DEPARTURES: LHP Jeremy Affeldt (free agent, signed with Giants), INF/OF Ryan Freel (traded to Orioles) , CF Corey Patterson (free agent, signed minor league deal with Nationals), INF Andy Phillips (free agent, signed minor league deal with Pirates), RHP Gary Majewski (non-tendered, signed minor league deal with Phillies), RHP Matt Belisle (non-tendered, signed minor league deal with Rockies), C Paul Bako (free agent, signed with Cubs), RHP Josh Fogg (free agent, signed minor league deal with Rockies), C Javier Valentin (free agent, signed minor league deal with Nationals).

SPRING FOCUS: The club is still searching for a starting left fielder, with rookie Chris Dickerson in the lead, although Jerry Hairston Jr., Jonny Gomes or Jacque Jones could win it. SS Alex Gonzalez missed all of last season with a fractured knee and is said to be ready, but the club will watch him closely. If he isn't ready, the job could fall to Hairston.

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Edinson Volquez

2. RHP Aaron Harang

3. RHP Bronson Arroyo

4. RHP Johnny Cueto

5. RHP Micah Owings

The rotation is all right-handed, with the top four spots a certainty and Owings a maybe. The other legitimate candidate, also right-handed, is Homer Bailey, with RHPs Daryl Thompson and Ramon Ramirez ready to step in at the first sign of shakiness above them.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Francisco Cordero (closer)

RHP David Weathers

LHP Arthur Rhodes

RHP Mike Lincoln

LHP Bill Bray

RHP Jared Burton

The signing of Rhodes gives the Reds a left-right punch in the setup role, with Rhodes and Weathers. The club lost workhorse LHP Jeremy Affeldt to free agency, but Burton, beset by injuries last year, appears ready to take over that role. Along with the starting staff, the bullpen seems in capable hands and pitching should not be a problem, especially with Cordero at the back end.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. CF Willy Taveras

2. SS Alex Gonzalez

3. RF Jay Bruce

4. 2B Brandon Phillips

5. 1B Joey Votto

6. 3B Edwin Encarnacion

7. LF Chris Dickerson

8. C Ramon Hernandez

Even with a park suited to home runs, manager Dusty Baker is changing course, eschewing power for an offense he hopes will produce runs, especially with base-stealing Taveras at the top. Power could still come from Phillips, with help from Bruce and Votto, who showed in their rookie 2008 seasons that they have pop in their bats.

PROJECTED RESERVES:

C Ryan Hanigan

INF Jerry Hairston Jr.

INF Jeff Keppinger

OF Jonny Gomes or OF Jacque Jones

1B Daryle Ward

The bench is a major concern and three of the top candidates -- Gomes, Jones, Ward -- are in camp on minor league contracts and must make the team. Hanigan caught regularly in September and could take the starting spot, while Hairston is the most versatile of the group, able to play all three outfield spots, plus second, short and third.

TOP ROOKIES: RHP Daryl Thompson, 23, was 5-0 with a 2.76 ERA in seven starts at Class AAA Louisville, and he was 0-2 with a 6.91 ERA in three starts for the Reds last year. He is a prime contender for the fifth starting spot.

If SS Alex Gonzalez isn't able to come back from missing a full season, Paul Janish, 26, has a big-league glove ... but no bat. He batted only .252 at Louisville last year and only .188 in 80 at-bats with the Reds last season.

MEDICAL WATCH:

SS Alex Gonzalez (left knee surgery in July 2008) missed all of last season, but he is expected back at full strength.

2B Brandon Phillips (right index finger surgery in September 2008) will play with two pins holding the finger together.

OF Chris Dickerson (left ankle surgery in September 2008) is fully recovered after a piece of bone was removed following a stress fracture.