CINCINNATI --- Tired of always waiting until next year, the Reds have made every indication they expect to contend in 2008.

Coming off a 72-90 record for their seventh straight losing season, the club didn't hesitate in signaling its intentions this fall.

First, Cincinnati bucked a longtime trend of hiring managers from within the organization. Owner/CEO Bob Castellini and general manager Wayne Krivsky instead chose a proven big name by picking Dusty Baker on Oct. 14.

Take Baker's penchant for taking teams from pretender to contender in his first season and combine it with the weaker National League Central Division, and the Reds could have reason to be optimistic.

In 1993, Baker and the Giants won 103 games, but finished second, after the team just happened to also be 72-90 the previous year. His 2003 Cubs won 88 games and the NL Central following a 67-95 season in 2002.

Even with Baker, armed with his toothpicks and wearing batting gloves while perched in the Reds dugout, the team can't win without quality players.

Krivsky and the Reds paid big in an effort to fix one of baseball's worst bullpens by signing free agent closer Francisco Cordero to a four-year, $46 million contract with a $12 million option for a fifth year.

Cordero brings 177 career saves to the table, include 44 with the Brewers in 2007. But his addition wasn't just about the ninth inning -- it also settled myriad issues with the seventh and eighth innings too.

Reds relievers posted a 23-31 record in 2007 with a league-high 5.13 ERA while converting 34 of 61 saves. One bright spot was last season's closer, David Weathers, who had 33 of those saves. Lots of games were lost before getting to Weathers. Reds opponents scored 123 eighth-innings runs in 2007, which was more than in any other inning. Cordero's addition means Weathers moves to a set-up role with Jared Burton, who was a promising rookie that blossomed in the second half of the season.

Now it will be up to guys like Todd Coffey, Bill Bray, Gary Majewski and Jon Coutlangus to also step up and give the Reds a chance to hold leads in the late innings.

	Season in Preview A lot can change by Opening Day, but as 2007 becomes 2008, this is who is projected to take the field for the Reds:
	CF	Ryan Freel
	SS	Alex Gonzalez
	CF	Ken Griffey Jr.
	2B	Brandon Phillips
	LF	Adam Dunn
	3B	Edwin Encarnacion
	1B	Joey Votto
	C	David Ross
	SP	Aaron Harang
	SP	Bronson Arroyo
	SP	Matt Belisle
	SP	Homer Bailey
	SP	Edinson Volquez
	CL	Francisco Cordero
	Schedules: Regular season Tickets: Regular season More previews: Select a team MLB Angels Astros Athletics Blue Jays Braves Brewers Cardinals Cubs D-backs Dodgers Giants Indians Mariners Marlins Mets Nationals Orioles Padres Phillies Pirates Rangers RaysRed Sox Reds Rockies Royals Tigers Twins White Sox Yankees

The Reds still want to make upgrades in a rotation that lacks depth. Aaron Harang has won 16 games in back-to-back seasons and was the only consistent starter the team had. Bronson Arroyo crossed 200 innings again, but had an up-and-down year.

After the top two, Matt Belisle was inconsistent in his first year after converting from reliever to starter. Homer Bailey was the top pitching prospect when he debuted in June, but didn't establish himself in the Majors. Bailey will have the inside track on the fourth spot for now, but is not assured to go north from Spring Training. The fifth spot is still wide open. Another top prospect, Johnny Cueto, will be in camp as a non-roster invite, but is expected to get more seasoning in Triple-A.

Krivsky has made efforts to land a top-tier starter via trade but has yet to find a match. Teams are targeting the organization's prime prospects in return (ie: Jay Bruce). The Reds did part with another promising outfielder in Josh Hamilton, who was dealt to the Rangers Dec. 21 for right-hander Edinson Volquez.

Volquez, a young right-hander like Bailey and Cueto, isn't Major League established yet. But the 24-year-old is expected to be part of the rotation.

Expect Cincinnati to scour the free agent market for a veteran that can be slotted into rotation and add experience.

Either way, the retooling shouldn't be finished if Baker's first season with the Reds is to be a competitive one.

Grading on a curve: Outside of the Cordero acquisition, the Reds have yet to get the additional starter they need. Castellini has shown a willingness to spend and an itch to win now. Look for the Reds to get an arm somehow -- but that work remains unfinished. Give the Reds' offseason work a grade of six on a scale of one to 10.

Arrivals: RHP Cordero, RHP Volquez, RHP Sergio Valenzuela (Rule 5 pick), manager Baker.

Departures: OF Josh Hamilton, RHP Kirk Saarloos, OF Jason Ellison, OF Buck Coats, LHP Eddie Guardado, LHP Eric Milton, 1B Jorge Cantu.

The Road Ahead: The Reds will continue to strike the balance of trying to win now without parting with too many of its best cadre of prospects in years. How that decision is made will be evident at the type of starting pitcher acquired -- will it be a top-end arm in a trade with another club in exchange for more promising players? Or, will they go the free agent route and add a couple of guys that will compete in Spring Training?