The Cincinnati Reds have a very young and solid starting rotation heading into the 2012 season. It is also a pretty deep rotation. Here is a look at the Reds’ rotation as of right now:

#1: Johnny Cueto: 25-year old righty starting pitcher Johnny Cueto has graduated to being the ace of the staff in 2012. Cueto pitched in 24 games (all starts) for the Reds last year and he was 9-5 with a 2.31 ERA and a 1.09 WHIP. He has now pitched in 116 games (all starts) in his first four years for the Reds and he is 41-37 with a 3.83 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Cueto has the stuff to keep pitching like he did last year, the Reds are hoping that he can just stay healthy all year long.

#2: Mat Latos: The Reds dealt for 24-year old righty Mat Latos and he didn’t come cheap. That means the Reds have high hopes for him both in 2012 and down the road. Latos pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Padres last year and he was 9-14 with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has now pitched in 72 games (all starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 27-29 with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Latos has the same kind of upside that Cueto does, so the Reds are going to be happy with the top of the rotation in 2012 and beyond.

#3: Bronson Arroyo: 34-year old righty Bronson Arroyo is going to drop to #3 in the rotation for 2012 and that’s a good thing for both him and the Reds. Arroyo pitched in 32 games (all starts) for the Reds last year and he was 9-12 with a 5.07 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He has now pitched in 201 games (all starts) in his first six years with the Reds and he is 79-72 with a 4.14 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. Arroyo has now pitched in 327 games (291 starts) in his first 12 years in the majors and he is 112-105 with 1 save, a 4.28 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. Arroyo is an innings eater, which every rotation needs, but the Reds need him to rebound in 2012.

#4: Mike Leake: 24-year old righty Mike Leake really pitched well for the Reds last year. He pitched in 29 games (26 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 12-9 with a 3.86 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. Leake has now pitched in 53 games (48 starts) in his first two years with the Reds and he is 20-13 with a 4.03 ERA and a 1.32 WHIP. The Reds hope that Leake continues to improve as his career goes on.

#5: Homer Bailey: 25-year old righty Homer Bailey pitched his best baseball of his major league career so far in 2011. He pitched in 22 games (all starts) for the Reds last year and he was 9-7 with a 4.43 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Bailey has now pitched in 78 games (all starts) in his first five years with the Reds and he is 25-23 with a 4.89 ERA and a 1.45 WHIP. Bailey will have to step up to hold off the competition for the #5 spot in the starting rotation this spring.

Aroldis Chapman: 23-year old lefty Aroldis Chapman is going to get a shot to win a job in the rotation this spring. Chapman pitched in 54 games (0 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 4-1 with 1 save, a 3.60 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. He has now pitched in 69 games (0 starts) in his first two years in the majors and he is 6-3 with 1 save, a 3.27 ERA and a 1.25 WHIP. If Chapman ever refines his control, he will be truly nasty, but he has walked 46 batters in his first 63 1/3 innings in the majors. On the positive side of things, Chapman has only given up 33 hits while whiffing 90 batters in those same 63 1/3 innings…..showing just how wicked he can be. If he doesn’t improve his control this spring, he will be in the bullpen again in 2012.

Jeff Francis: 30-year old lefty Jeff Francis will also be in the mix this spring for the #5 job in the Reds’ starting rotation. Francis pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Royals last year and he was 6-16 with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He has now pitched in 181 games (180 starts) in his first 7 years in the majors and he is 61-66 with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. Francis will be a longshot to win a job in the Reds’ rotation when the 2012 season starts.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE STARTING ROTATION IN 2012: B+

The Reds have signed 31-year old lefty starter Jeff Francis to a minor league deal. Francis pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Royals last year and he was 6-16 with a 4.82 ERA and a 1.44 WHIP. He has now pitched in 181 games (180 starts) in his first seven years in the majors and he is 61-66 with a 4.78 ERA and a 1.43 WHIP. The Reds will give Francis a shot this spring to win a job at the back end of the starting rotation. This was a nice low risk/decent reward signing for the Reds.

The Reds have acquired 33-year old righty swinging SS/3B/2B Wilson Valdez from the Phillies for 26-year old lefty reliever Jeremy Horst. Valdez played in 99 games for the Phillies last year and he was 68 for 273 (.249 avg, .634 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 1 homer, 30 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 362 games in his first six years in the majors and he is 230 for 948 (.243 avg, .621 OPS) with 116 runs scored, 6 homers, 92 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Valdez will be a super utility man for the Reds as he can play all over the field, with shortstop being his top position defensively. Jeremy Horst got his first taste of the majors with the Reds last year. He pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 0-0 with a 2.93 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP.

The Reds have signed 33-year old lefty swinging OF/2B Willie Harris to a minor league deal. Harris played in 126 games for the Mets last year and he was 59 for 240 (.246 avg, .668 OPS) with 36 runs scored, 2 homers, 23 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. He has now played in 1,021 games in his first 11 years in the majors and he is 575 for 2,397 (.240 avg, .678 OPS) with 360 runs scored, 39 homers, 210 RBIs and 106 stolen bases. This was a good signing for the Reds’ bench in 2012.

The Reds have released 26-year old righty reliever/starter Kyle McCulloch. McCulloch pitched in 32 games (14 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 6-8 with a 5.25 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP. He has now pitched in 165 games (116 starts) in his first six years in the minors and he is 39-48 with 1 save, a 4.64 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. This isn’t much of a loss for the Reds going forward.