CINCINNATI – At 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, José Peraza was where he was every day this year with 40 minutes to go before first pitch – in the batting cage with Reds assistant hitting coach Tony Jaramillo watching slider and slider after slider.



“Same thing,” Peraza said following Sunday’s 6-5, 10-inning loss to the Pirates in the final game of the season.



The loss left the Reds at 67-95, one game worse than each of the last two seasons and the franchise’s fifth consecutive losing season after playoff berths in three of the previous four years.



Peraza was a positive in a season that was overall negative, finishing the year hitting .288/.326/.416 with a team-high 182 hits and 1,329 innings in the field – nearly 100 more than anyone else on the team’s roster (Billy Hamilton was second with 1,238.1 innings in the field).



Peraza proved he was worthy of being in an infield with three All-Stars – that...