Raisel Iglesias’ planned move to the bullpen should make the Cincinnati Reds‘ pitching staff stronger one way or another.
Ideally, the move will help strengthen the shoulder of the 26-year-old right-hander so that he can rejoin the rotation next year. Iglesias has the potential to be the next Johnny Cueto for the Reds as a starter.
But if Iglesias can’t strengthen enough to try to fill Cueto’s shoes in the rotation, he might turn out to be the next Aroldis Chapman as the Reds’ solution for a viable closer.
Iglesias is much more like Cueto than Chapman as a pitcher. He has a full repertoire of pitches and throws from varied arm angles to further keep hitters off balance. Iglesias won’t hit 100 mph the way Chapman does, but he he would be a better choice as Reds’ closer than either Michael Lorenzen or Tony Cingrani if he just physically can’t make it as a starter.
The pivotal role that Iglesias fills will determine the Reds’ rotation in 2017. With Iglesias as a starter, the Reds’ rotation becomes potentially formidable with him, Homer Bailey, Anthony DeSclafani, Cody Reed and Robert Stephenson.
With Iglesias as closer, the Reds’ rotation loses some of its luster, but the bullpen is much better off with the former Cuban reliever. Igleisas as closer would open up a rotation spot for Brandon Finnegan, Dan Straily or possibly Lorenzen.
Iglesias made just five starts this year before his shoulder issues forced him out of action. He has a career 4.00 ERA in 123.2 innings in his two years with the Reds. He has a strikeout rate of 9.7 per nine innings.
Iglesias will cost the Reds just $3.5 million in salary in 2017 plus another $1.5 million in bonus money after this year. He’s set to make $4.5 million in 2018 unless he becomes salary arbitration eligible by then and opts out of his contract to file for arbitration.
Regardless of the role Iglesias has, the decision to sign him still could be an exceptional bargain for the Reds if Iglesias can just stay healthy enough to pitch a full season.
Robb Hoff writes about the Cincinnati Reds for OutsidePitch MLB. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook.
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