A team on the verge of disassembly invariably begs questions of its future.
We know that next year the Reds will be sans Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Marlon Byrd (unless, somehow, that option vests), Brayan Peña, Manny Parra, and Sean Marshall with Skip Schumaker ($2.5MM club option, $500k buyout) and Burke Badenhop ($4MM mutual option, $1.5MM buyout) as likely departures as well. That’s seven spots opening up on the 25-man roster without a trade even having to happen.
That’s not a ton of starting lineup turnover, though. Mesoraco should regain the catcher’s job with health (only time will truly tell, though), leaving just left field to be filled.