As camp opens, Gray still confident in Reds

Amid the Reds' roster changes this offseason, starting pitcher Sonny Gray was glad he wasn’t a player on the move. Gray’s name came up in trade rumors on occasion, but nothing seriously materialized.

“It was frustrating at times ... I’m not going to lie to you,” Gray said from the team’s complex in Goodyear, Ariz. “At the same time, I have no ill feelings toward anything.

“It was nice to be wanted, and it’s nice to be here. I do love it here. I like the people that are here. I like where we’re at. But it can get frustrating, especially when you feel like you’re at a place where you feel like you’re kind of starting to go in a direction.”

On Wednesday as Cincinnati’s pitchers and catchers reported to Spring Training for physicals, Gray was among those eager to get to work and less concerned with what was missing. He was more excited about what’s still there.

“I don't think it was only us; I think it was across the game. I think it's clear as day that there are people that are cutting back all of their expenses,” Gray said. “We still have guys who are incredibly talented and have won and have been a part of this thing. I don't think in any way we should sit back and say, 'OK, we're not capable of winning because we didn't make any major headlines.’”

To save money on their budget, the Reds traded closer Raisel Iglesias to the Angels and non-tendered key players like reliever Archie Bradley and catcher Curt Casali, who was Gray’s close friend and favorite backstop. The team did not aggressively pursue free agents as part of that cost-cutting and allowed reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Trevor Bauer to move on. Bauer signed a blockbuster contract with the Dodgers.

After his team went 31-29 in the shortened 2020 season and reached the playoffs, Reds manager David Bell still believes it is more than possible to keep the momentum going.

“We lost a couple guys, but for the most part, it’s the same group. And it’s the same group that, through great challenges over the last couple years -- especially last year, which all teams had -- really overcame a lot,” Bell said. “There were several times during last season where things could have gone the other way, and guys stayed with it. It was important to our players and to our team to keep going and continue to build a winning environment. It finally showed up the last few weeks of the season.”

The Reds are trying to build off making their first postseason appearance since 2013. It was a short return, as the Braves eliminated them in two games while Cincinnati’s hitters were held scoreless over all 22 innings.

Reliever Lucas Sims is among those who will be competing for the closer role with Iglesias' departure. Sims will be joined by new acquisition Sean Doolittle and Amir Garrett in that battle.

Losing teammates did not diminish the Reds' chances in Sims’ eyes.

“I think it instills a confidence, too, kind of that next man up mentality,” Sims said. “I think we have the personnel and the people. I still think we have the abilities to not just make the playoffs but make a really strong push. Everybody in that clubhouse believes that.”

Many Reds pitchers and catchers arrived in Arizona several days ago and began the quarantine process as the COVID-19 pandemic trudges on. Those who tested negative were permitted to undergo their physicals on Wednesday, with the first official workout scheduled for Thursday.

“It’s been a weird five days out here so I am ready to get a baseball in my hand,” Gray said. “It’s the reason we came out here, to play baseball and get this thing started.”