Its finally upon us! Cincinnati Reds Spring Training begins this Saturday when pitchers and catchers report to Sarasota, FL. This is a big year for the Reds as they go into camp with a lot of optimism that they can win the National League Central Division this year. Considering how mediocre the division is, the Reds winning it is not out of the realm of possibility at all. Hell, a record of 82-80 could win the division anymore.

In the offseason the Reds made a couple key moves that could take this team to the next level, that being the playoffs for the first time in almost a decade. They made the trade for a big-time closer is Francisco Cordero. He'll have to adjust to the hitter-friendly park at GABP and if he can, look for him to become one of the top closers in all of baseball. Its been quite a long time since the Reds have had a dominant closer. The last time they had one was when Danny Graves was here, and then they went and messed that up by trying him out as a starter. He was never the same. But Reds fans don't have to worry about that happening with Cordero. They have much more competent guys in the front office now. Cordero had 44 saves last season with the Milwaukee Brewers. The hard-throwing right-hander finished the season with a 2.98 ERA, a little high for a closer, but not too bad considering what the Reds have had in the past several seasons. With Cordero in the mix that allows David Weathers to move to the setup role, a much more comfortable spot for him where he should do very well.

In addition to trading for Cordero, the Reds made an addition by subtraction really by trading away OF Josh Hamilton. He was the feel good story of last season, but because of his past lifestyle choices, he is an injury risk. The Reds already have enough of those, especially in the outfield with Ken Griffey Jr. patrolling right field and Ryan Freel running into walls and whatever else is between him and the ball out on the field. So by trading away Hamilton, the Reds have opened the door to possibly bringing up the #1 prospect in all of minor league baseball in OF Jay Bruce. He was coined as the heir-apparent to Griffey once Junior retired or moved on, but with him now over in right field, the door is wide open for Bruce to run right through it and slam it shut to anyone looking to take the job. While he may not make the Opening Day roster, expect Bruce to be on the Reds roster at some point this season. He has amazing potential, so much that the Reds management are not willing to trade him for anyone, even a front-line starter like Eric Bedard.

The Reds also got starter/reliever Jeremy Affeldt in the offseason. Some questioned this move, including myself, but he could make for a decent #5 pitcher in the rotation or a good guy coming out of the bullpen. He'll be fighting for a starting job in spring training along with Homer Bailey, Edinson Volquez, and Johnny Cueto. The top two spots in the rotation are already locked up by their ace in Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo.  The #3 spot could go to either Matt Belisle or Bailey with the other one being put in the #4 slot. As of right now the starting rotation according to the Reds website is actually six pitchers deep. They list the rotation as Harang, Arroyo, Belisle, Bailey, Volquez and Affeldt. Obviously the Reds won't actually work on a six-man rotation so changes will surely be made by the time Opening Day rolls around. I'd expect to see Cueto jump in there somewhere, possibly at the back-end which will move Affeldt to the pen.

Baseball season is almost here. The smell of hot dogs and peanuts is faintly in the air. I can almost hear that drunk guy in right field yelling at Junior telling him he washed up. The crack of the bat and the popping of the catchers' mitt are sounds we'll be hearing soon. Just like every year, Reds fans feel this is the year their team will finally make it. The talent is there to do just that. Only thing left to do is PLAY BALL!