John Fay

jfay@enquirer.com

Walt Jocketty confirmed he's reached a deal to return as the Reds' general manager.

Jocketty said the deal is "multiyear." It's believed to be two years, coinciding with two years remaining on field manager Bryan Price's contract.

"I have a great relationship with (owner Bob Castellini)," Jocketty said. "In my position, there are two things that are important: You have to have a great relationship with the owner, and you have to have a great relationship with your manager. I've got that here."

Jocketty is completing his seventh year as GM. His three-year contract expires at year's end.

"I'm fully committed to get this team back to the postseason," he said. "I think we're capable of doing that with a little bit of help here and there. I think the city deserves it and ownership deserves it."

Price obviously will be back.

"I think Bryan's done a terrific job," Jocketty said. "This club has always worked hard. I think you saw that in the series with Milwaukee. We competed well in the series in St. Louis. I think we'll play well against the Pirates. It's important that you finish strong.

The Reds are finishing up what will be their worst season in five years. The Reds are 74-85 and have been out of the race since mid-August. The Reds came into the season after making the postseason two straight years and three of the last four.

While Jocketty and Price are safe, a source Thursday who confirmed to The Enquirer that the two would return to the Reds acknowledged that changes are coming in the offseason as far as the roster. "We've got a lot of work to do this offseason," another Reds insider said.

The Reds dealt with a lot of injuries. Fifteen players, including keys ones like Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Mat Latos, Homer Bailey, Brandon Phillips and Aroldis Chapman, spent time on the disabled list. Votto, the team's best player, will miss 100 games.

But the second-half collapse is unprecedented.

The Reds were 51-44 at the All-Star break and proceeded go 23-41 since.

The most ready explanation for the second-half collapse is the team just hasn't hit enough to win. Since the All-Star break, the Reds are hitting .220 as a team. They are last in runs, hits, batting average, slugging and on-base percentage. And that was with the everyday lineup -- sans Votto -- healthy most of the way.

While changes are coming, the club is still formulating exactly what to do. The biggest need is seen as a middle-of-the-order bat to play left filed. Whether that will come through trade or free agency remains to be seen.

What the Reds do with the their rotation will affect that. The Reds face decisions on four-fifths of their rotation. Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos, Mike Leake and Alfredo Simon are all free agents after 2015. Financially, the Reds could probably make signing Cueto happen, although there is great risk in giving pitchers long-term deals.

But Cueto has by far the most trade value, particularly with Latos coming off a season in which he's dealt with three separate injuries.

The leading need besides a big bat is bullpen arms. Reds relievers are 0-15 with a 4.52 ERA since the All-Star break. Closer Aroldis Chapman has been the only consistently good reliever this year (Jonathan Broxton was before he was traded).

The Reds are counting on Raisel Iglesias, who they signed to seven-year, $30 million contract in June, for bullpen help in 2015, although he may eventually be a starter.