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MLB 2017: One X-factor for each team

By Brad Berreman

September 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) runs after he hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sport
September 7, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Yasiel Puig (66) runs after he hits a solo home run in the sixth inning against Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sport /
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Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports /

Cincinnati Reds: P Raisel Iglesias

It seems like a bit of a waste for the Reds to use a young pitcher like Iglesias as a closer, due only to the limited innings he’ll pitch. He was great in a relief role last season, with a 1.98 ERA, six saves and 54 strikeouts over 50 innings out of the bullpen, but offseason addition Drew Storen will join Michael Lorenzen, Tony Cingrani and Iglesias in the mix for saves in Cincinnati. During the offseason Reds’ manager Bryan Price hinted at using Iglesias, Cingrani and Lorenzen to close games this season, and that was before Storen signed.

If Iglesias is not clearly the Reds’ closer entering the season, it makes sense to ramp up his workload with an eye on eventually joining the starting rotation. The Reds should have an eye on the future beyond 2017, so easing Iglesias from the bullpen to the rotation without increasing his inning dramatically should be on the radar at some point if things start to turn away from Iglesias closing games for a losing team.

The Reds are in some degree of rebuilding mode, this side of Joey Votto remaining on the team at least. Iglesias is a future building block regardless of his role, and how he pitches this season will be worth watching.

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