Projected batting order Adam Dunn, LF Barry Larkin, SS Aaron Boone, 2B Ken Griffey Jr., CF Austin Kearns, RF Sean Casey, 1B Brandon Larson, 3B Jason LaRue, C Rotation Jimmy Haynes, RHP Ryan Dempster, RHP Danny Graves, RHP Paul Wilson, RHP Chris Reitsma, RHP Bench Russell Branyan, INF/OF Reggie Taylor, OF Wilton Guerrero, INF Jose Guillen, OF Felipe Lopez, INF Bullpen Scott Williamson, RHP (CL) John Riedling, RHP Scott Sullivan, RHP Gabe White, LHP Felix Heredia, LHP Complete Reds roster  ESPN's Take Q: Assuming the offense produces as expected (a healthy Griffey, Dunn, Boone, Casey), is there enough starting pitching to compete with the Cardinals and Astros? Adding former closer Danny Graves to the starting rotation should put the Reds around .500 again this year. The Reds' new home, Great American Ballpark, is the best addition to baseball in 2003. Built in the hopes that Ken Griffey Jr. will challenge Hank Aaron's home run record, it now looks like the only chasing will be the armored trucks that deliver his pay checks. -- Rob Dibble Is Danny Graves the next Derek Lowe, or just a five-inning starter likely to hurt his arm? Graves might have the stamina, but he's a lot more valuable getting 30 saves than winning 10 games. Based on how many games Elmer Dessens won last year, it would seem even 10 might be a stretch. The Reds could have one of the top fantasy lineups in the game. Lost in that group will likely be Brandon Larson, who showed a lot of minor-league power and now has his chance to play every day. He's low in the batting order, but could be hitting cleanup if he shows that 30-100 pop. -- Eric Karabell Wily Mo Pena, OF Was traded to the Reds by the Yankees in the Drew Henson deal. The 21-year-old is often compared to Sammy Sosa at the same stage of their careers. He struggles with strikeouts, but may have to learn to be a better contact hitter on the fly. In his contract, Pena has to be on the 25-man roster or be exposed to waivers.

Manager: Bob Boone  Home: Great American Ballpark (42,060)  '02 record: 78-84  Team page | Schedule | Offseason moves

Catcher: Jason LaRue Reached double digits in homers for the second straight year (12), while driving in a career-high 52 runs. It's his defense that makes him valuable. LaRue threw out a major-league best 45.2 percent of baserunners last year. First Base: Sean Casey Is coming off his worst season in the majors, hitting .261 with sox HR and 42 RBI. He battled a left shoulder injury all of last season and finally had surgery in September. The Reds need him to become the player he was in 1999, when he hit .332 had 25 homers and 99 RBI. Second Base: Aaron Boone Makes the transition from third base to second. The coach's son surprised everyone with his balance of power and speed, hitting 26 homers and stealing 32 bases. A 30-HR season is not out of the question especially hitting in front of Ken Griffey Jr. He needs to improve his .241 batting average. Third Base: Brandon Larson Is being asked to live up to the hype. Boone was moved to second to make room for this highly touted prospect. Last year, rookie third basemen Sean Burroughs (Padres), Hank Blaylock (Rangers), and Morgan Ensberg (Astros) couldn't hold the job. Don't expect the same from Larson, who is having a monster spring. Shortstop: Barry Larkin Turns 39 in April. Larkin is coming off his second straight injury-plagued season. His OBP fell below .300 and he could never gain any consistency at the plate. He is in his contract year and unless he has a season from the mid-'90s, this could be it for the long time Reds captain. Left Field: Adam Dunn Is known in the clubhouse as "The Big Donkey." Can Big Donkey really be leading off? Manager Bob Boone is flirting with the possibility of letting the 6-6 Texan set the table. Twenty-six home runs is certainly great for a leadoff guy, but maybe 170 strikeouts will change Boone's mind? Center Field: Ken Griffey Jr. Has shown this spring that his bum hammy can handle the trot. Griffey is the biggest question mark the Reds have this season. Spring training proved that he is still an elite hitter, but what happens when he tries to stretch a single into a double? If he can hit 40 homers, the NL Central pitchers should fear the Reds lineup. Right Field: Austin Kearns Had surgery on March 10 to remove bone chips from his left elbow, but is expected to be ready for Opening Day. The Reds are hoping he can build off his .315, 13 HR 56 RBI season in just 372 AB. He could have a breakout year with a lot of RBI chances hitting behind Griffey. No. 1 Starter: Jimmy Haynes Went from a 17-loss season in 2001 to 15 wins last year. He set a career high for games started and wins. The question is whether last year was an aberration or has Haynes learned to pitch with some consistency? The ace of a rotation is a tough spot to ask such a question. No. 2 Starter: Ryan Dempster Was the opposite of Haynes. After a 15-win season in 2001, the Reds acquired him from the Marlins last July, in hopes of making a playoff run. Dempster went 5-5 with a 6.18 ERA with the Reds, finishing the year with 13 losses. He has a 95-mph fastball, but needs to work on his control (93 BB). No. 3 Starter: Danny Graves Is looking to make the Derek Lowe transition. Graves had 32 saves last season, but the interesting number is the 98 IP, most by a closer. Graves was also 7-3 with a 3.19 ERA. The problem may be that Lowe made the transition look too easy. Graves has been hammered this spring and still has not found a comfortable windup. No. 4 Starter: Paul Wilson/Chris Reitsma Are a couple of 6-12 pitchers looking for a spot in the rotation. Yes, it is that Paul Wilson, formally of Generation K with the Mets. He actually pitched better than his record indicated, but that is what playing for the Devil Rays will do for you. Reitsma also got a bad deal, posting a 3.64 ERA. Bullpen: John Riedling, Scott Sullivan, Gabe White, Felix Heredia The Reds feel that their bullpen could handle the loss of Graves to the rotation because of its depth. The pen finished third in the league with 31 wins. With holes in the rotation, these middle-relief guys may be asked to work more innings than expected. The key will be Riedling, who had a .234 BAA and eight holds. Sullivan has to improve on a 6.06 ERA. Closer: Scott Williamson Returns to the role that earned him NL Rookie of the Year honors in 1999. He had 12 wins and 19 saves that season, but tried to attempt what Graves is doing this season. His stuff is more geared toward the closer's role as opponents hit .181 against him, while he averaged more than 10 strikeouts per nine innings.

-- Matt Pike, ESPN The Magazine

Record: 78-84 | Finish: 3rd in NL Central | Results | Statistics: Batting | Pitching Offense (NL rank) Defense (NL rank) 709 runs (9th) Home: 382 (6th) Road: 327 (13th) 774 runs allowed (13th) Home: 416 (15th) Road: 358 (7th) 2002 Stats Leaders   Average: Todd Walker, .299 Runs: Adam Dunn, 84 On-base pct: Dunn, .400 Stolen bases:Aaron Boone, 29 Wins: Jimmy Haynes, 15 Saves: Danny Graves, 32 Home runs: Dunn/Boone, 26 RBI: Boone, 87 Slugging pct.: Dunn, .454 OPS: Dunn, .854 ERA: Elmer Dessens, 3.03 Strikeouts: Haynes, 126