Reds to go with four-man rotation at closer

February 19th, 2017
Drew Storen, Michael Lorenzen, Raisel Iglesias and Tony Cingrani will split closing duties. (AP)

GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- How the Reds finish games this season is a question that will not be resolved during Spring Training, and that is by design. Manager Bryan Price isn't looking to have a dedicated closer as the club tries to be more innovative in the mid-to-late innings.
Price wants his back-of-the-bullpen relievers to get fewer appearances but deliver multiple innings. As has been telegraphed during the offseason, the job will be shared among , , and Tony Cingrani.
"I would really like to see this particular game plan we have in place work out," Price said on Sunday. "We want to look at the end of the year and we see Storen and Iglesias and Lorenzen, in particular, with some saves. That may mean Cingrani as well, if he's the best guy we have for that situation in the ninth inning. It's asking a lot. It's asking potentially four guys to be comfortable pitching in the ninth inning."
Storen, who signed a one-year, $3 million free-agent contract last month, previously closed games for the Nationals. Cingrani converted 17 saves for the Reds last season, and Iglesias recorded six in eight chances.
"I'm really hoping that what we do here, our plan is successful and we have a handful of guys who have a nice collection of saves," Price said.
Worth noting
• Outfielder , who agreed to a Minor League contract on Friday, reported to camp after Sunday's workout. Raburn was assigned uniform No. 17.
• Rain forced the Reds to hold an abbreviated workout on Sunday. The hitters took batting practice in the indoor batting cages because of wet fields. Pitchers' fielding drills on the one usable was cut short by showers.
• For Monday's workout, live batting practice is scheduled with the hitters facing Reds pitchers.