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Cincinnati Reds Press Clippings February 19, 2019 THIS DAY IN REDS HISTORY 1919-The Reds trade Hal Chase to the Giants for Bill Rariden. Chase spent three years with the Reds, amassing a .306 batting average while collecting 69 doubles and 206 RBI MLB.COM Puig ready to take Cincy by storm: 'I love red' By Mark Sheldon MLB.com @m_sheldon Feb. 18th, 2019 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- New Reds outfielder Yasiel Puig has been in camp for about a week, often hitting on his own on the backfields. With the first full-squad workout taking place on Monday, Puig was able to warm up, throw and hit with his teammates. Puig, acquired in December's seven-player trade with the Dodgers, clearly enjoys his new club. "Now I've met all of my teammates here in Spring Training the last couple of days and today was our first day working together," Puig said. "Today was an amazing day. We are having fun on the field. We're hitting in the cage. We're working out and talking about expectations as a team and working together as a family to have success for the season." During batting practice with Jesse Winker, Matt Kemp, and Scott Schebler, Puig chatted between turns as the group kept track of points while competing. Puig hit a couple of long balls that cleared the fence in left field. Reds manager David Bell also sensed Puig's happiness and upbeat personality. "He has a lot of energy, and he's been interacting with players, coaches, a lot of people," Bell said. "It's been great because you don't really know guys until they get here. You get to know them a little bit. He's very positive. It's been great to have him around." Puig, 28, batted .267/.327/.494 with 23 home runs and 63 RBIs over 125 games last season for the Dodgers while being worth 2.7 WAR. Because Puig struggled vs. left-handed pitchers the past couple of seasons, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was prone to use a reverse platoon in right field. In 2018, Puig batted .209 with a .360 slugging percentage vs. left- handers, while he batted .297 with a .564 slugging against righties. Puig admitted Roberts' decision bothered him. "When I have opportunities like I had in the playoffs to face lefties last year, I can hit lefties and I can hit righties," Puig said. "But from the bench, you can't hit nobody. Then in the seventh inning, he wants you to be the hero. And you can't be the hero because from the beginning, he doesn't trust you to have a good game that day." Bell has not sorted out Cincinnati's corner outfield plans, with Winker, Kemp and Schebler in the mix. Mainly a right fielder, Puig could get time in center field depending on whether top prospect Nick Senzel can earn the regular spot there. "That's not my decision. But also, I can play every day," Puig said. "When I play every day, I can help my team win more games. I can help myself to be a better baseball player, because I'll have more opportunities to face lefties and righties -- no matter who is pitching that day." A free agent after this season, Puig is preparing to have a big year as he forges a new life on a new team in a new city. "I need to have my best season ever and next year have a new contract. I don't know where I'm going to be. I'm going to do the best I can this year," Puig said. Would he be willing to stay longer? "I don't know. You can ask the GM if he wants to sign me," Puig replied. "If he signs, gives me the money, I will be here as many years as he wants. I love Ohio. This is my color. I love red." Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. Bell facing tough decisions for OF alignment Starting center-field job up for grabs; Kemp unlikely to play first base By Mark Sheldon MLB.com @m_sheldon Feb. 18th, 2019 GOODYEAR, Ariz. -- Reds manager David Bell has great corner outfield depth, but he doesn't have a regular center fielder. Determining who will get to play where and sorting out the logjam should be a challenge for Bell in his first season as a skipper in the big leagues. Five players are in the mix for the three spots -- Yasiel Puig, Jesse Winker, Scott Schebler, Matt Kemp and top prospect Nick Senzel. "At some point, we may get to where we have to make tough decisions," Bell said on Monday ahead of Cincinnati's first full-squad workout. "For now, I really do believe it's such a plus to have these guys. I really do believe those things do work themselves out in a lot of different ways." Bell hasn't tipped his hand on which way he's leaning. "I'm looking forward to making tough decisions based on the fact that we have a lot of guys who can contribute every single day," Bell said. "That's how I'm looking at it now. It's a plus to have these guys. They'll all want to play. That's how it should be." The big domino that could decide the rest of the decisions is Senzel. Ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the organization and sixth overall by MLB Pipeline, he is competing for the everyday spot in center field. A natural infielder, Senzel is actively learning a new position. "That is a factor for sure," Bell said. "He's such an important part of our organization. We all know he has a bright future. It will be important to make the right decision for our team, but also the best decision for him." Another complication is that Winker is still one of the team's best young hitters and would benefit greatly from getting 500 at-bats this season. "He does need to continue to develop, but we want him to contribute at that level and as an everyday player," Bell said of Winker. "Again, it's challenging having a lot of guys that can contribute, but I'm confident that it will work out. I really am. He's going to be a big part of what we're doing." Kemp at first base unlikely Kemp is a three-time All-Star outfielder. But without a firm spot on the field, as of now, could he be an option to play first base when Joey Votto needs a break? Bell didn't seem keen on that idea. "We hope Joey plays every day for the most part, but I think there's going to be some thought to making sure he's strong all the way through," Bell said. "Matt Kemp has never played there. I know we talk about moving positions a lot and try to talk about how possible it is because I believe that, but that's a tough thing. At this point in his career, to have never played the position, that would be a big ask." Senzel changes agents MLB.com learned on Monday that Senzel has ended his relationship with agent Scott Boras and signed with the Wasserman Group and agent Joel Wolfe. Senzel has been with Boras since he was the second overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, and it was the only meeting he took at the time because some of his teammates were also signing with the Boras Corporation. "There's no hard feelings. I wanted to see what else was out there," Senzel said. "I found a group that I really like and heard great things about. I made the decision to switch." Senzel, 23, is expected to make his big league debut in 2019. At some point soon, he could be looking for a multiyear contract. "I know they've done really good work," Senzel said. "I'm not thinking about that. It was my decision. I felt like it was the best decision at this time to do that." Mark Sheldon has covered the Reds for MLB.com since 2006, and previously covered the Twins from 2001-05. Follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon and Facebook and listen to his podcast. 30 intriguing position battles -- 1 for each team MLB.com Feb. 18th, 2019 Stars might put fans in the seats, but baseball is a sport that rewards the most complete clubs. That's what makes Spring Training more than a series of exhibitions; big league jobs are on the line, and they could end up having a major impact on the season-end standings. The next five weeks will see lots of shuffling on Major League rosters. Here are the most intriguing positional battles on each of the 30 MLB clubs. Reds: Center field By far the most interesting position battle on the Reds will be who becomes their regular center fielder. After non- tendering Billy Hamilton, the front office looked at the trade and free-agent market but did not make an acquisition, choosing instead to look in-house. Scott Schebler and Yasiel Puig -- both natural corner outfielders -- have some experience in center field. Then there is No. 1 prospect Nick Senzel (No. 6 overall according to MLB Pipeline), an infielder who is learning center field and competing for the job simultaneously.

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