Chapman was traded to the Yankees on Dec. 28 for four Minor League players, and Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty recently stated that job would be decided at Spring Training. Relievers such as Jumbo Diaz, Michael Lorenzen, Brandon Finnegan and Tony Cingrani also are potential candidates, but it would seem logical that Hoover enters camp with the upper hand.
Last season, Hoover emerged as the eighth-inning setup man for Chapman and went 8-2 with a 2.94 ERA in 67 appearances. Over 64 1/3 innings, he walked 31, struck out 52 and posted a 1.