







It has been a whirlwind of an offseason in the baseball world. It is Valentine's Day 2019 and Spring Training is about to be in full-swing. The biggest offseason surprise is both Bryce Harper and Manny Machado are still unsigned by any Major League Baseball squad. But no matter to fans of baseballs original franchise, their offseason superstar acquisition has already been a Reds fan's dream come true.





Yasiel Puig has come over to Cincinnati from the two-time National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers, in a trade that sees Homer Bailey finally end his tenure with the Reds. Bailey's contract has been a burden to the organization for many years and it is a refreshing start to the next era of Reds baseball to have his contract off the books.





Puig brings a persona to the Reds that has not been felt around the franchise since their last playoff run in 2013. Along with Puig the Reds have made a multitude of culture changing acquisitions, including starting pitchers Sonny Gray, who is trying to revitalize his career with his boyhood team, Tanner Roark, who comes from the dangerous Washington Nationals rotation, and Dodgers young gun Alex Wood.





Sonny Gray was a can't miss pitching prospect when he played for the Oakland Athletics just two seasons ago. After a failed project in the Bronx, the Yankees moved him to Cincinnati, where the organization hopes he can overcome his last season where the expectations and pressure got the best of the 29-year-old pitcher.





Gray signed a three-year $30.5 million dollar contract extension with the franchise after being acquired by the ball club. Giving the Reds some stability at a position they've desperately needed help at since the trading of Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos. With Hunter Greene in the prospect pool, the Reds are hoping their new pitching staff can bring them closer to a postseason position with the offense still producing at a high level.





It is unknown whether the Reds will have Nick Senzel, Major League Baseball's Number #6 prospect on their Top 100 list, starting this season with the Major League club. The Reds were reluctant to include their top 3 prospects in Senzel, Taylor Trammell (Number #16 prospect) and the previously mentioned Hunter Greene (Number #31 prospect) in any offseason deals. The Reds were rumored to be interested in Marlins catcher J.T. Realmuto before he was shipped to Philadelphia.





Joey Votto returns to his normal 1st base position after his Gold Glove nomination in 2018. The Reds hope to contend this season to give Votto another chance at the postseason. In Votto's time with Cincinnati, the Reds have only reached the postseason season three times, 2010, 2012, and 2013.





Ohio's southern squad has optimism for the upcoming 2019 Major League Baseball season. Something that has not been felt in Cincinnati for quite a few years. After an offseason of changes, excitement is building in Cincinnati.





- Jason-Scott Greenberg @JGreenberg11 / @GRNBSports



