GOODYEAR, Ariz. – The trade of Eugenio Suárez and Jesse Winker to the Mariners on Monday continued to reverberate at the Reds complex on Tuesday. Positionally, it has cleared the way for veteran Mike Moustakas to return to his natural position of third base.

“Obviously, Mike has earned that,” Reds manager David Bell said. “We know what kind of player he is. You lose Geno – huge loss – and you have Mike Moustakas to kind of step right in. He was already factoring in there anyway.”

When the Reds signed Moustakas to a four-year, $64 million contract ahead of the 2020 season, he was slotted to play second base. Injuries and struggles along with the debut of 2021 NL Rookie of the Year Jonathan India have defined his tenure thus far.

The 33-year-old Moustakas has batted .217/.304/.413 with 14 home runs in 106 games for Cincinnati. Last season he missed 85 games due to three stints on the injured list – mainly for a right heel injury and plantar fasciitis on the same foot.

With Moustakas at third base and Suárez and Winker now departed, the pool of potential designated hitters for Cincinnati has changed. It’s possible that catcher Tyler Stephenson or first baseman Joey Votto could get time there, as well as others. It will be used to provide partial rests and create extra at-bats for hitters.

“We will still use it to our advantage, for sure,” Bell said. “It’s still a little early to see … how everything is going to fit together. In general, I still believe that it will be an advantage for our team, and we will use it in a smart way.”

Dunn arrives, slightly behind
One of the players acquired from Seattle, right-handed starting pitcher Justin Dunn, worked to get comfortable in his new surroundings on Tuesday.

“Coming up through the system, I actually faced a good number of these guys in the Minors when I was with the Mets in the Florida State League,” Dunn said. “I’m glad I don’t have to face them anymore.”

Dunn played with Jake Bauers in Seattle and Art Warren in the Minors and faced Nick Senzel and Jonathan India while at Boston College.

Dunn, 26, was 5-4 with a 3.94 ERA in 25 career big league starts over parts of three seasons for the Mariners. He’s dealt with command issues at times – including his walking a career-high eight batters in 4 2/3 innings on April 7 vs. the White Sox. But he’s also had strong performances including a career-high nine strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings vs. Detroit on May 18.

Right shoulder inflammation put Dunn on the IL and he did not pitch after June 17. He’s been putting the finishing touches on his rehab. He’s been long tossing and could get work from a bullpen mound next week.

“It’s been a long process for sure, one that’s hopefully ending soon,” Dunn said. “I’m just a little behind some of the guys. We’ll take it slow and make sure it’s done really well. I’m itching to play and show what I can do.”

All present and accounted for
The final two members of the Spring Training roster, rotation ace Luis Castillo and shortstop Jose Barrero arrived at camp Tuesday after having travel delays. Both took part in the afternoon workout.

Cincinnati has 60 players in big league camp, including 37 on the 40-man roster.

Team meeting took place Tuesday
Because Monday’s stunning trade of Winker and Suárez happened on the first day of camp, Bell had to scrap the usual first day team meeting. It was moved to Tuesday before the workout.

“We had a team meeting scheduled just a few minutes before the trade happened,” Bell said. “It wasn’t the right timing after we just got that news and out of respect for those two guys. A lot of guys lost a couple of their best friends. Just give it a day and we get back to work today.

“There’s nothing really to say. We live a little bit of an abnormal work life where this kind of stuff happens a lot. You never really get used to it on a personal level, but on a professional level, you have to just because you just have to move on. They’ll always be friends, so we don’t lose that. It creates opportunity. There is so much to be positive about and grateful for that you just find a way to move forward and that’s what we do today.”