even before this week, Straily had bounced around. A 24th-round pick by the A's in the 2009 Draft, he was traded to the Cubs in July '14 as part of the Jeff Samardzija deal. Last January, he went from Chicago to Houston, along with Luis Valbuena, in exchange for Dexter Fowler. Straily spent most of 2015 at Triple-A Fresno, but he pitched four games (three starts) for the Astros, allowing 10 earned runs on 16 hits over 16 2/3 innings, with eight walks and 14 strikeouts. In 52 career games (45 starts) over parts of four seasons, he is 13-13 with a 4.60 ERA and with averages of 3.6 walks and 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Andrew Simon is a reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @AndrewSimonMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs. Kelch: Reds' young arms worth watching Reds broadcaster Jim Kelch and Mark Sheldon preview the Reds upcoming season By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | @m_sheldon | 1:23 AM ET + 1 COMMENT GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- After a tough summer and offseason of moves, there were a lot of new names and faces for Reds fans to get used to this spring. Reds TV and radio play-by-play voice Jim Kelch had to learn who everybody was, too. "It has been different this year than it has in the past," Kelch said. "You have to go in there and go around and say, 'Hi, I'm so-and-so, and you are who?' But it's been good. ... If you're a half-full glass guy, you look at it as an opportunity to see what all these guys the Reds acquired in the offseason are going to look like. So far, I think it's looked pretty good."

And where does Kelch, who's entering his seventh season as a full-time Reds broadcaster, see the team finishing in 2016? "I don't think they'll lose as many games as they lost last year," Kelch said. "It wouldn't surprise me to see them go somewhere in the range of 72-90, and I think if they do that, that would mean the pitchers improved, that the guys they acquired in the trades did some decent things." Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER The plan: How the Reds build for a World Series title crosecrans@enquirer.com, zbuchanan@enquirer.com 5:38 p.m. EDT April 1, 2016 GOODYEAR, Ariz. – There is a plan. Know that, the plan is real and Reds general manager Dick Williams has it not only on paper, but he has slides with charts and graphs and everything you’d expect to see in a business model meeting with investors. That’s because Williams, 45, has done that. He worked in investment banking in New York and Atlanta out of college before starting and managing a venture capital fund. After working on George W. Bush’s 2004 presidential campaign, Williams came home to work for the Reds. In November, Williams was named the team’s general manager and eventual successor to Walt Jocketty as the team’s primary decision maker in baseball decisions. Jocketty will still be involved after this year, so his fingerprints are all over the plan, as well. Williams shared the plan he and Jocketty have devised with The Enquirer’s C. Trent Rosecrans and Zach Buchanan recently in Arizona. He came armed with an outline and a stack of papers approximately an inch-and-a-half think, filled with charts, graphs and ultimately a vision. Here, we share what Williams told us about his vision for the future. The plan Any plan starts with a goal, and the Reds’ goal is simple – win a World Series. A starting point must be both accurately and realistically defined before looking at how to get to the destination. The Reds’ starting point is evident: The team lost 98 games in 2015 and is in the middle of rebuilding its pitching staff and beefing up its minor-league operations. According to Major League Baseball, the Reds are ranked 29th of 30 teams in terms of market size. Market size dictates budgets, profitability and earning potential. When the current ownership group took over the Reds in 2006, the Reds’ minor-league system was ranked dead last by Baseball America. The next year, led by former general manager Wayne Krivsky (and many other front-office types who remain from that staff, including senior director of professional scouting Terry Reynolds, assistant general manager Nick Krall and senior director of amateur scouting Chris Buckley), the Reds were up to 12th in those standings. The next year, they were No. 3. At that point, Joey Votto had been a September call-up in 2007 and the team had Jay Bruce and Johnny Cueto ready to debut in 2008, along with Edinson Volquez. Todd Frazier, Devin Mesoraco and Zack Cozart still in the minor leagues. That group of players led the team to three playoff appearances over the course of four years and saw the Reds’ payroll go from more than $63 million at the end of the 2006 season to more than $119 million at the end of 2015. Ranked 29th among market sizes, the Reds at one point had the 12th-highest season-ending payroll, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. That was in 2014, a year after having the 13th-highest in 2013, the last time the team went to the postseason.

The most recent run was just the second time in franchise history it had three playoff appearances in four years (noting that playoffs expanded from two teams to four in 1969 to eight teams in 1994 and then the current 10 teams in 2012). But with the Reds’ core from that team getting older and more expensive and the rise of the Pirates and Cubs, along with the continued excellence of the Cardinals, that window has closed. That means, for the Reds, it’s time to take a step back to get ready for the future – you can call it retooling, rebuilding or whatever you want. The goal is to win a World Series in the future, although that’s not likely in 2016 or 2017. There are four main components to the rebuild: 1. Trade players who have value, but will not be here for the next window of success - and acquire young talent in return. This has been the toughest part for Reds fans, who have seen Frazier and Aroldis Chapman depart during the offseason. This plan started, to some extent, before the 2015 season with the trades of Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon. Those deals showed immediate dividends, saving roughly $14 million in salary between the two players and their big-league replacements. In exchange for Latos, the Reds received Anthony DeSclafani, who outperformed Latos in 2015 at a fraction of the price. The Reds also received catching prospect Chad Wallach. The Simon deal netted Eugenio Suarez, who stepped in at shortstop after Cozart’s injury, and is now the starting third baseman. The team also received former first-round pick Jonathon Crawford, who was injured much of 2015. The Reds re-signed Simon this spring to a one-year deal. During the season, the Reds traded Cueto, Mike Leake and Marlon Byrd, all players who were nearing free agency. The team lost six months (two months each) of those players, saved $8 million and received six players – LHP Brandon Finnegan, LHP John Lamb, LHP Cody Reed, OF Adam Duvall, RHP Keury Mella and RHP Stephen Johnson. After the season, the Reds traded Frazier and Chapman for a total of seven players – IF Jose Peraza, IF Brandon Dixon, OF Scott Schebler, IF Eric Jagielo, RHP Caleb Cotham, RHP Rookie Davis and 2B Tony Renda. Chapman was a free agent after the 2016 season (and at the time was awaiting what was ultimately a 30-game suspension from Major League Baseball for a domestic violence incident) and Frazier had two more years under team control. The average age of players in the team’s spring training camp was less than 26. It was more than 28 in 2006 and 27.5 in 2010. The average service time of players in camp this season was just more than one year, less than the three years of service in 2006 and 2010. The Reds’ minor-league system is currently ranked No. 12 by Baseball America, with six of the players added in trades ranked in the team’s Top 15 prospects. 2. Invest aggressively in the amateur market The Reds’ pool of signing money for the draft and international signings is $13,923,700, the largest of any team in baseball and more than $6 million above last year’s pool. It’s double the largest pool the team has had since MLB implemented the current system. That money is determined by where the team picks in the draft. Over the last five seasons, the Reds have drafted an average of 20th.

The teams that have recently come through a rebuild, like the Royals, Pirates, Rays, Astros and Cubs, have all had an extended period of picking high in the draft. From the 10-year period from 2004 to 2013, the Royals’ average draft pick was 5.6, and the Pirates' were the same. Over the same period, the Reds’ average was 13.7, better than the Astros' (14.2, but with no top 30 pick in 2007) but not as good as the Cubs' (10.375, in an average of eight years with no top 30 pick in 2009 or 2004). Over the last five drafts, the Astros’ top pick has averaged at 3.2, the Cubs' 6, the Royals' 11.2 and the Pirates' 12.2. In that same time period, the Reds’ average has been 19.6. The Reds last picked in the top 10 in 2009, picking Leake at No. 8 overall. The last time they were in the top five was 2002 (Chris Gruler at No. 3) and the only time they’ve picked as high as this year’s No. 2 spot was 1983, taking shortstop Kurt Stillwell. Since 2005, the Reds haven’t had a top five pick, but the Royals (7), Pirates (6), Astros (4), Cubs (3), Twins (3), Rays (3) and Indians (2) have had multiple seasons with top five picks. 3. Create payroll flexibility That money saved last year and in other trades? It’s in a war chest, ready for when the team needs reinforcements. The Cubs unleashed their savings from their reduced payroll this offseason, adding $289.95 million in future payroll in big-league signings with Jason Heyward, Ben Zobrist, John Lackey, Dexter Fowler, Trevor Cahill and Andury Acevedo. The Cubs had the third-highest payroll in baseball in 2009 at more than $141 million. That dropped to just more than $93 million in 2014 (20th) during their rebuild. The Astros had the ninth-highest payroll in baseball in 2009 (more than $108 million) and then just four years later had the lowest payroll in baseball at less than $30 million. In 2011, the Royals had the lowest payroll in baseball ($44.5 million) and last year they were 13th ($128.9 million). These teams did what the Reds plan to do – save money and then spend it when young talent becomes more expensive or the team needs to add to the roster to make a playoff run, like the Royals did last season. 4. Investments in other areas Development isn’t just on the field. The Reds promoted Sam Grossman to assistant general manager from his previous role as senior director of baseball analytics. Grossman hired Michael Schatz from Oakland as the manager of baseball analytics and Peter Melgren as a baseball operations analyst. Melgren is a University of Michigan grad who was an economist at Moody’s and has done research at FanGraphs and The Hardball Times. The team also hired Dr. Charles Leddon to head the team’s director of sports science initiatives. Finally, they’ve added scouts. Reds claim Dan Straily off waivers from Padres Reds Blog C. Trent Rosecrans, crosecrans@enquirer.com 4:01 p.m. EDT April 1, 2016 The Reds have added right-hander Dan Straily off of waivers from the Padres, the team announced on Friday. The Padres traded for Straily on Monday in exchange for catcher Erik Kratz. Straily appeared in five games for the Astros, including one start, going 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA in 12 innings. He allowed eight earned runs with 14 strikeouts and walked just three. Straily, 27, was used as primarily as a middle reliever for the Astros, but made three starts for Houston last year, going 0-1 with a 5.40 ERA. In 2013, Straily finished fourth in American League Rookie of the Year voting, going 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA.

The Reds have 36 players left in camp with an exhibition in Indianapolis on Saturday. Even before adding Straily, the Reds’ roster was in flux. The Reds still haven’t announced their starter for Wednesday’s game against the Phillies. Right-hander Tim Melville had been a favorite, but after Thursday’s Cactus League finale, Reds manager Bryan Price said there had been no final decision. Your Reds: An organizational breakdown C. Trent Rosecrans, crosecrans@enquirer.com 5:45 p.m. EDT April 1, 2016 CATCHER Devin Mesoraco Age: 27 2015 stats: .178/.275/.244 0 HR, 2 RBI, 23 games Career stats: .242/.313/.423 41 HR, 144 RBI in parts of five MLB seasons How he became a Red: First-round pick (15th overall) in 2007 draft How long will he be a Red?: Signed through 2018 season Top prospect: Tyler Stephenson The Reds’ top pick in the 2015 draft out of a Georgia high school, Stephenson already looks the part at 6-4, 220 pounds. He played in Billings last year and should begin the season in low-Class A Dayton. FIRST BASE Joey Votto Age: 32 2015 stats: .314/.459/.541 29 HR, 80 RBI in 158 games Career stats: .311/.423/.541 192 HR, 633 RBI in parts of nine MLB seasons How he became a Red: Second-round pick in 2002 draft How long will he be a Red?: Signed through the 2023 season with a team option for 2024 Top prospect: Gavin LaValley Currently a third baseman, the 6-3 former offensive lineman has power potential, even if he hasn’t shown it in minor-league play yet. Played last season in Dayton, should advance to high-Class A Daytona. SECOND BASE Brandon Phillips Age: 34 2015 stats: .294/.328/.395 12 HR, 70 RBI in 148 games

Career stats: .273/.320/.421 186 HR, 825 RBI in parts of 14 MLB seasons How he became a Red: Acquired in a trade for RHP Jeff Stevens in the first week of the 2006 season How long will he be a Red?: Signed through the 2017 season Top prospect: Alex Blandino The 29th overall pick in the 2014 draft out of Stanford, Blandino played third base in college and shortstop in the Reds’ system, but was moved to second base in the Arizona Fall League. SHORTSTOP Zack Cozart Age: 30 2015 stats: .258/.310/.459 9 HR, 28 RBI in 53 games Career stats: .245/.284/.375 42 HR, 167 RBI in parts of five MLB seasons How he became a Red: Second-round pick in 2007 draft How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through 2017 season Top prospect: Jose Peraza The key part of the trade that sent Todd Frazier to the White Sox, Peraza plays shortstop, second base and center field. He could see time in the big leagues for the Reds at any of the three spots this year. THIRD BASE Eugenio Suarez Age: 24 2015 stats: .280/.315/446 13 HR, 48 RBI in 97 games Career stats: .265/.315/.403 17 HR, 71 RBI in parts of two MLB seasons How he became a Red: Acquired in a trade with Detroit for RHP Alfredo Simon in 2014 How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through 2020 Top prospect: Eric Jagielo The Reds got Jagielo as part of the deal that sent Aroldis Chapman to the Yankees. A midseason All-Star in the Double-A Eastern League last year, he was limited to 58 games with a knee injury. Jagielo was a first-round pick by the Yankees in 2013 out of Notre Dame, taken one spot before the Reds took CF Phillip Ervin. LEFT FIELD Adam Duvall Age: 27

2015 stats: .219/.306/.484 5 HR, 9 RBI in 27 games Career stats: .204/.268/.409 8 HR, 14 RBI in parts of two MLB seasons How he became a Red: Acquired along with RHP Keury Mella in the trade of Mike Leake to the Giants in July 2015 How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2021 Top prospect: Jesse Winker The Reds’ top offensive prospect will likely start the season at Triple-A Louisville. Winker has an advanced approach at the plate and should be ready to make his debut sometime this season. CENTER FIELD Billy Hamilton Age: 25 2015 stats: .226/.274/.289 4 HR, 28 RBI, 57 SB in 114 games Career stats: .242/.287/.330 10 HR, 77 RBI, 126 SB in parts of three MLB seasons How he became a Red: Drafted in the second round by the Reds in 2009 How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through 2019 Top prospect: Phillip Ervin The team’s first-round pick in the 2013 draft out of Samford, Ervin plays all three outfield spots. Ervin reached Double-A Pensacola at the end of last season and will likely start there this season. RIGHT FIELD Jay Bruce Age: 29 2015 stats: .226/.294/.434 26 HR, 87 RBI Career stats: .248/.319/.462 208 HR, 638 RBI in parts of eight MLB seasons How he became a Red: Taken by the Reds No. 12 overall in the 2005 draft How long will he be a Red?: Under contract through 2016 with team option for 2017 Top prospect: Aristides Aquino A gifted athlete, the 21-year-old native of the Dominican Republic suffered a wrist injury early in 2015, but still managed to appear in 74 games between Rookie Billings and low-Class A Dayton. Aquino has always had raw power, but has put on weight as he’s matured and could have even more power potential. BENCH C Tucker Barnhart

Age: 25 2015 stats: .252/.324/.326 3 HR, 18 RBI Career stats: .240/.309/.311 4 HR, 19 RBI in parts of two MLB seasons How he became a Red: 10th-round pick by the Reds in 2009 draft How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through 2020 IF Ivan De Jesus Jr. Age: 28 2015 stats: .244/.311/.373 4 HR, 28 RBI Career stats: .234/.296/.339 4 HR, 33 RBI in parts of three MLB seasons How he became a Red: Signed to a minor-league deal before 2015 season How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through 2020 IF/C Jordan Pacheco Age: 30 2015 stats: .242/.333/.333 2 HR, 8 RBI in 29 games for Arizona Career stats: .278/.317/.372 10 HR, 114 RBI in parts of five MLB seasons How he became a Red: Signed to a minor-league deal before the 2016 season How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2019 OF Yorman Rodriguez Age: 23 2015 stats: .269/.308/.429 10 HR, 41 RBI in 85 games for Triple-A Louisville Career stats: .222/.276/.222 0 HR, 0 RBI in 11 career MLB games How he became a Red: Signed by the Reds out of Venezuela in 2008 How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2021 OF Scott Schebler Age: 25 2015 stats: .250/.325/.500 3 HR, 4 RBI in 19 games for Dodgers Career stats: .272/.338/.490 87 HR, 340 RBI in parts of six minor-league seasons

How he became a Red: Acquired along with IF Brandon Dixon and IF Jose Peraza as part of a three-team deal that sent 3B Todd Frazier to the White Sox in December How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2021 IF/OF Jose Peraza Age: 21 2015 stats: .182/.250/.318 0 HR, 1 RBI, 3 SB in seven games for Dodgers Career stats: .302/.342/.387 9 HR, 183 RBI, 210 SB in parts of five minor-league seasons How he became a Red: Acquired along with IF Brandon Dixon and OF Scott Schebler as part of a three-team deal that sent 3B Todd Frazier to the White Sox in December How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2021 OF Tyler Holt Age: 27 2015 stats: .097/.176/.097 0 HR, 0 RBI, 1 SB in 34 games with Reds, Indians Career stats: .216/.266/.235 0 HR, 2 RBI, 3 SB in parts of two MLB seasons How he became a Red: Claimed off of waivers from Cleveland in 2015 How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2021 STARTING PITCHERS RHP Anthony DeSclafani Age: 25 2015 stats: 9-13, 4.05 ERA in 31 starts Career stats: 11-15, 4.38 ERA in parts of two MLB seasons How he became a Red: Acquired along with C Chad Wallach in deal that sent RHP Mat Latos to Miami How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through 2020 RHP Raisel Iglesias Age: 26 2015 stats: 3-7, 4.15 ERA in 18 games, 16 starts Career stats: 3-7, 4.15 ERA in 18 games, 16 starts How he became a Red: Signed by Reds out of Cuba in 2014 How long will he be a Red?: Signed through 2020

RHP Alfredo Simon Age: 34 2015 stats: 13-12, 5.05 ERA in 31 starts for Tigers Career stats: 45-40, 4.17 ERA in parts of eight MLB seasons How he became a Red: Signed as a free agent before 2016 season How long will he be a Red?: Signed through 2016 LHP Brandon Finnegan Age: 22 2015 stats: 5-2, 3.56 ERA in 20 games, four starts for Reds, Royals Career stats: 5-3, 3.27 ERA in 27 games in parts of two MLB seasons How he became a Red: Acquired along with LHP John Lamb and LHP Cody Reed in deal that sent Johnny Cueto to Kansas City How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2021 RHP Tim Melville Age: 26 2015 stats: 7-10, 4.63 in 27 starts at Triple-A Toledo Career stats: 31-54, 4.75 ERA in parts of seven minor-league seasons How he became a Red: Signed to minor-league deal before 2016 season How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2021 Top prospects: LHP Cody Reed, RHP Robert Stephenson Reed and Stephenson lead a host of Reds starting pitching prospects. Both are expected to make their big-league debuts at some point this season, Reds manager Bryan Price said. Stephenson was the team’s first-round pick in 2011 and has been named the team’s top prospect each of the last three years by Baseball America. Reed was the jewel of the Johnny Cueto trade with the Royals, even if he was the least heralded of the three lefties the Reds got in return at the trade deadline. BULLPEN Closer RHP J.J. Hoover Age: 28 2015 stats: 8-2, 2.94 ERA, 1 SV in 67 appearances Career stats: 15-17, 3.34 ERA, 5 SV in parts of four MLB seasons How he became a Red: Acquired in a trade with Braves for IF Juan Francisco in 2012

How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through 2018 LHP Tony Cingrani Age: 26 2015 stats: 0-3, 5.67 ERA in 35 appearances, one start Career stats: 9-15, 3.84 ERA in parts of four MLB seasons How he became a Red: Taken in third round of 2011 draft How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through 2019 RHP Jumbo Diaz Age: 32 2015 stats: 2-1, 4.18 ERA, 1 SV in 61 appearances Career stats: 2-2, 3.88 ERA, 1 SV in parts of two MLB seasons How he became a Red: Signed to a minor-league deal before the 2013 season How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through 2020 RHP Ross Ohlendorf Age: 33 2015 stats: 3-1, 3.72 ERA, 1 SV in 21 appearances for Rangers Career stats: 25-34, 4.84 ERA, 1 SV in parts of eight MLB seasons How he became a Red: Signed as a free agent before the 2016 season How long will he be a Red?: Signed through 2016 RHP Keyvius Sampson Age: 25 2015 stats: 2-6, 6.54 ERA in 13 appearances, 12 starts Career stats: 40-35, 4.17 ERA in parts of seven minor-league seasons How he became a Red: Claimed off of waivers from the Padres before the 2015 season How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2021 RHP Pedro Villarreal Age: 28 2015 stats: 1-3, 3.42 ERA in 29 appearances

Career stats: 1-6, 4.29 ERA in parts of four MLB seasons How he became a Red: Taken in seventh round of 2008 draft How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2020 RHP Caleb Cotham Age: 28 2015 stats: 1-0, 6.52 ERA in 12 appearances for Yankees Career stats: 19-24, 3.94 ERA in parts of six minor-league seasons How he became a Red: Acquired in trade along with RHP Rookie Davis, 3B Eric Jagielo and 2B Tony Renda in deal that sent LHP Aroldis Chapman to Yankees How long will he be a Red?: Under team control through at least 2021 Top prospect: RHP Zack Weiss After a nine scoreless outings in high-Class A Daytona, Weiss was promoted to Double-A Pensacola, where he led the Southern League with 25 saves. The former UCLA star had 68 strikeouts in 52 innings for the Blue Wahoos with just 14 walks. In three minor-league seasons, he has 190 strikeouts in 155 2/3 innings with just 41 walks. Trades executed - or killed - by final medical opinion Zach Buchanan, zbuchanan@enquirer.com 5:28 p.m. EDT April 1, 2016 Patients hoping to see orthopedic surgeon Dr. Timothy Kremchek late in July might want to follow the thrust of the season for the Cincinnati Reds. If the team is in clear buy or sell mode as the trade deadline approaches, that creaky shoulder may have to wait until August. Kremchek, the team’s medical director, is very likely to be busy with baseball duties. “It becomes very stressful. Very stressful,” Kremchek said. “I’ve had times where I’ve basically had to cancel my afternoon patients that I see because stuff is going on.” Kremchek represents the last line of defense for the Reds when it comes to not getting ripped off in trades. He’s the one who gives the final medical opinion about whether prospective acquisitions are healthy enough to be worth the transaction. It was on his advice the Reds chose not to trade Jay Bruce to the Toronto Blue Jays in February. That deal, a three-team swap that included the Los Angeles Angels, reportedly fell apart because the Reds had medical concerns with one or more of the minor-leaguers they were set to receive. The aborted trade was just the latest offseason move in Major League Baseball to run into health issues. Of course, teams have always taken medical information into account when considering any acquisition. But with the proliferation of social media in the last few years, that part of the trade process that has become more public, with reports of an agreement outpacing the due diligence needed to officially reach one. That concerns Reds general manager Dick Williams. He doesn’t like players popping up in trade reports, only to be unfairly branded with a scarlet “H” for health risk when the deal falls apart over medical opinions. That was exactly the trajectory of the near Bruce trade, with some reporters openly speculating about the condition of Bruce’s knee. Williams also knows he can’t do anything about it.

“I feel like I’m hearing more of the reporters saying nothing’s done until it’s done,” Williams said. “But they still want to be first reporting this sort of discussion. They’re still getting the names out there, and that’s part of the issue.” While advancements in mass communications have given Williams some headaches along those lines, they’ve likely also saved the Reds millions of dollars in the form of bad investments avoided. There is more medical information available, and it is far more accurate and accessible. The process may be more public than it ever was, but it’s also less painful for the same reasons. But, as any doctor will tell you, less pain doesn’t mean painless. The stakes riding on Kremchek’s medical expertise are as high as ever. Pending medical review Most of the time, trades are agreed upon in principle before team doctors and trainers ever get involved. Even if a player is coming off a recent surgery or is still out of commission with injury, a thorough medical accounting is the last step. “In general, you get the deal done,” Williams said. “You agree on the deal as if the player is healthy.” Once an agreement is reached, the medical experts are called. Years ago, that used to require physically sending a player’s entire medical history – including copies of X-rays and MRI scans, along with other accompanying material – from one team doctor to another. It was a hassle. But in 2010, MLB introduced its Electronic Medical Records system, housing medical information on every player on every team in one centralized, online location. When a trade is being discussed, one team doctor can give another an electric key to access the records of a specific player. (Players are also given this key to distribute to whomever they wish once they reach free agency.) Access to such records usually shuts off after 24 hours, underlining how streamlined MLB has made a process that used to take at least several days. “We could do it the same day now,” Kremchek said. “The girls who work in my office can pull it up on a computer, and I can do it in the matter of 10 minutes.” Those records are also dizzyingly complete. All available medical information on every player at every level of every organization is included, and go far beyond the scans taken when players first report to spring training each February. If a player sought treatment for any issue at any point in the season – even if he was issued two ibuprofen for a headache – that information is included. That’s a stark contrast from years ago, when a team didn’t know much about its own players, much less anyone else’s. “Twenty years ago when we started doing this, we had our own minor-league players showing up who had surgeries,” Kremchek said. “We never knew who had what, and they’d show up and have bandages on.” The Reds know that better than anyone the benefit of accurate and consistent medical record-keeping after its brouhaha with the Washington Nationals over their acquisition of pitcher Gary Majewski midway through the 2006 season. Cincinnati accused Washington of willfully omitting the fact that Majewski had received cortisone shots for shoulder pain prior to the trade, and later filed a grievance with MLB. Majewski never pitched well with the Reds after strong results with the Nationals.

Results of MLB’s inquiry into the situation were never revealed, and both teams now have different GMs. The centralized system helps prevent such issues from happening again. “We had the Majewski thing that happened years ago, and there were no records, no nothing,” Kremchek said. “It was not a good situation. That became very public, at least locally. It’s tamed down a lot since then.” High-stakes decisions Even armed with more medical information on trade targets than has ever been available, declaring a player healthy enough to acquire is no less daunting for team physicians like Kremchek. Players are also more expensive than ever, and trading for a damaged one can sink a team’s competitive fortunes. Team doctors feel that pressure acutely. Everyone wants the trade to work out, and no one wants to be the reason why it falls apart at the 11th hour. “You want to be able to say, ‘Yes, pull that trigger. They’re going to be fine,’” Kremchek said. “But you know the accountability if they can’t perform is going to be up to you.” Early in his career, Kremchek erred firmly on the side of caution. Anything that had feathers was a duck, and Kremchek shot them all down. Now in his 20th year in his current role, he has a better idea of how to distinguish different water fowl. With that longevity comes similarly long relationships with other team doctors. When teams are on the verge of a big trade, it’s very common for one team’s medical personnel to reach out to their counterparts for an in-depth inquiry about something in a player’s medical history. Doctors who know each other also know how to serve two masters at once – loyalty to their employer and their team’s interests, and honesty to another trusted medical colleague. “We’re friends, we know each other,” Kremchek said. “There are certain words they give you, and it’s a key word to say, ‘Look, I’m telling you this, but you know what I’m really telling you.’ We all do it that way.” Still, there are blind spots. Judging the health of minor-leaguers is a crapshoot – a procedure done by a doctor in a High-A town isn’t treated the same as one performed by renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews. Prospect trades require lots of phone calls and a healthy dose of medical skepticism. There’s also just bad luck, and teams looking to avoid it might want to make all trades at the beginning of spring training. For many players, that could be the only time they’ll undergo a full medical work-up, including all kinds of diagnostic scans. A pitcher who tears his ulnar collateral ligament a day after being dealt to a new club may have never reported issues up to that point. The last MRI performed on his elbow may have come when he reported to camp in late February, meaning that there is a five-month information gap for many deadline acquisitions. Teams can ask for an in-person physical before trading for a player, but that is next to logistically impossible during the season, when many deals have to be consummated at the last second. “Your hands get tied sometimes,” Kremchek said. “That’s when you have to trust what these (other doctors) are telling you.” Send it back to the kitchen It’s not uncommon for agreed-upon trades to be changed or even dropped because of medical issues. With advances in medical technology and the amount of money being poured into the game, there are more health issues to find and more incentive to identify them.

“You’re hearing more about the ones that don’t happen,” Williams said. “I do think because the technology is better. In the old days, it’s like, ‘Well, he has a sore elbow, but I’m sure it’ll be fine by spring.’ Now they’re taking scans and x-rays and you’re getting a lot more detail. There’s a lot more opportunity for interpretation. The dollars have gotten so much bigger that doctors don’t want to be the scapegoat.” Some teams are more forgiving when it comes to the medical part of trade discussions, while others are sticklers. For instance, the Baltimore Orioles are notorious for their stringent physical examination process when negotiating free agent deals. Much of it depends on the needs of the trade in the first place. A team looking for a two-month rental to get over the playoff hump may be more willing to ignore a slightly fraying tendon than a team looking to bring in a future star for the long term. If issues do arise, teams often reopen negotiations, either scaling down based on a player’s medicals or substituting new players instead. Sometimes teams decide to dump the trade altogether if they can’t get a healthy version of the player they wanted in the first place. Kremchek said last year’s Johnny Cueto deal took a good two weeks to complete because of a protracted medical review process. He also said the Reds have gotten better players in deals as recently as last year because they’ve been diligent in their review process. Sometimes you send a meal back to the kitchen for a second attempt at a good meal, and sometimes you choose to eat somewhere else. Kremchek has yet to regret a meal. “That has not happened to us yet, knock on wood,” he said. “God, I hope it doesn’t.” How to measure Bryan Price’s success Zach Buchanan, zbuchanan@enquirer.com 4:20 p.m. EDT April 1, 2016 GOODYEAR, Ariz. – Cincinnati Reds manager Bryan Price was talking about the core of young pitchers he had on the verge of the big leagues, but it wasn’t hard to see parallels to his own situation. “I think you can learn more from struggle than you do from success,” Price said. “So we learned a lot last year, and we might learn a little more this year.” The Reds are not expected to win much in 2016 as they enter the first full year of their rebuild. It will also be Price’s last season under contract. If struggle begets knowledge, the Reds should wind up with plenty to inform their decision on Price’s future with the club. They know one thing for sure – while many are judged by their team’s win-loss record, that won’t be an effective metric for evaluating Price. How the team’s young pitchers perform this season will be. “If they’re progressing and getting better, that’s what his job is to do this year,” said Walt Jocketty, the team’s president of baseball operations. The Reds gave Price his first shot to manage when they signed him to a three-year deal after the 2013 season. He’d previously served as the team’s pitching coach under Dusty Baker, who was fired after a 90-win season. The Reds have never approached that level of success since. Cincinnati finished 76-86 in Price’s first year before falling off a cliff to 64-98 last season. But Jocketty doesn’t trace those failures to his manager. Instead, he sees a host of injuries and franchise trajectory-changing trades that would have doomed anyone in that position. Price wouldn’t be back, otherwise. “He wasn’t responsible, necessarily,” Jocketty said. “But we did see how the team played. The team played hard until the very end and was motivated. We all thought he did a really good job and deserved an opportunity to stay and continue the development process.”

Aside from a few young position players, that process largely concerns the team’s young pitchers. Cincinnati already projects to have a young and unproven rotation, with even veteran Alfredo Simon only enjoying one successful year as a starter. The Reds also have a wealth of pitching prospects either in or near the majors, and most of them should contribute in the big leagues in 2016. Price was more hands-on with his young hurlers during spring training, although the bigger test will be how he helps young starters such as Brandon Finnegan, Cody Reed and Robert Stephenson find a way through rough patches in the majors. Price called it helping his pitchers “walk over that bridge” from rude big-league awakening to finding confidence that they belong. Price hopes the majority of his pitchers make that crossing by the end of the year. “We expect to be a much better team at this point in time next year than we are now,” Price said, “and that’s something I should be held accountable to.” Managing during a rebuilding season presents a whole host of challenges, but so can managing in a contract year. A losing season could only exacerbate things. Even a future Hall of Fame manager like Bruce Bochy knows what it’s like. “It probably helps within that clubhouse to know, ‘Hey, I’ve got to listen to this guy. He’s definitely the manager here,’ ” the longtime San Francisco Giants manager said. “It’s not easy. I think we’ve all had to do it. Nowadays it’s getting a little easier for these young guys. They’re all getting three-year deals. Mine was a one-year deal with an option. You were kind of wondering going into that last week whether you were going to be packing or not.” Some organizations try to avoid the “contract year” situation. The Arizona Diamondbacks do their best to keep the length of their manager deals a secret. Even after extending current skipper Chip Hale, the team would only acknowledge that he was under contract through at least 2017. Alex Anthopolous, the former general manager of the Toronto Blue Jays, structured the contract of manager John Gibbons with a “rolling option” clause, ensuring that Gibbons never actually reached the final year of his contract. Anthopolous, who now serves in the front office of the Los Angeles Dodgers, didn’t want the front office nor Gibbons to be inundated with questions about his future, drawing focus away from the field. “To always have a year left on your contract, when you factor in the responsibility and what you’re handling, it’s the right thing to do,” Anthopolous said. “Then if people want to talk about someone’s job status, then it comes down to what their performance is.” (Coincidentally, the Blue Jays recently restructured Gibbons’ deal and removed the “rolling option” portion of it.) Jocketty and Price suggested such concerns will be non-issues this year. Jocketty praised Price’s grip on the clubhouse, and Price said he’s not worrying about things he can’t control. Jocketty didn’t make any guarantees about when a decision about Price’s future will be made, but said it will be a joint decision between him and GM Dick Williams. Next year, Williams will have the final say-so on baseball decisions as Jocketty transitions to an advisory role. Eventually, they’ll have to decide whether the manager starting their rebuild is the right one to continue it past 2016 “It is a unique and tough position to be in,” Jocketty said. “But that’s where we’re at.” Pitching central to Reds' rebuild Zach Buchanan, zbuchanan@enquirer.com 8:20 p.m. EDT April 1, 2016

GOODYEAR, Ariz. – It’s a question reminiscent of old Tootsie Pop commercials – how many pitchers does it take to build a big-league rotation? The Cincinnati Reds know that just like reaching the center of a Tootsie Pop, finding the answer takes patience. Reds player development director Jeff Graupe is pretty sure you need at least double the prospects to wind up with five starting pitchers. He just hopes that he has enough, and the pitching in his system was recently ranked the fourth-best in baseball by MLB.com “Hopefully we’re outperforming the average, because we have to,” Graupe said. “We have to be really good at this. That’s what makes it such an exciting time, because we’re at the cusp of it.” The Reds have staked their rebuild on the strength of their organizational pitching, and their depth at the position is enviable. Just in the majors they have a veteran in Homer Bailey and nearly established youngsters like Anthony DeSclafani and Raisel Iglesias. Following them are former top prospects like Brandon Finnegan and Michael Lorenzen. The Reds will have all five at least through 2019, when Bailey’s contract ends. DeSclafani can reach free agency after the 2020 season, with Finnegan, Iglesias and Lorenzen under team control a year beyond that. But Cincinnati can get even younger and cheaper with its pitching. Eight of their top 15 prospects as ranked by MLB.com are starting pitchers, including Robert Stephenson and Cody Reed. That doesn’t even include right-hander John Lamb, who could pitch in the big leagues after returning from back surgery. Not all of them will wind up in the rotation. Some will get hurt, some will be moved to the bullpen. Some just won’t be able to hack it in the majors. The Reds hope they’ve bulked up the system enough that there will be five left at the end of the day. “We have future pitching,” said general manager Dick Williams. “There may come a time when you have too much pitching, but you never have too much future pitching. It’s not realized, right? We need to wait and see what all these guys are going to be. We need to see if they’re in the right role, we need to see if they’re going to stay starters versus the pen. “It’s a highly prized commodity that has a large attrition rate. We’re going to stick in there with these guys.” Much of the equation hinges on the rotation of the Pensacola Blue Wahoos, the team’s Double-A affiliate. It will feature perhaps the most impressive set of starting pitchers in the minor leagues with left-hander Amir Garrett and righties Nick Travieso, Rookie Davis and Sal Romano, all of whom were in the big-league camp this year. If Keury Mella is handed the fifth spot, the Blue Wahoos will boast five starters ranked among Cincinnati’s top 15 prospects, with Garrett (fourth) and Mella (sixth) leading the pack. “With the amount of lines we have in the water, I’m comfortable we’ll have a very good major-league rotation as these guys grow up and join the guys who are already there,” Graupe said. At the earliest, Williams feels he could have the big-league rotation he’s always envisioned by 2018, with most of the team’s crop in the high minors having gotten their feet wet in the majors before then. They’re essentially modeling themselves after the New York Mets, who rode a young, homegrown and cheap rotation to a World Series berth last year. Cincinnati has also learned from how the Mets have jealously guarded that pitching depth. For the last couple years until their magical playoff run, outside observers have wondered if New York would trade from that strength in order to address weakness elsewhere on the roster. Instead, the Mets held on to the likes of Matt Harvey, Steven Matz, Jacob DeGrom and Noah Syndergaard. The Reds have taken notice.

Williams will never say never when it comes to trading from his starting depth. Some of his young pitchers won’t make it, and he’d rather not hold onto those guys so long they lose all value. It will make for tough decisions once the team comes up for air on the other side of its rebuild and has more win-now concerns. “That’s going to be the hardest part of the job, figuring out which guys to monetize through trades and which guys to hold on to, and how much to hold on to,” Williams said. “I’m sure as soon as you trade one, one gets hurt. You can’t plan for that. But that’s going to be the hardest part of the job, figuring out when and how to use these guys.”

Cincinnati Business Courier CINCYBIZ BLOG Here's your guide to Cincinnati Reds Opening Day 2016 Apr 1, 2016, 2:14pm EDT Opening Day is special in Cincinnati not only because the Queen City is home to the first professional baseball team but because it’s a day filled with fun and celebration. Whether or not you’re heading to Great American Ball Park to watch the Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies face off at 4:10 p.m., there are lots of ways to join in the excitement. We’ve put together a list of some of the ways you can root on the Redlegs outside Great American Ball Park: Opening Day is special in Cincinnati not only because the Queen City is home to the first professional baseball team but because it’s a day filled with fun and celebration. Opening Day is special in Cincinnati not only because the Queen City is home to the first… more Findlay Market Opening Day Parade The 97th edition of the parade kicks off at noon at Findlay Market. Former Reds manager Lou Piniella will be this year’s grand marshal. You can find the parade lineup and a map of the route here. http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/news/2016/02/16/reds-name-opening-day-parade-grand-marshal.html http://www.findlaymarketparade.com/services Reds Community Fund Charity Block Party The fifth-annual Opening Day block party will be held 11 a.m.-3 p.m. on Joe Nuxhall Way, Freedom Way and Walnut Street at the Banks. Admission to the event is free, and food and beverages will be available for purchase. The Naked Karate Girls will also be playing. All proceeds will benefit the Procter & Gamble Cincinnati MLB Urban Youth Academy. Washington Park celebration Washington Park will host a free Opening Day celebration from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with games, live music from The Menus, local craft beer and ballpark food. The City Flea will also have vendors at the event. The Findlay Market Opening Day Parade will pass by the park, and you can watch the game live on the giant LED screen afterward. Opening Day Rally Give Back Cincinnati and Local 12 will host this 14th annual event from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Fountain Square. MadTree Brewing will be pouring beer for fans and live entertainment will be on site as the Findlay Market Opening Day Parade nears.

Free Coney Day Skyline Chili will be giving away free cheese coneys with the purchase of any menu item at participating locations all day to celebrate its partnership with the Reds. Season Opener anniversary party Taft’s Ale House will host its limited-edition release of Old Wooden Tooth, a bourbon barrel-aged Russian Imperial stout, for its Founding Fathers club members starting at 8:30 a.m. It will also be celebrating its one-year anniversary with Second Base, an American lager. The first 100 guests in the door will get a free T-shirt. Live broadcast and celebration The Moerlein Lager House at the Banks will host a live broadcast of the Bob & Tom Show from 6-10 a.m. along with a breakfast buffet in the beer garden. Former Reds outfielder Greg Vaughn will greet fans on the Event Lawn from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. along with a live DJ. Caproni heads up web operations for the Business Courier.

DAYTON DAILY NEWS Cincinnati Reds preview: 5 storylines to watch BASEBALL By Gary Schatz - Contributing Writer 1 Updated: 12:40 p.m. Friday, April 1, 2016 | Posted: 11:47 a.m. Friday, April 1, 2016 GOODYEAR, ARIZ. — The Cincinnati Reds suffered through a 64-98 campaign in 2015. They divested themselves of most of the their top players, starting with ace pitcher Johnny Cueto. Mike Leake ended the season tied for the team lead in wins but was traded. Combined with the season-long injury to Homer Bailey, the Reds were forced to use rookie pitchers to start 110 games, including the last 64. The Reds traded All-Stars Todd Frazier and Aroldis Chapman. Brandon Phillips was traded twice but invoked his 10-5 privilege to veto both deals. 1. Will the young pitchers be better? That question won’t be answered until May. Bailey and left-hander John Lamb didn’t throw a pitch when it counted this spring. Bailey and Lamb, who had back surgery, will return sometime in May. Raisel Iglesias, slated to be the fifth starter, has traded places with Anthony DeSclafani, and will be the Opening Day starter. DeSclafani made all of his starts last season but a strained left oblique will push him back to April 10. Jon Moscot and Michael Lorenzen had setbacks. Moscot (strained rib cage) made a start on Monday but won’t have his arm built up enough to start in the first week. Lorenzen has tendinitis in his right elbow and hasn’t pitched since March 4. Brandon Finnegan will start the season in the rotation. He allowed five runs in a minor league game on Thursday, his third outing in a row in which he’s given up at least five runs. The Reds left Arizona without firming up plans for the third game of the season Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies. There is debate among the organization about whether to add Tim Melville to the roster or recall a rookie like Robert Stephenson to make one start. It could have been Cody Reed, who pitched a strong game in the spring finale against the Indians. but he would have to be added to the roster for one start and it would cost the team a year of financial control.

2. Who will play left field? Reds manager Bryan Price sees this position as a platoon. Not the strict left-handed, right-handed batter platoon but a shared position until one of the young players take control and “make it their own.” Adam Duvall was told that he made his first major league roster. He played in some games major league games with the San Francisco Giants in 2014 and in 27 games with the Reds last season. Duvall, a right-handed hitter, led the Reds this spring with four home runs and 17 RBIs. He also hit .323. Scott Schebler hit .281 with three home runs. Yorman Rodriguez is out of options and hit just .225. He is currently nursing a pulled left hamstring. 3. The walking wounded Zack Cozart, Billy Hamilton and Devin Mesoraco had season-ending surgery last year costing the Reds some offensive production. Cozart was on his way to his best season when he tore ligaments in his right knee in June. Mesoraco was going to be the middle of the lineup hitter and catch 140 games. A hip impingement allowed him to catch just six games. Stubbornness cost the Reds when they played a man short for six weeks until they finally put Mesoraco on the disabled list. He had surgery in June. Hamilton had shoulder surgery in September. All three have proven themselves healthy this spring. “We built them all up to play complete games,” Price said. “Hamilton has played complete games multiple times although he’s not in mid-season form throwing wise. Since we got him back in the swing of things he hasn’t had any pain. He will continue to build arm strength.” Cozart has played nine innings, back-to-back games. Mesoraco caught nine innings twice. Mesoraco was productive in his spring at-bats. He hit safely in all six appearances, driving in two or more runs in four of them. Hamilton started slowly at the plated but had three hits in his last two games. 4. Leadoff hitter Cozart will be the leadoff hitter early in the season with Billy Hamilton batting lower in the order. “I talked to Billy about hitting lower in the order. I told him I wanted him at the top of the order but he has to be swinging the bat and getting on base at a higher percentage. It’s not a shot across the bow. It’s the reality. You have to have the efficiency to get all those at bats. He’ll continue to work on the things like keeping the ball out of the air, getting his bunts down, commanding the strike zone. He still gives us things we are excited about; setting the table on the other side of the lineup.” “He’s a prototype of a leadoff hitter, from a speed prospective, we just have to get him on base.” 5. The bench The Reds are leaning toward putting veteran Jordan Pacheco on the roster. He is hitting .319 with six doubles, three home runs and eight RBIs. Pacheco provides the luxury of being a third catcher.

Pacheco will have to be added to the roster. He hit .319 and saw game action in five positions — second base, first base, left field, catcher and third base. He can be a powerful right-handed pinch hitter. Jose Peraza is part of the great debate going on in the front office and among the coaches. Peraza hit .305 with a home run. He led the team with six stolen bases and 12 runs scored and had six multi-hit games. He is adept in the middle infield and center field. “He has makeup speed,” Price said. “Even when he misjudges a fly ball or is caught out of position he has the speed to get to the ball and make a play.”

WCPO.COM COLUMN: Marty Brennaman is looking ahead to a question that he just can't answer Voice of the Reds will work as long as he wants to Greg Hoard, WCPO contributor CINCINNATI - He’s always been quick on the trigger, and always will be. It’s his nature. Ask a question; get an answer, though it might not be the one you wanted. But this, this was different. The question gave him pause, his hesitation stemming from the complexity of his answer. Marty Brennaman, the hard-bitten Hall of Fame broadcaster, whose voice has become synonymous with Cincinnati Reds baseball, could not fit his feelings into a shot glass of straight-up, straight-on honesty – not on this topic, not just now. “What’s ahead?” he said, after a long pause. “I wish I had an answer for you. I don’t know. I really don’t . . . I’m not dodging the question. I really don’t know.” Brennaman is 73 years old, starting his 43rd season in the Reds broadcast booth. In 2000, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He has won a “veritable boatload” of national and regional awards for his work. He has risen to the status of legend in his field, right there alongside the likes of Ernie Harwell, Bob Prince, Red Barber, Jack Buck and Harry Caray. Only One Is Better Like the rest of the best in baseball broadcasting, Brennaman is surpassed in reputation by only one, the inimitable Vin Scully, who will work his 66th season for the Dodgers this season, and, of whom Brennaman says, “He is simply the best. There is no one as good as Vin and there will never be anyone as good as he has been.” In short, he has reached the top rung of his profession. He has built and banked a comfortable lifestyle, and after all this time he could just lay it down, sit in the sun and go play golf. But therein lies the rub. “One day,” he says, “I think I want to retire and the next I don’t . . . and I’m happy. I’m happy that I’m at the point in my career where I can be conflicted about it, that I can continue to work, if that’s what I want to do -- without the ‘R’ word being imposed upon me -- or, I could step aside if I chose.” For As Long As He Wants Entering the last year of a contract, no one is pushing Brennaman. No guillotine sways above as it often does in other industries, when age and an abundant salary add up to a trip to Boca Vista, or an exodus to “explore other opportunities”.

Reds management awaits Brennaman’s decision with open arms. His wife, Amanda, encourages him to do what he chooses to do -- what makes him happy -- and be assured, he is happy. “I love my work,” he said. “I love the people I work with. I look forward to seeing those people every day and that means a lot. I love the people I work for. This is the best ownership I’ve ever worked for. They’ve pretty much told me, ‘You tell us what you want to do down the road and whatever you do is fine with us. We just want you to keep working.’” Of course, this is a good example of the Castellini family’s business acumen. Perhaps never has Brennaman been more important to the organization than he will be this season, which doesn’t promise to be a good one. Brennaman’s value increases because of his knowledge, his following, his veracity and the sheer entertainment value he and Jeff Brantley, his primary partner, bring to the broadcast. Life After Nuxhall Brennaman spent 31 seasons in the booth with the iconic Joe Nuxhall. Their performance was a natural hand-in-glove experience that became part of Cincinnati culture. Former owner Carl Lindner began to ease “the Ol’ Lefthander” out of the booth in 2003, and in 2007, Nuxhall died. His passing cut Brennaman to the quick. The brightness that seemed to emanate from the broadcast booth dimmed. As Nuxhall’s health failed, the Castellinis, who had replaced the Lindner group in 2006, asked Nuxhall to work when he felt well enough, and -- in a huge stroke -- hired Brennaman’s son, Thom, and former Red and All-Star reliever Jeff Brantley, who had become a stand-out analyst at ESPN. Working with Thom, who made his name at WGN in Chicago and Fox Sports nationally, was the fulfillment of a dream for Brennaman. The addition of Brantley was like a surprise party. “All that is true,” Brennaman said. “Often when I speak to groups, a question about my 31 years with Joe inevitably comes up, and I always make a point of saying, ‘I’m not a very religious person. I wish I was . . . But, I believe that when God decided to take Joe away, He gave me Thom and Jeff.’” Brennaman And Brantley Brennaman’s joy working with his son was apparent. But the team of Brennaman and Brantley was another singular fit, and was reminiscent of “Marty and Joe On the Radio”. Brennaman and Brantley covered all the bases but they were just as apt to veer off on an improbable path -- like esoteric rock n’ roll, for instance. “Yesterday, I said to him, ‘Do you realize how big a day this is?’ Well, he has no idea. I said, ‘This is David Gilmour’s birthday – from Pink Floyd. I can not believe you would not know that.’ Well, that started a conversation apart from the game…He could care less about Pink Floyd or David Gilmour (the groups guitarist and lead vocalist). He thought that was the biggest bunch of horse(bleep) you could listen to. “But we had some big laugh . . . and it was something I thought was apropos of a tiring, boring spring training game where they were getting their ass kicked, and it brought some levity to the broadcast which, I think is good.” Marty and Joe had their tomatoes, their latest round of golf, Elvis statues and “Macho Man” Randy Savage run amok in the booth. Marty and “The Cowboy” reprise that spirit. Folks, it’s not war out there. “We both want the team to win,” Brennaman says, “but it’s not the most important thing in the world. There is something going on in the world daily that dwarfs the trials and tribulations of the Cincinnati Reds.” The Home Game But beyond the professional pleasures Brennaman experiences -- that bring him back to the booth with such vigor -- there is a personal element no less important.

“I’m married to a woman (Amanda) who is 30 years younger than I am, who has revolutionized my life,” he says. “She has gotten me off my ass to do things that, if I were alone, I would never . . . I would be a recluse. I know I would.” He walks every day, 10,000 steps; carries a Fitbit in his pocket and has for years. “I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life, seriously,” he says, “and I’m happy. I’m in a great place in my life personally, and I’m in a great place professionally.” Greg Hoard is a former reporter and columnist for the Cincinnati Post and Reds beat writer for the Cincinnati Enquirer. He later worked as sports director at WLWT and WXIX. He returned to writing in 2004 and is the author of five books, including "Joe, Rounding Third and Heading for Home," and "Voices In My Head, The Gary Burbank Story." His work has appeared in Sports Illustrated, Baseball America, The Sporting News, Baseball Digest and NFL Game Day. He is at work on a baseball memoir, "Baseline, A Life On The Fringe of The Game."

TRANSACTIONS 04/01/16 New York Mets optioned Sean Gilmartin to Las Vegas 51s. RHP Diego Castillo assigned to Tampa Bay Rays. RHP Brandon Koch assigned to Tampa Bay Rays. RHP Ryne Stanek assigned to Tampa Bay Rays. C Jamie Mitchell assigned to Tampa Bay Rays. RHP Brian Miller assigned to Tampa Bay Rays. C Mike Marjama assigned to Tampa Bay Rays. Kansas City Royals signed free agent RF Travis Snider to a minor league contract. Kansas City Royals signed free agent SS Clint Barmes to a minor league contract. Kansas City Royals signed free agent LHP Brian Duensing to a minor league contract. Cincinnati Reds claimed RHP Dan Straily off waivers from San Diego Padres. LHP Edgar Olmos assigned to Baltimore Orioles. Houston Astros placed DH Evan Gattis on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2015. Sports hernia Houston Astros placed RHP Lance McCullers on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 25, 2016. Right shoulder soreness Houston Astros placed C Max Stassi on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to March 29, 2016. Fractured left hamate bone Houston Astros recalled Michael Feliz from Fresno Grizzlies. Houston Astros selected the contract of Tyler White from Fresno Grizzlies. Toronto Blue Jays sent Junior Lake outright to Buffalo Bisons. Toronto Blue Jays sent Jesus Montero outright to Buffalo Bisons. RHP Edwin Fierro assigned to Tampa Bay Rays. New York Mets optioned Erik Goeddel to Las Vegas 51s. New York Mets optioned Matt Reynolds to Las Vegas 51s. New York Mets selected the contract of Jim Henderson from Las Vegas 51s. Kansas City Royals optioned Tony Cruz to Omaha Storm Chasers. Kansas City Royals optioned Raul Mondesi to Northwest Arkansas Naturals. RHP Richelson Pena assigned to Texas Rangers. SS Dawel Lugo assigned to Arizona Diamondbacks. SS Jeff Bianchi assigned to Colorado Rockies. LF Max White assigned to Colorado Rockies.

1B Roberto Ramos assigned to Colorado Rockies. RHP Jimmy Brasoban roster status changed by San Diego Padres. Baltimore Orioles sent LHP Zach Phillips outright to Norfolk Tides. Baltimore Orioles sent Chaz Roe outright to Norfolk Tides. Baltimore Orioles optioned Francisco Pena to Norfolk Tides. Washington Nationals optioned Matt den Dekker to Syracuse Chiefs. Washington Nationals optioned Trevor Gott to Syracuse Chiefs. Washington Nationals selected the contract of Chris Heisey from Syracuse Chiefs. Washington Nationals placed RHP Aaron Barrett on the 60-day disabled list. Recovering from September 2015 Tommy John surgery