Cincinnati Reds 2023 Season Preview
The burning question – or maybe the raging inferno question – is whether or not 62-100 was rock bottom for the Cincinnati Reds. This proud and storied franchise hadn’t lost 100 games since 1982 and the 40-year anniversary of that season marked just the second time ever that the Reds lost 100 games.
Cincinnati used 66 different players last season and 38 different pitchers. Both numbers were far and away the highest in franchise history. The Reds were 83-79 in 2021 and 31-29 in the COVID year, but had six straight losing seasons prior to that. Those 90-win teams of the early 2010s feel like an eternity ago and the 2023 season will feel like it takes an eternity.
The Reds have one of the lowest season win total lines and one of the lowest ceilings in baseball. This season is about the development of the Big Three in the rotation with Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo and Graham Ashcraft, as well as prospects like Elly De La Cruz, Spencer Steer and Noelvi Marte.
After trading away Luis Castillo, Brandon Drury, Tommy Pham and Tyler Mahle at last year’s Trade Deadline, this is a roster that could look vastly different in August than it does in April once again.