Joey Votto stands out as Reds focus on the future

As the 2017 fantasy baseball season approaches, we take a look at the biggest news and story lines from each club. We'll feature one team each weekday ... and we'll finish up on Feb. 15, the first day all teams will have their pitchers and catchers on the field for workouts.

The Cincinnati Reds are one of several teams in the middle of a rebuilding effort, even though they still have a few veteran players in the starting lineup who probably won't be around to see the process come to fruition. The pitching staff is still young and unproven, while the offense has a few one-trick ponies -- and one superstar.

2016 at a glance

Record: 68-94 (5th in NL Central)
Hitting: 18th (4.42 R/G)
Pitching: 28th (4.91 ERA)

Arrivals

RP Drew Storen

The Reds have made a number of roster moves this offseason, but most of those have been for organizational depth. The addition of Storen, 29, may be the only one with potential fantasy implications. He saved 95 games in six seasons with the Nationals before being traded last winter. If he shows he can close again, the Reds might look to flip him for younger talent.

Players to watch

1B Joey Votto
OF Adam Duvall
OF Billy Hamilton

No one hit better than Votto did over the second half of the season. After what was, for him, a slow start, Votto posted a ridiculous .408/.490/.668 line with 15 homers and 55 RBI after the All-Star break. And he won't play in the World Baseball Classic because "there were some aspects of my performance in 2016 that I have decided were lacking." Don't expect another slow start in 2017.

Duvall slugged his way to an unlikely All-Star berth and finished with a team-leading 33 homers and 103 RBI. He doesn't walk much and he strikes out a lot, but the power is legit.

Hamilton is one of the most polarizing players in fantasy baseball. He has no power, but there's no denying his incredible speed -- and his fantastic defense will keep him in the lineup. But can he get on base enough to be an effective leadoff man? Well ... from May 27 onward, he hit .276 with a .343 on-base percentage. And it translated into 50 stolen bases in his final 79 games.

Sleepers

OF Scott Schebler 
SS/OF Jose Peraza
SP Dan Straily

After trading Jay Bruce, Schebler stepped into an everyday role in right field. Over the final two months, he hit .290/.357/.461 with eight homers, 32 runs and 32 RBI. He should get a full season of everyday at-bats.

Peraza is frequently compared to Hamilton because of their similar skill set, but Peraza (.324/.352/.411 and 21 SB in 241 AB) is a better hitter. If the Reds are able to trade 2B Brandon Phillips or SS Zack Cozart (and they've tried), Peraza could see his fantasy value skyrocket.

While we're looking at second-half stats, Straily's jump off the page. Here's a list of pitchers who won more games than Straily did after the All-Star break: 1) Rick Porcello. The guy who won the AL Cy Young Award. That's all.

In 15 starts, Straily posted a 10-2 record, 3.10 ERA and 1.14 ERA. Not bad for a guy the Reds picked up last season on waivers. And someone who isn't currently being drafted in the top 300.

Bullpen

Closer: Raisel Iglesias
Next: Drew Storen

A former starter, Iglesias finished the season as the Reds closer -- and their most effective pitcher. However, they really like his ability to pitch more than one inning -- and an Andrew Miller-type role could be in his future. (Ditto for fellow reliever Michael Lorenzen.) That could result in an opportunity for Storen or Tony Cingrani (17 saves in 2016) to close.

This is probably a bullpen where the phrase "draft skills, not roles" is definitely worth heeding.

Position battles

2B Brandon Phillips has blocked several attempts to trade him, preferring to stay in Cincinnati and play out the final year of his contract. Meanwhile, the Reds need to find a way to get Peraza into the lineup, possibly by platooning him with the lefty-swinging Schebler in the outfield.

2B/SS Dilson Herrera (whom they acquired from the Mets in the Bruce trade) is also waiting in the wings, but likely to start in the minors as long as Phillips and Cozart are around.

Prospects

3B Nick Senzel
OF Jesse Winker
SP Amir Garrett

The Reds have a decent amount of minor league talent who could reach the majors by next season. Right-hander Robert Stephenson could even open the season in the starting rotation. BaseballHQ.com recently profiled the organization's top five prospects.

Top 5 Reds prospects: Still waiting on Winker, Stephenson

Projected batting order

1. CF Billy Hamilton
2. 2B Brandon Phillips
3. 1B Joey Votto
4. LF Adam Duvall
5. RF Scott Schebler
6. 3B Eugenio Suarez
7. C Devin Mesoraco
8. SS Zack Cozart

Projected rotation

1. RHP Homer Bailey
2. RHP Anthony DeSclafani
3. RHP Dan Straily
4. LHP Brandon Finnegan
5. RHP Robert Stephenson