John Fay

jfay@enquirer.com

This is another in a series of periodic looks at the Reds, position-by-position. Today we'll look at first base.

Joey Votto is obviously the guy. He's going to play every day that he's healthy. And the Reds are convinced he's going to be healthy after missing most of this season with a strain of his distal left quadriceps.

Given that Votto missed all that time, the back-up could be of major importance.

But it's a Catch 22 here. Votto played 162 games in 2013, thus the back-up first baseman didn't matter. Votto played 62 games in 2014, thus the back-up first baseman mattered.

Still, given the other needs, it's hard to put payroll toward a back-up first baseman.

After Votto was hurt this year, the Reds scrambled. Roger Bernadina started a game at first. Jay Bruce started three. But the Reds eventually settled on a Todd Frazier-Brayan Pena combination at first. Pena was very good defensively and he gave the Reds about what they could expect as far as offense. He hit .253/.291/353 overall. He did a little better as a first baseman -- .259/.311/.343.

Those numbers, of course, are anemic compared to what a healthy Votto would put up. When Frazier played first, either Ramon Santiago or Kristopher Negron played third. Both had nice years, but neither came close to replacing Votto's bat in the lineup.

Jack Hannahan, the nominal first base back-up, missed most of the year after shoulder surgery. When he returned, he was largely ineffective, hitting .188 in 48 at-bats.

The club has a $4 million option with a $2 million buyout with Hannahan for 2015. They'll almost certainly let him walk.

The Reds' first basemen went from second in the National League in OPS (on-base plus slugging) in 2013 to 11th in '14.

Still, it's unlikely that the Reds will add a back-up first baseman.

So what will they do? They'll hope that Votto can play 150 games or so. If he doesn't, they'll probably go with the Frazier/Pena combo.

If they sign a free agent like Mike Morse to play left field, he could play first if Votto misses time. Donald Lutz can also play first. But given his lack of playing time in September, the Reds don't seem to be counting on Lutz early in '15. He's playing Winter Ball. A strong showing there and in spring could change that.

It would also make sense to get Devin Mesoraco time at first base during spring. He's athletic enough to play there. That would get him in the lineup on days that Pena catches.

But, realistically, unless Votto is healthy, first base will be a problem.