22-year old lefty swinging Jay Bruce has a huge upside and the Reds hope that he can stay healthy and play up to his ability in 2010. Bruce played in 101 games for the Reds last season and he was 77 of 345 (.223 avg, .773 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 22 homers, 58 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. Bruce played in 98 games in RF last season for the Reds and he made 2 errors while showing good range. Bruce has a great throwing arm as he had 11 assists last season. Bruce has the potential to be a superstar in the near future for the Reds if he can stay healthy and focused.

25-year old righty swinging Wladimir Balentien played in 22 games in RF last season and he didn’t make any errors while showing average range. Balentien has the required power to play RF in the majors but he’s blocked in Cincinnati by Jay Bruce.

29-year old lefty swinging Laynce Nix played in 10 games in RF for the Reds last season and he didn’t make any errors. He showed slightly below average range in RF.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE RF IN 2010: B-

25-year old righty swinging Drew Stubbs heads into spring training as the Reds’ starting CF for 2010. He played in 42 games for the Reds last season and he was 48 of 180 (.267 avg, .762 OPS) with 27 runs scored, 8 homers, 17 RBIs and 10 stolen bases. Stubbs also played in 107 games in AAA-ball last season and he was 110 of 411 (.268 avg, .713 OPS) with 57 runs scored, 3 homers, 39 RBIs and 46 stolen bases. Stubbs didn’t make any errors in 42 games in CF for the Reds last season while showing good range in the field. He also showed off a good arm as he had 4 assists out of CF for the Reds last year. I think that Stubbs will steal a lot of bases for the Reds in 2010 and beyond but I think the power he showed for the Reds last season was a mirage as he only hit 28 homers in his four seasons in the minors.

27-year old lefty swinging Chris Dickerson will likely be Stubbs’ only real competition in CF this spring. Dickerson didn’t make any errors in 27 games in CF for the Reds last season while showing outstanding range. He showed a good arm in CF as he had 4 assists for the Reds there last year.

27-year old lefty swinging Josh Anderson will battle for a bench spot for the Reds in 2010. Anderson played in 118 games for the Tigers and Royals last season in which he was 68 of 283 (.240 avg, .580 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 1 homer, 24 RBIs and 25 stolen bases. Anderson didn’t make any errors in 32 games in CF last season while showing average range. He had 2 assists while in CF so he has a decent throwing arm.

29-year old righty swinging Chris Burke has a broken finger which will hurt his chances of making the Reds when the season opens. Burke played in 32 games for the Padres last season and he was 17 of 82 (.207 avg, .575 OPS) with 8 runs scored, 1 homer, 5 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. Burke didn’t play any in CF last season for the Padres but he does have a lot of experience there.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE CF IN 2010: C+

29-year old righty swinging Jonny Gomes will likely see a lot of action in LF in 2010 for the Reds. Gomes played in 98 games for the Reds last season and he was 75 of 281 (.267 avg, .879 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 20 homers, 51 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. While Gomes has a lot of power he does whiff a lot as he fanned 85 times last season. That means that his .267 average of last season is likely his ceiling. Gomes only made 1 error in 37 games in LF for the Reds last season but he showed poor range. Gomes is one of those get dirty types of players who gives everything he’s got every night and he will likely be a asset again for the Reds in 2010.

29-year old lefty swinging Laynce Nix could also see a lot of time in LF in 2010. Nix played in 116 games for the Reds last year and he was 74 of 309 (.239 avg, .767 OPS) with 42 runs scored, 15 homers and 46 RBIs. Like Gomes, Nix whiffs a lot (81 times) so don’t expect a nice batting average out of him in 2010. Nix played in 72 games in LF last season for the Reds and he made 1 error while showing slightly below average range. Nix came up to the majors as a CF so look for him to play better D in LF in 2010 for the Reds.

27-year old lefty swinging Chris Dickerson will have to fight for a job this spring after his not so impressive 2009 season for the Reds. Dickerson played in 97 games for the Reds last season and he was 70 of 255 (.275 avg, .743 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 2 homers, 15 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Dickerson doesn’t really have the power to be a corner outfielder so he will have to hit for a better average to get a lot of P.T. for the Reds in 2010. Dickerson played in 37 games in LF for the Reds last season and he made 3 errors while showing good range.

25-year old righty swinging Wladimir Balentien will also be in the hunt for playing time in LF. He played in 96 games for the Mariners & Reds in 2009 and he was 62 of 265 (.234 avg, .690 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 7 homers and 24 RBIs. Like a lot of the players competing for the LF job, Balentien whiffs a lot (74 times last year) so a .250 batting average is likely wishful thinking. Balentien played in 61 games in LF last season and he made 2 errors while showing outstanding range. Balentien does have the best arm of this bunch as he had 6 assists in LF last season.

25-year old righty swinging Chris Heisey is one of the better prospects in the Reds’ system and he will likely try to earn the LF job this spring. Heisey played in 134 games in AA+AAA ball last season and he was 162 of 516 (.314 avg, .900 OPS) with 91 runs scored, 22 homers, 77 RBIs and 21 stolen bases. He might get a shot at some point in 2010 but it looks like he will start the year in AAA.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE LF IN 2010: C

IF/OF Chris Burke has a fractured finger injured in practice yesterday and he will have it in a splint for the next two weeks. He is not allowed to have any baseball activities for the next three weeks. This almost guarantees that Burke will start the 2010 season in the minors with the Reds as he won’t have enough time to move up the depth chart this spring.

The Reds have re-signed 29-year old righty swinging outfielder Johnny Gomes to a 1-year deal with a club option for the 2011 season. Gomes played in 98 games for the Reds last season and he was 75 for 281 (.267 avg, .879 OPS) with 39 runs scored, 20 homers, 51 RBIs and 3 stolen bases. He has now played in 513 games in his major league career and he is 372 of 1,545 (.241 avg, .801 OPS) with 225 runs scored, 86 homers, 235 RBIs and 33 stolen bases. Gomes should get more P.T. than he got in 2009 as the Reds need his power.