Reds' Castellini frustrated, but says Price's job is safe

Reds owner Bob Castellini is frustrated.

"Absolutely," he said. "What did we lose nine in a row? That's about as bad as it gets. I can't think of any worse time in the 10 years we've owned the club."

But Castellini said the struggles — the Reds had lost 11 of 12 going into Thursday — will not cost manager Bryan Price his job before the season is over. There has been speculation and rumors since the All-Star break about Barry Larkin being brought in as manager.

"Bryan is our manager," Castellini said. "We're not making a change this year."

Price and general manager Walt Jocketty have another year on their contracts.

"You look at everything after the season," Castellini said. "But that's not something we're going to get into now. Bryan's our manager."

Castellini signed off on the first outright rebuilding job of his tenure. The Reds traded starting pitchers Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake at the non-waiver trade deadline. They traded Marlon Byrd last week. Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon were traded in the offseason.

The moves left the Reds with an all-rookie rotation. The rookies have struggled over the 11-losses-in-12-games stretch, putting up a 7.76 ERA.

"I thought the trade with Kansas City was a very good one," Castellini said. "We're adding to our pitching staff, to the bullpen and the rotation. We'll see some of those young players up the first of September."

Cueto and Leake were Reds for their entire careers. It was the first time Castellini traded away marquee players the Reds signed and developed. They were also on the brink of free agency and out of the Reds' price range to sign.

"That was very tough," he said. "Johnny and Mike grew up in the organization. They worked hard. They gave 110 percent and then we had to trade them for economic reasons. It was very, very frustrating."

The Reds are virtually assured of their second straight losing season after winning 90 games or more and making the playoffs in three of four years.

Rebuilding in baseball can be a long process. While most experts have written off 2016 for the Reds, Castellini hasn't.

"We're down but not out," he said. "I don't think next year will be a waste. We don't have the mindset that we're not going to contend. We're not giving up on the year."

The Reds face a difficult challenge to rebuild. Buoyed by the success from 2010 to '13, the club signed Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Homer Bailey to rich contracts.

The Reds already have a payroll of $82 million for next year. It will quickly get well over $90 million because Aroldis Chapman is arbitration-eligible for the third time. Of the big money players — Votto ($20 million), Bailey ($18 million), Phillips ($13 million), Jay Bruce ($12.5 million) and Todd Frazier ($8.25 million) - only Chapman, Bruce and Frazier are tradeable.

Castellini is an optimistic man. He remains so, even as the team struggles.

"When you go through this, everyone thinks there's no light at the end of the tunnel," he said. "There is. We'll be fine."