The Cincinnati Reds went into the offseason with more questions than they’re entering spring training with, which is a good thing for a team coming off a playoff berth.

With Eugenio Suárez in the fold to bolster the lineup, a pair of lefties among the veteran bullpen additions and a healthy roster as pitchers and catchers reported for camp in Goodyear, Ariz. on Monday, there are only a few major questions awaiting manager Terry Francona ahead of his second year as the Reds’ skipper.

During the six-plus weeks of spring training, there are infinite opportunities for things to change, but at least here at the beginning, these three burning questions are more of a slow, subtle burn than an inferno.

1. Who wins the fifth starter spot?

When the most obvious question is who pitches after Hunter Greene, Nick Lodolo, Andrew Abbott and Brady Singer, Francona has to feel pretty good.

And what makes it better is legitimate choices for that fifth spot behind those four — Chase Burns, Rhett Lowder, Brandon Williamson and Julian Aguiar.

Fifth starter candidates

Player

  

Throws

  

Age

  

G

  

GS

  

IP

  

ERA

  

Right

23

13

8

43.1

4.57

Right

23

6

6

30.2

1.17

Left

27

27

26

131.1

4.39

Right

24

7

7

31.2

6.25

If there’s anyone even more excited about that group of names, it’s likely Louisville Bats manager Pat Kelly, who will happily take a group of starters with big-league experience at Triple A.

Both Burns and Lowder made it to the majors a year after the Reds made the right-handers from Wake Forest their first-round picks. Of the four, Burns is the only one to pitch in a big-league game in 2025. Lowder missed the entire season after multiple injuries, while Williamson and Aguiar are coming back from Tommy John surgery.

Burns and Lowder likely have the inside track, but all four pitchers have options. The distinction for everyone but the pitchers themselves and perhaps their agents may be semantic — it would be more surprising if all four (assuming health) didn’t see time in the big leagues this year.

And not only are there those four in camp and likely in Triple A, but Kelly will also have Chase Petty and Jose Franco — both on the 40-man roster — to round out his rotation. Having a full 10 starters on the 40-man roster and nine with options is a real strength.

2. Where does Spencer Steer play?

Francona has said that he expects to be scribbling Spencer Steer’s name into the lineup more days than he doesn’t, but the question is where in the field he’ll play on a given day.

Steer was a Gold Glove finalist at first base last year, his first full-time season at the position, but rookie Sal Stewart’s bat needs to be in the lineup and the designated hitter position is spoken for with the team’s addition of Eugenio Suárez.

In his four seasons in the big league, Steer’s played six defensive positions: shortstop and the corners in both the infield and outfield. First base is Steer’s best defensive position, but as it stands, it seems that he’ll spend much of his time in left field. Steer could also spell Ke’Bryan Hayes at third and Matt McLain at second or play second when Elly De La Cruz gets a day off at short and McLain covers.

With TJ Friedl in center and Noelvi Marte in right, Will Benson and JJ Bleday will be fighting for playing time with Steer in left. What Steer’s versatility allows is for the team to possibly carry both left-handed hitters in Benson and Bleday, in addition to the right-handed hitting outfielder Dane Myers, a true backup outfielder.

3. How do Sal Stewart and Noelvi Marte adjust to their new positions?

Last year at the big-league level, Marte and Stewart saw their most playing time in right field and at first base, respectively. The two combined for 65 appearances, 59 starts and 526 1/3 innings at those positions last year. Stewart — who played first base in a pro game for the first time in Triple-A Louisville last year — played 17 innings at the position in the minors, while Marte never played in the outfield at that level.

Saying both were thrown into the fire is an understatement. Not only were they playing those positions for the first time on the big-league stage, they also started a playoff game at their new positions.

Spring training will allow both players to get more familiar with their new positions and get more coaching than is possible during the regular season. Marte will even work some in center field, as well.

Both should improve with more playing time, but time will tell if they improve enough to help the team’s overall defense.