Cincinnati Reds 2018 Season Preview
By David Hill
Cincinnati Reds additions and subtractions
Key additions: Jared Hughes, Oliver Perez, Ben Revere
Newcomer to watch: Jared Hughes. The Cincinnati Reds had a relatively quiet offseason by design, but their one major league free agent still bears watching.
The signing of Hughes will help strengthen the Reds bullpen. Last season, he was a key part of the Brewers bullpen, posting a 3.02 ERA and a 1.223 WHiP, striking out 48 batters in his 59.2 innings of work. The Reds are also looking to the future with Hughes, signing him to a two year deal with an option for 2020. If the rebuild takes off, Hughes could prove to be a vital part of a contending bullpen.
Last year, the Reds bullpen ranked 27th with a 4.65 ERA and 24th with a 1.40 WHiP. Opponents had a combined .248/.335/.417 batting line with 89 homers against Reds relievers. Jared Hughes will not solve all of those problems himself, but his presence will help get the Reds relief corps on track.
Biggest losses: Zack Cozart, Scott Feldman
Biggest loss: Zack Cozart. In a perfectly timed career season, Zack Cozart was able to cash in during free agency, signing a three year contract with the Angels.
Last season, Cozart impressed as he made his first All Star Game. His .297/.385/.548 batting line, 24 homers, seven triples, and 80 runs scored were all career bests. Cozart also continued his strong play at short, saving four runs while continuing to make all the plays expected on the diamond. Even though he will play third in Los Angeles, he was quite the excellent defensive shortstop in Cincinnati.
In his place, the Cincinnati Reds currently have Jose Peraza listed atop the depth chart at short. This is a major downgrade, as Peraza cost the Reds eight runs defensively, and produced a meager .259/.297/.324 batting line. He did steal 23 bases, but as Billy Hamilton has proved, the speed does not matter if he cannot get on base. After Cozart’s strong performance in 2017, Peraza will be a disappointment.