Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds have a multimillion-dollar predicament on their hands.

As spring training approaches, the Cincinnati Reds are eager to prove the doubters wrong and show that last year's down season was just a product of an injury-riddled team.

Cincinnati went 76-86 last season, which put the team in fourth place in the National League Central. It was a disappointing result for a team that entered the season with postseason aspirations.

A long offseason is nearing the end, so it's time to take a look at how the Cincinnati Reds look entering spring training.

During the long offseason, plenty of things happened with the Reds. The team traded key players, added pieces and got healthy. That last part may be the biggest key to the 2015 season.

The 2014 Reds were stung by the injury bug early and often. Injuries to key players throughout the season were too much to overcome and ultimately led to the team missing the playoffs for just the second time in five years.

The Cincinnati Reds have a bevy of medium/high-risk and high-upside prospects in their farm system. Some of these young players will have a chance to showcase their talents against advanced competition at spring training in Goodyear, Arizona.

Devin Mesoraco and the Cincinnati Reds apparently have no interest in fighting each other in the arbitration process. The All-Star catcher agreed Monday to a four-year contract that buys out his three arbitration years and his first year of free agency.       

The Reds confirmed the move:

The Cincinnati Reds' top prospects can be broken down into two groups: outfielders and pitchers.

As you might have guessed, the Reds don’t have a particularly balanced system due to a lack of infield prospects. However, that shouldn’t detract from the fact that they have several players with bright futures in the major leagues.

The dropping of the crystal ball signaled the start of 2015, officially designating the disastrous season of 2014 as last year's news.

When we discuss the Cincinnati Reds from this juncture, we discuss a new product. The Reds lack the potent starting rotation they once had, but they do offer some offensive prowess that many fans have longed for.

If the Cincinnati Reds were holding out hope of Johnny Cueto giving them a hometown discount on an extension, it sounds like they can forget about it.

Dear Santa,

Reds fan here. We haven't been on the greatest of terms since Clinchmas, now over four years ago. Where have you been since? And what's with all the coal in our red stockings?