Reds Cut Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Hermida Roster Takes Shape

The Reds reassigned Dontrelle Willis and Jeremy Hermida to the minor league camp.

Willis was the sentimental favorite to make the team but his last two appearances were awful.   Coming into camp the still young at 29 lefthander was struggling with control.  In his first five outings he walked three in 6 1/3 innings and allowed just two earned runs.

In his last two outings, he walked five and allowed eight runs in 3 1/3 innings.

"He had the team made until a week to 10 days ago but he regressed," Dusty Baker said.

Willis will go to Louisville to work out his control problems.  "Plus we have to stretch him out to be a starter," Baker said.  Johnny Cueto and Homer Bailey will start the season on the DL.  Bronson Arroyo is battling mononucleosis.  All of a sudden the Reds starting pitching depth has been tapped.

Hermida had a good spring at the plate.  He hit .342 with three home runs and six RBI but is not among the best defensive outfielders.  He will try to find a big league job somewhere.

"It was tough to tell Hermida.  He had a great spring.  If he can find a big league job somewhere, we're not going to stand in his way," Baker said.

Fred Lewis tweaked his side on Saturday against the San Francisco Giants in which he hit a three-run home run.  He will be analyzed by doctors.

Lewis is out of options and has a $900, 000 contract.  It sounds like the DL for Lewis.

It appears that Juan Francisco will make the team.  He is a thirdbaseman but will play firstbase today and will see work in the outfield.  Francisco's bat has come alive recently.  He hit a home run against San Francisco's Tim Lincecum on Saturday.

"We're in a situation where we have to get Scott Rolen through the cold weather with his neck and back," Baker said.  "Francisco has gotten better on defense.  We can use him in the outfield if the situation calls for it. We can use his sock (power) too."

The Reds have just 28 players in camp, including non-roster catcher Corky Miller.  Ramon Hernandez has been bothered by soreness in his elbow but is in the lineup against the Diamondbacks today.

The Reds have 13 pitchers beside Homer Bailey and Johnny Cueto.  Both of them will start the season on the DL.  Edinson Volquez, Bronson Arroyo, Mike Leake, Travis Wood and Sam LeCure will be the starters.

Francisco Cordero, Nick Masset, Logan Ondrusek, Bill Bray, Aroldis Chapman will be in the bullpen.

The Reds will keep two relievers out of these three, Jose Arredondo, Jared Burton and Matt Maloney.