With the trade of Aroldis Chapman this winter, a closer opening emerged for the Cincinnati Reds. Now, it looks like right-hander J.J. Hoover will fill the role.
"If the season started today, it would definitely be Hoover," Reds manager Bryan Price told reporters, including Mark Sheldon of MLB.com. "What we haven't identified yet is who is going to get us to Hoover."
Given his consistency -- three years with an ERA under 3.00 in his four major league seasons -- and his experience as the primary setup man for Chapman in 2015, Hoover's ascension to the closer role is unsurprising. As Price indicated, Cincinnati's group of relievers features plenty of unknowns. Tony Cingrani appears guaranteed a spot in the bullpen but beyond him and Hoover there are no clear options.
Among the names competing this spring are Jumbo Diaz, Keyvius Sampson, Blake Wood, Pedro Villarreal and a handful of others. With so many names in the mix, Price says that he'll be looking for a few guys to separate themselves from the pack over the next two weeks.
"There's a lot of guys on that board I have a great deal of admiration for in regards to their stuff and their physical ability, but it's really getting to be time now where we have to see the performance," Price said. "We're getting a good outing, and then we're getting an outing where they're struggling, or walks, or pitching behind, and it is kind of nut-cutting time. It's time for these guys to really take spots in our bullpen. It is going to be based largely on performance."
