As Reds trim roster, rotation questions remain

The Reds trimmed young second baseman Dilson Herrera and 14 others from their camp roster Wednesday, but the real intrigue continues to hover over the starting rotation and the vacancies beyond Scott Feldman and Brandon Finnegan.

Seven candidates for those three spots — and possibly a bullpen job — remain: Bronson Arroyo, Rookie Davis, Tim Adleman, Sal Romano, Amir Garrett, Cody Reed and Robert Stephenson.

Here’s how manager Bryan Price sees it:

“I like Amir, Rookie Davis as starters, Romano is on the fence for competing for a starting spot, although I think Romano could do both. Reed and Stephenson could pitch in the bullpen and still be considered long-term starters if they don’t make the rotation.”

As for Arroyo and Adleman, Price thinks they have been around long enough to start or help the team in long relief.

Reed got a chance Wednesday, starting against the Padres. He pitched 3 1/3 innings, allowing three runs (two earned) on four hits, including a two-run home run by Hunter Renfroe. He walked one and struck out six.

“The home run was a change-up down. Here I am working on it again,” Reed said. “Even Mes (catcher Devin Mesoraco) comes up and says, ‘You have to throw it if you want to pitch up year this year.’ That’s what I did. (Renfroe) took advantage. I threw my slider for strikes and got a lot of swings and misses.”

The roster is down to 48 players after the Wednesday morning purge that saw catcher Joe Hudson, infielder Brandon Dixon, outfielder Gabriel Guerrero and pitchers Tyler Mahle, Ismael Guillon, Jimmy Herget, Nick Rout and Kevin Shackelford re-assigned to minor league camp, and Herrera, outfielder Aristedes Aquino, and pitchers Luis Castillo, Keury Mella, Jackson Stephens, Nick Travieso, Lisalverto Bonilla and Ariel Hernandez optioned to Class AAA Louisville.

Herrera came from the New York Mets in the Jay Bruce trade last season. He was behind all spring with a sore right shoulder. He’s been on a throwing program but was limited to designated hitter in Cactus League games.

“With Herrera it wasn’t just because he hasn’t played defense,” Price said. “We need to get the pitchers to hit in games to get ready. We wouldn’t have enough consistent at-bats left.”

Castillo was acquired from Miami in the trade for Dan Straily. He pitched in three games for a total of five innings and gave up two earned runs.

“We would have liked to keep him in camp. He was throwing the ball so well,” Price said. “With the number of innings left, we had to rank them. With his limited time in double-A, we felt it made more sense for him to start (there).”

Dixon had a good camp. Price praised him several times for good at-bats, sometimes with nothing to show for them. Aquino, 22, and Guerrero 23, showed flashes but clearly need to play more in the minor leagues.

Phillip Ervin and Jesse Winker remain in camp for now but are most likely penciled into the minor leagues to play regularly.

Zach Vincej is the only true shortstop left who is not playing another position. The bench is still a wide-open competition with the emphasis on the ability to be serviceable at more than one position. Arismendy Alcantara, Hernan Iribarren, Tony Renda and Patrick Kivlehan continue to compete. Alcantara is out of options. He would have to be exposed to waivers if he doesn’t make the team.

Ryan Raburn, Desmond Jennings and Christian Walker will continue to battle for backup outfield roles.

• Mesoraco started his second Cactus League game Wednesday, batting leadoff against Clayton Richard. He caught three innings, grounded out twice and was charged with an error for throwing wildly on a pickoff attempt at first base.

• Billy Hamilton had three hits and had his first two stolen bases in the team’s 21st Cactus League game. Hamilton’s first steal came on a Richard pickoff attempt. He reached second easily. … Zack Cozart hit his second home run. … Scott Schebler had two hits. … Joey Votto was 1-for-2 with a walk and a stolen base.

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