Fansided

One offseason move each MLB team needs to make

By Joshua Sadlock

MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images)
MIAMI, FL - OCTOBER 01: Giancarlo Stanton #27 of the Miami Marlins during the game against the Atlanta Braves at Marlins Park on October 1, 2017 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Rob Foldy/Miami Marlins via Getty Images) /
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CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 15: Homer Bailey #34 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on September 15, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH – SEPTEMBER 15: Homer Bailey #34 of the Cincinnati Reds throws a pitch during the game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on September 15, 2017 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Reds: Stabilize the rotation

The Reds have the potential to enter the 2018 season as a trendy sleeper pick, but only if they can find some answers in their starting rotation. The offense is there, led by Joey Votto and five other players who hit more than 20 home runs in 2017. Even Scooter Gennett got in on the act, hitting 27 and driving in 97 runs.

Cincinnati had the worst ERA in the National League, allowed more runs, home runs and walks than anyone else in the league. Scott Feldman was the only starter to pitch in more than 20 games, and he had a season-ending injury. Homer Bailey proved once again that his long-term extension is a complete disaster by going 6-9 with a 6.43 ERA in 18 starts. Top prospect Amir Garrett was clearly not ready for a full year in the big leagues and went 3-8 with a 7.39 ERA. The only bright spot in the starting rotation was 24-year-old Luis Castillo who did go 3-7 but had a 3.12 ERA in 15 starts while striking out nearly 10 per nine.

With a deep crop of mid-tier starting pitchers hitting the open market this year, the Reds should take a page out of the Braves playbook and take a flier on a few veterans to hold down the rotation until the rebuilding efforts go to the next step. Stabilizing the rotation with a few free agents would allow the Reds to get closer to respectability without rushing their prospects up to the big leagues too early.

Teams in the middle of a deep rebuild can often get suckered into not spending any money during the process and letting their starting pitchers take a beating 162 times a year. Everyone in the organization benefits from having a better rotation next year, including a lineup that would not constantly find themselves trying to hit their way out of five-run deficits.

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