What will Reds rotation look like next year?

Beat reporter Mark Sheldon answers this question and more

August 7th, 2019

It’s been a while since we dusted off the Reds Inbox to answer some questions. As always, thanks for reading. Let’s dive right in.

What are your thoughts on a possible extension for ?
-- Andy L.

Bauer is already under club control for 2020 as an arbitration-eligible player. As for an extension, don’t look for one. In an interesting and counter-intuitive approach, Bauer has repeatedly stated he would only be interested in signing one-year contracts for the rest of his career. He said it again on Monday.

“I want to be on a contender; it’s all centered around winning,” Bauer said.

Certainly, it can be a risky approach as Bauer is betting on himself, his talents and good health. And we all know being healthy -- especially for a pitcher -- is no guarantee.

What do you see next year's rotation looking like?
-- Brandon M.

In a word, impressive. The top three will most certainly be All-Stars , and Bauer. After that, there’s , and maybe new acquisition .

Will the Reds try to sign Alex Wood?
-- Jon V.

That’s slightly tougher to predict. Given the depth that’s already in the projected 2020 rotation, I’d be surprised if he returns after he hits the free agent market in the offseason. If he continues to pitch well and remains healthy, Wood should field several suitors for his services -- especially since he’s a left-handed starter with postseason experience.

What the status of ? How is he doing in the Minors; could he be called up soon?
-- Todd R.

Finnegan spent much of the first half of the season reworking his approach at Driveline, a pitching performance center in Seattle. Since he joined Double-A Chattanooga late last month, the left-hander has had good results, posting a 1.29 ERA in five appearances totaling seven innings of relief. Most impressive to me is that he has struck out 10 while walking only two. I’ve also heard his velocity has improved. As for his being called up, I expect the Reds would need to see a larger sample size before making such a decision. Finnegan is also no longer on the 40-man roster so that’s an additional hurdle.

Your thoughts on the length of the David Bell suspension? Since he was already ejected and still came on the field, most are saying he should've got at least 10 games.
-- Tommy W.

I was actually expecting a stiffer penalty from Major League Baseball. Managers are usually expected to set the example and keep fights from escalating and Bell ran back onto the field to go after Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. On the other hand, he’s been complaining for months about the hit-by-pitches his players have taken from Pittsburgh pitchers and has long had enough. Hurdle’s two-game suspension seems to reflect that MLB wants these actions to stop.

What happened to Scott Schebler? He seems to be the forgotten man.
-- Matt W.

Not forgotten, but it’s safe to say that Schebler’s 2019 has been lousy. First, he struggled while batting .123 with two homers for the Reds in the first month of the season. Schebler’s slow start got him sent down to Triple-A Louisville upon losing his spot in center field to . His production did not improve at Louisville as he is batting .216/.274/.325 with five homers in 53 games. Currently, he’s on Louisville’s seven-day injured list for the third time this year because he needed left shoulder surgery on Monday.