A New Deep

The Reds have something this year that they haven't been used to; depth. With a bevy of talented young players, especially in the outfield, the team has several interesting options. Barring any moves the starting outfield looks like Adam Dunn in left, Josh Hamilton in center, and Ken Griffey Jr. in right. Off the bench the Reds have Norris Hopper and Ryan Freel as formidable options. This would be a very good flock of players for Dusty Baker, but I'm going to go deeper, where the future is much brighter than the present. Jay Bruce, who was the minor league player of the year for 2007, is ready of the big time. Bruce has drawn comparisons to many All-Star caliber major leaguers, however we're probably two years away from prospects being touted as Bruce-like. When Bruce is a known future star, Chris Dickerson (shown) is a name lost in the fray. Dickerson blasted 14 home runs, drove in 55 runs, and stole 30 bases in 2007 for double A Chattanooga and triple A Louisville. Drew Stubbs is another outfielder who is knocking on the Redleg's door. While Stubbs spent most of the season with single A Dayton his age, 23, and his play, 12 homers, 43 RBI, 23 steals, and solid defense, paint a picture of a guy on the cusp. Bruce (21 at the season's start), Dickerson (24), and Stubbs are ready for their shot with the big club; for this reason the Reds have to look to trade Griffey, Hopper, and/or Freel. Trading veterans will free up spots for the younger guys as well as freeing up payroll to be spent on pitching and long-term contracts for the likes of Dunn and Brandon Phillips. Monday and Tuesday I'll look at the youth the Reds have in the infield and on the pitching staff.