With the Red's closer sidelined for the year what will the Reds do with Aroldis Chapman? With his most recent 5 inning scoreless outing he looks like he should be ready to start the season in the rotation. Does it make more sense to move Bray into the setup position and Marshall to the closer role and have a power lefty in the rotation? Imo they should stay the course with Chapman, what are your thoughts?

As I said in the Madson thread. Chapman has looked good this spring. The Reds need to see what they have. Chapman to the pen is a mistake.

^ I agree. It's to bad Homer to go to the pen.

Put Chapman in rotation and trade Homer while they can get a used car and maybe just maybe a decent left hander for the pen. They will still have Francis as a backup starting in Triple A along with some of those young guys. Bailey is like in his 5th year of "being on the cusp of being a star." Maybe him and Sarge could start a comic strip and they can call him "Beetle." What a disapoitment he has been.

Put Chapman in rotation and trade Homer while they can get a used car and maybe just maybe a decent left hander for the pen. They will still have Francis as a backup starting in Triple A along with some of those young guys. Bailey is like in his 5th year of "being on the cusp of being a star." Maybe him and Sarge could start a comic strip and they can call him "Beetle." What a disapoitment he has been.

 

He is only 26 years old. No way you give up on him yet.

I think Francis has to be on the MLB roster or he is a FA.

I think Francis has to be on the MLB roster or he is a FA.

 

He can opt out. I think his opt out date is pretty soon actually.

He is only 26 years old. No way you give up on him yet.

And we'll have a similar thread next year and he'll be 27, then 28. His value is as good as it gets. Homer hasn't, and never will reach the level of expectation of this draft selection, IMO.

 

And while I'm at it, I'm quite sure I'm in the minority when I say I think Chapman is made to be a world class closer for many years to come. I think he could save 50 this season. I've said it from the beginning.

Give Chapman a shot to start. Hopefully Masset can be the set up man, and Bray becomes the lefty specialist.

 

Not sure what happens to Bailey because he's out of options, but I'd like to keep him. I'm afraid Chapman is the odd man out & will get pushed to the pen, but I think that's a mistake. I know he can be good there, but he could be GREAT every 5th day...

I kinda like the experienced lefty Mahay we could be our rotation stopper with his experience.

I kinda like the experienced lefty Mahay we could be our rotation stopper with his experience.

 

Yeah the guy who will turn 41 in June and has pitched a total of 48 innings over the last 6 years!!

If Homer doesn't make it as a starter it might be time to try someting different and make him the hard throwing closer.

^ They have said numerous times he can't come out of the pen. It takes him way to long to warm up.

Chapman would like to start.

 

“Everybody has a preference,” Baker said. “But I’m sure he’d rather be in the big leagues. That’s his preference.”

Homer = trade bait. Assuming he has any real value.