Kevin Goldstein published his list of top eleven Red prospects and like everyone knows, there’s some definite heat at the top.  Jay Bruce, Joey Votto and Homer Bailey are all bluechip prospects and they get five stars from Goldstein.  Johnny Cueto gets four stars and those four guys will provide the Reds with a solid base to help rebuild the franchise.  Who knows, the Reds could get a perfect storm of awesome seasons from their rookies with a last hurrah from Ken Griffey, Jr. and make a run at a playoff spot.

Edwin Encarnacion drove in seven runs in a Dominican Winter League game the other day.  After a solid second half in 2007, lets hope that Encarnacion can emerge as the hitter we all know he can be.  Hopefully he can improve his defense a bit and so he’ll become a complete player as well as a team leader.

It looks like the Reds are close to making another addition to the pitching staff as they get closer to a deal with Jeremy Affeldt.  It’s looking like a one year, $3 million deal and while Affeldt has worked mostly out of the pen the past couple of years, the Reds may actually consider him for a spot in the rotation.  I think he’d make a more valuable addition to the bullpen but that still leaves us a starter or two short.

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