CINCINNATI REDS

2005 finish: 73-89, 5^th place in NL Central

Manager: Jerry Narron (1^st full season)

Incoming: RHP Bronson Arroyo, LHP Dave Williams, IF/OF Tony Womack, LHP Chris Hammond, 1B Scott Hatteberg, RHP Rick White, C David Ross, LHP Mike Gosling, OF Timo Perez, LHP Tommy Phelps, RHP Grant Balfour, IF Frank Menechino, RHP Mike Burns, OF Quinton McCracken, IF Matt Kata

Long gone: 1B Sean Casey, RHP Ramon Ortiz, IF Luis Lopez, LHP Luke Hudson, RHP Josh Hancock

Rotation: RHP Aaron Harang, LHP Brandon Claussen, RHP Bronson Arroyo, LHP Dave Williams, LHP Eric Milton, RHP Paul Wilson (DL)

Relievers: Closer: David Weathers; Setup men: LHP Kent Mercker, RHP Rick White, LHP Chris Hammond, RHP Ryan Wagner, RHP Todd Coffey, RHP Matt Belisle, RHP Grant Balfour, RHP Mike Burns

Regulars: 2B Tony Womack, SS Felipe Lopez, CF Ken Griffey Jr., LF Adam Dunn, RF Austin Kearns, 3B Edwin Encarnacion, 1B Scott Hatteberg, C Jason LaRue

Role players: C/1B Javier Valentin, C David Ross, IF Rich Aurilia, IF/OF Ryan Freel, OF Timo Perez, IF Rey Olmedo, IF Frank Menechino, OF Quinton McCracken

The pressure is on: Eric Milton has a rotation spot by default after a brutal first season in a Reds uniform, but that could change.

Breakout candidate: From all the trade interest expressed in Austin Kearns this winter, you have to think his production finally will catch up with his potential.

Rundown: Things definitely are shaking in Cincinnati. Robert Castellini is the new man in charge. He fired GM Dan O’Brien, and replaced him with Wayne Krivsky, who immediately fired interim GM Brad Kullman and Jim Beattie, who lasted only two weeks as Castellini’s special advisor after not landing the GM job. Krivsky already has brought in a couple of his own people, and the front office will continue to morph on the fly, and you could wonder about Jerry Narron’s security, too. And last week, Krivsky pulled the trigger on the much-anticipated hitter-for-pitcher deal, getting Bronson Arroyo for Wily Mo Pena. Arroyo is relatively inexpensive at three years and $11.25 million, and should eat up 200 innings and win in double figures. That’s well worth the gamble of giving up on Pena’s raw skills. There’s nothing not to like about ace Aaron Harang, who had a breakout 2005 season. Lefty Dave Williams will face the pressure of being the guy they traded popular Sean Casey for, so it remains to be seen if he can follow up on his solid 2005 season for the Pirates. Brandon Claussen also had his first effective big-league season last year, when he all but duplicated Williams’ numbers at 10-11-4.21. If Harang, Williams and Claussen each take the next step in their development, this rotation can improve from last year’s dead-last 5.38 ERA. But Paul Wilson will be trying to come back from rotator cuff surgery, so you can’t expect too much there. The bullpen is an even bigger question mark, led by veteran sinker-baller David Weathers as the most-proven option at closer. Rick White, another 35-plus veteran, will be a setup man. Otherwise, Ryan Wagner, 23, who took a step backward last season, Todd Coffey, 25, and Matt Belisle, 26, are the leading right-handed options. Veterans Kent Mercker and Chris Hammond will be the left-handers. Fortunately, the Reds can score runs – lots of them. They led the league with 820, and smacked 222 homers – 28 more than the league runner-up. Even without Pena and Casey, that shouldn’t change much. Dunn will end up staying in left field after all, and that’s probably a good thing considering he wasn’t adapting well to first base this spring. Provided Ken Griffey Jr. and Austin Kearns stay healthy, this trio should be one of the game’s most-productive outfields. Veteran Scott Hatteberg figures to get most of the starts at first against right-handed pitching, and while he is slipping at 36, he will provide solid at-bats and on-base percentage near the bottom of the order.  Edwin Encarnacion will get a chance to establish himself as a regular big-league third baseman, but just in case, both Rich Aurilia and Ryan Freel are part of a deep bench. Veteran Tony Womack starts the season as Felipe Lopez’s double-play partner. Given the in-flux status of this organization, plus expected improvements in Milwaukee and Pittsburgh, it’s hard to pick the Reds for anything but last place. But things are about to head in the right direction.

Prediction: 5^th place, 74-88

2006 SEASON PREVIEW Click for the latest on your favorite teams AL EAST Baltimore Boston N.Y. Yankees Tampa Bay Toronto NL EAST Atlanta Florida N.Y. Mets Philadelphia Washington AL CENTRAL Chi. White Sox Cleveland Detroit Kansas City Minnesota NL CENTRAL Chi. Cubs Cincinnati Houston Milwaukee Pittsburgh St. Louis AL WEST L.A. Angels Oakland Seattle Texas NL WEST Arizona Colorado L.A. Dodgers San Diego San Francisco

MORE FROM BASEBALL

Baseball Section Front

Manny homers, Dodgers move into first place Big Unit won't pitch Sunday against Dodgers Soriano hits 3 HRs, Cubs end 6-game skid Brewers' Sheets wins career-high 13th   Jays' Zaun slams Rays in bottom of 13th ChiSox's Thome homers in 15th to beat Angels Oswalt throws 1-hitter as Astros blank Rockies 2-0 Hanna postpones Phillies-Mets to Sunday Don't count out the Rockies in NL West Live: Updates on today's baseball games Baseball Section Front   Add Baseball headlines to your news reader: