5 Reds questions before pitchers, catchers report

Reds pitchers and catchers report to the team's spring training facility in Goodyear, Ariz., on Wednesday, while the rest of the position players join them on Feb. 23.

Here are five questions for just the pitchers and catchers:

1. Nos. 4 & 5?

For the first time in recent memory, the Reds will have two openings in their rotation heading into camp. The front of the rotation is solid — Johnny Cueto, Homer Bailey and Mike Leake, but after that, spots are up for grabs. There's no shortage of candidates — young (Anthony DeSclafani, Raisel Iglesias), old (Paul Maholm, Jason Marquis) and somewhere in-between (Tony Cingrani, Dylan Axelrod).

2. Has the bullpen been fixed?

The team's anemic offense in 2014 often overshadowed its other crippling flaw — one of the game's worst bullpens. Last year the Reds' 4.11 bullpen ERA was second-worst in the National League — a number that went to 4.81 without the contributions of Aroldis Chapman and Jonathan Broxton. The team added Burke Badenhop, Matt Magill, Kevin Gregg and Jose Mijares to the mix and hope Sean Marshall and Manny Parra are healthy and J.J. Hoover and Sam LeCure bounce back from disappointing seasons.

3. How many games does Devin Mesoraco catch?

Mesoraco had the breakout year the team was hoping for in 2014, but he also had two stints on the disabled list and started just 104 games behind the plate. The team will likely be shooting for somewhere in the 130-game range for the player who signed a four-year, $28-million extension this offseason. It will also be interesting to see if he brings a first baseman's mitt to camp to maybe milk some at-bats at that position.

4. Are Tony Cingrani and Homer Bailey healthy?

Cingrani missed the second half of 2014 with a shoulder injury, while Bailey was shut down over the last month and underwent elbow surgery. Bailey's being counted on to be healthy and part of the rotation, while Cingrani's status is less assured. Reds manager Bryan Price called him a "favorite" for the rotation earlier this winter.

5. Who is Raisel Iglesias?

The Reds spent nearly $27 million on right-hander Raisel Iglesias last year, and so far he's only pitched seven innings of competitive baseball for the team, but he could be a key component. Many saw Iglesias as a reliever, his role in Cuba, but the Reds have seen him as a starter from the beginning. He dominated younger players in the Arizona Fall League, allowing just a single hit in seven scoreless innings, while showing command of four pitches. The Reds — and opponents — will get a longer look at him in spring training.