The Reds have four rotation slots essentially locked down, but will have a wide pool to choose among for their fifth starter, of which Adleman is one of those options.

Anthony DeSclafani, Homer Bailey, Dan Straily and Brandon Finnegan are near locks, barring health setbacks, but the team could go a number of different routes with the fifth spot, including signing a veteran free agent to eat innings. Hopefully they can clear the low, low, very low bar set by Alfredo Simon in 2016 in that quest. Adleman turned in a 4.00 ERA in 13 starts with the Reds last year, but his 5.35 FIP ERA is a better indicator of his likely potential.