The Reds have 10 potential free agents heading into this winter including a few key guys. Here is how I see things shaking out pertaining to these 10 players:

Bronson Arroyo: 33-year old righty starting pitcher Bronson Arroyo started 33 games for the Reds last season and he was 17-10 with a 3.88 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. The Reds hold a club option worth $13 million bucks for 2011 on Arroyo or they could buy him out for $2 million bucks. VERDICT: The Reds should not only pick up Arroyo’s option but they should extend him a couple of seasons.

Jonny Gomes: 29-year old righty swinging outfielder Jonny Gomes played in 148 games for the Reds last season and he was 136 of 511 (.266 avg, .758 OPS) with 77 runs scored, 18 homers, 86 RBIs and 5 stolen bases. The Reds hold a club option on Gomes for 2011 valued at $1.75 million bucks or they can buy him out for $200K. VERDICT: I see the Reds picking up Gomes’ option as it would be hard to find a replacement to work that cheap that is as talented as he is .

Ramon Hernandez: 34-year old righty swinging catcher Ramon Hernandez played in 97 games for the Reds last season and he was 93 of 313 (.297 avg, .792 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 7 homers and 48 RBIs. VERDICT: This is a tough one. Hernandez does a great job with the pitching staff so with that in mind I think the Reds should re-sign him as long as they don’t have to get into a bidding war for his services.

Orlando Cabrera: 35-year old righty swinging shortstop Orlando Cabrera played in 123 games for the Reds last season and he was 130 of 494 (.263 avg, .657 OPS) with 64 runs scored, 4 homers, 42 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. The Reds hold a $4 million dollar option on Cabrera for the 2011 season or they can buy him out for $500K. VERDICT: I see the Reds buying him out and either trying to trade for a shortstop (Jason Bartlett) or signing a free agent to replace Cabrera.

Aaron Harang: 32-year old righty starting pitcher Aaron Harang pitched in 22 games (20 starts) for the Reds last season and he was 6-7 with a 5.32 ERA and a 1.59 WHIP. The Reds have an option worth $12.75 million bucks for 2011 with Harang or they can buy him out for $2 million bucks. VERDICT: The Reds will buy him out and let him walk away.

Arthur Rhodes: 41-year old lefty reliever Arthur Rhodes pitched in 69 games (0 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 4-4 with a 2.29 ERA and a 1.02 WHIP. VERDICT: The Reds should re-sign Rhodes to a 1-year deal with a club option for 2012.

Miguel Cairo: 36-year old righty swinging infielder Miguel Cairo played in 91 games for the Reds last season and he was 58 of 200 (.290 avg, .763 OPS) with 30 runs scored, 4 homers, 28 RBIs and 4 stolen bases. VERDICT: The Reds should give Cairo a small raise and re-sign him to a 1-year deal to reward him for playing well last year.

Willie Bloomquist: 32-year old righty swinging IF/OF Willie Bloomquist played in 11 games for the Reds last year and he was 5 for 17 (.294 avg, .627 OPS). He played in 83 games overall last season for the Royals & Reds and he was 50 of 187 (.267 avg, .679 OPS) with 31 runs scored, 3 homers, 17 RBIs and 8 stolen bases. VERDICT: The Reds should let him walk.

Jim Edmonds: 40-year old lefty swinging outfielder Jim Edmonds played in 13 games for the Reds last year and he was 6 for 29 (.207 avg, .687 OPS) with 6 runs scored, 3 homers and 3 RBIs. He has now played in 86 games for the Reds & Brewers last year and he was 68 of 246 (.276 avg, .846 OPS) with 44 runs scored, 11 homers, 23 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. VERDICT: The Reds will let him walk.

Mike Lincoln: 35-year old righty reliever Mike Lincoln pitched 19 games (0 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 1-0 with a 7.32 ERA and a 1.78 WHIP. VERDICT: The Reds will let him go.

The Reds one big hole is the righty side of the bullpen. The Reds made a big deal with the Blue Jays last July and I would go back to the well again in 2010. I really like Jason Frasor of the Blue Jays. I think he would make a fine set up man for Francisco Cordero. He wouldn’t come cheap as the Reds would likely want a prospect like outfielder Chris Heisey. I would make that deal if I were running the Reds because they are in a dog fight with the Cardinals and they can’t afford to be blowing many leads the rest of the way. It sounds like a steep price as Heisey is a good prospect but that’s the kind of price you pay to contend these days.

The Reds are 48-36 on the season which has them in first place in the N.L. Central, 2 games ahead of the Cardinals. The Reds really only have one weakness and they need to fix it this month. They will likely be on the hunt for righty relief pitchers. Jason Frasor, Kyle Farnsworth, Kerry Wood, Brad Ziegler, Michael Wuertz, David Aardsma, Brian Sanches, Carlos Villanueva, Brandon Lyon, Octavio Dotel, D.J. Carrasco and Chad Qualls. The Reds will have a good chance to hold off the Cardinals if they can get their hands on two of the pitchers named above.

The Reds are set from the left side of the bullpen but if they truly want to compete with the Cardinals in the N.L. Central they are going to need to address the right side of the pen in the trade market, and sooner rather than later. The Reds have the firepower to make smaller deals or bigger ones depending on the quality they get back. If the Reds want to go big they will call the Blue Jays (Jason Frasor), the Astros (Brandon Lyon and Matt Lindstrom) of the Indians (Kerry Wood). If they want to aim smaller they place a call to teams like the White Sox (Tony Pena), the Royals (Kyle Farnsworth), the Pirates (Brendan Donnelly and D.J. Carrasco) or the Padres (Edwin Mujica, Adam Russell or Ryan Webb). Personally I would try to deal with the Astros or the Padres. I think the Padres would give the Reds Mujica, Russell and Webb for Chris Heisey and Chris Dickerson. Despite Heisey’s nice upside this is a deal the Reds would likely have to make as the bullpen would be in much better shape. The Astros would have to send a lot of cash in this deal but they would take Juan Francisco, Dickerson, Micah Owings and Paul Janish for both Lindstrom and Lyon which would give the Reds a powerful pen and a very deep one. The Indians would jump at the chance to deal Kerry Wood and cash to the Reds for Chris Dickerson and Paul Janish or Micah Owings. The Blue Jays would likely require either Juan Francisco or Chris Heisey straight up for Jason Frasor and I’m not so sure he’s worth that price. The cheaper alternatives would come cheaply as the Reds would likely take Chris Dickerson or Micah Owings for both Brendan Donnelly and D.J. Carrasco. Micah Owings would likely be the price for Kyle Farnsworth of the Royals while Tony Pena of the White Sox would require Chris Dickerson and Micah Owings. The Reds have the team to make a legit run at the playoffs so they need to pull the trigger on a trade for bullpen help soon.