With Micah Owings on course to grab the No. 5 spot in the starting rotation, Reds manager Dusty Baker was asked if Bailey could pitch in long relief.

"Possibly," said Baker. "That's something we've discussed, and especially if we think it would be better in the long run for him to be pitching or be the fifth starter.

"When I played for the Dodgers, a lot of the top young guys started in long relief before they became starters - Dave Stewart, Bob Welch, Pedro Martinez, Nolan Ryan. A lot of it depends on who has options left, who doesn't. There is a lot to go into these considerations, and it isn't always how well you're pitching."

Bailey has options, but Nick Masset doesn't, and it appears he is no longer in consideration for No. 5 and must pitch in the bullpen, meaning the Reds could trade Masset and keep Bailey, or put Masset in the bullpen and option Bailey.

Dozen sent down

Twelve more players felt the roster chopping knife Tuesday with no surprises:

Pitchers Sam LeCure, Matt Maloney and Robert Manuel were optioned to Class AAA Louisville. Third baseman Juan Francisco was optioned to Class AA Carolina. Sent to minor-league camp for reassignment were RHP James Avery, IF/OF Wes Bankston, 1B Kevin Barker, IF Luis Bolivar, LHP Ben Jukich, C Chris Kroski, LHP Adam Pettyjohn and RHP Jordan Smith.

The roster is at 44, 19 over the Opening Day limit, and when it was mentioned to Baker that the cuts get tougher now, he said, "Yeah, thanks. The last five or 10 are the toughest. That is the part I dread the most - all year, not just in spring training."

Quote(s) of the day

*"When he starts running, he's already in sixth gear." - Coach Eric Davis, talking about Adam Rosales, who plays so much like Pete Rose he is being called Pete Rosales.

* "Erin go brough, my brother." - Baker to Brandon Phillips, who was wearing a kelly green shirt on St. Patrick's Day.