As of now, his name is in the mix for the fifth starter spot. Bailey, a former top prospect, should have been a fixture in the rotation by now. It's a sign of how much things have changed that he is only one of several candidates for the last spot. Often resistant to mix in offspeed pitches, Bailey found out how hittable his low-to-mid-90s fastball was in the Majors.

Bailey has put himself in a corner he'll need to work his way out of -- a chore that is mostly mental. The 22-year-old was 4-7 with a 4.77 ERA in 19 games with Triple-A Louisville but had no regular-season wins after April 30 in the Majors and Minors (21-game winless streak). He was 0-6 with a 7.93 ERA in eight starts with the Reds. Personally, I wouldn't be shocked if the club tried to move Bailey this winter. He still has quality stuff, and maybe the change of scenery would help him and a deal could help the Reds plug holes elsewhere.

Will right fielder Jay Bruce be handed a starting job in 2009, or are the Reds considering other options?
-- Greg J., Maineville, Ohio

As far as next year's everyday lineup, there should be only three stone-cold locks as of now. Joey Votto will be at first base, Brandon Phillips will be at second base and Bruce will be the right fielder. Bruce had an up-and-down rookie season while batting .254 in 108 games with 21 home runs and 52 RBIs, but he was more than good enough to warrant a place in next year's lineup. He'll have to work on plate discipline to cut down on his strikeouts (110 in 2008).

I believe the starting rotation will be better in 2009. The bullpen has some questions. I think the Reds are a home run-hitting right-handed bat away from success. Take away the last week of 2008. The Reds were a good ballclub. What are your thoughts?
-- Ross W., Cincinnati

My first thought is we must have watched two different teams play. One good right-handed bat doesn't fix everything that led to this season's 74-88 record. The Reds were ranked 16th out of 16 National League teams with a .247 team batting average. They were 12th in runs scored. They were near the bottom in fielding and made a lot of baserunning mistakes. The starting five led the NL rotations in home runs allowed and notched only two complete games -- both near the end of the season.

There is definitely a lot to like about the Reds heading into next year -- the rotation and solid young core among them. But until they clean up the fundamentals by catching the ball consistently, being smarter on the bases and hitting in the clutch, it doesn't matter who becomes the new right-handed-hitting left fielder.

Have a question about the Reds? E-mail your query to MLB.com Reds beat reporter Mark Sheldon for possible inclusion in a future Inbox column. Letters may be edited for brevity, length and/or content. First Name, Last Initial: Hometown: Email Address: Question:

I would really like the Reds to make a run for shortstop Rafael Furcal and another bullpen guy.
-- Sean C., Louisville, Ky.

Furcal, who made $13 million this season for the Dodgers, would be a redundant asset if Alex Gonzalez is healthy. Gonzalez is also due to make $5.375 million next season. Jeff Keppinger is a capable Plan B there (see next question). As for the bullpen, a lot will depend on what the Reds do with their own free agents -- David Weathers, Jeremy Affeldt and Mike Lincoln. If those three are all re-signed, the bullpen should be in pretty good shape.

Who do you think will be the starting shortstop in 2009? I like Keppinger, but I do not think he is the everyday player we need at that position. Does Gonzalez get his spot back or perhaps Jerry Hairston Jr.?
-- Andy R., Cincinnati

If he's 100 percent healthy after he missed all of this season, Gonzalez will likely be the everyday shortstop next year. But I wouldn't dismiss Keppinger. He was batting over .300 and playing decent defense before he fractured his kneecap in May. After he returned ahead of schedule, Keppinger never fully regained his leg strength, and that was what led to less offensive production and mistakes in the field.

What are the chances of the Reds getting Mike Cameron back? Cameron has good speed, great defense and can hit 20-30 homers. The Reds need a right-handed batter with some pop.
-- Jimmy C., Jensen Beach, Fla.

And he can lead off, too. Cameron would be the right kind of fit since he can hit and play defense. But the Brewers still hold a $10 million club option on his services for 2009.

Honestly, I personally am not at all interested in Pat Burrell coming to the Reds via free agency. But I just have a feeling that he is the kind of guy that the Reds would sign as a "key addition." Yes, he has had a better year by his standards, but he basically is Adam Dunn from the right side.
-- Tyler B., Columbus

My friend, Jason, used the same Dunn comparison the other day, and I thought that was pretty accurate. Except, Burrell has never hit 40 homers in a season like Dunn has accomplished in each of the last five seasons.

Why did the Reds let reliever Grant Balfour go? I know he was hurt while he was here, but did they not see any potential in him? Just thinking about a bullpen that has Balfour, Weathers, Jared Burton, Bill Bray and Francisco Cordero really makes me wish they had kept him on the roster.
-- Jonathan S., Pensacola, Fla.

Hindsight is great, isn't it? Now with the Rays, Balfour is burning up radar guns with 96-97 mph pitches and had a good year. Signed while still recovering from both major shoulder and elbow surgeries, he spent all of 2006 with the Reds on the DL and never threw a pitch in the Majors. It was a $400,000 gamble by former GM Dan O'Brien. Too bad for Cincinnati that it paid off two years later for a different team.

Hey Mark, hate to be the guy who e-mails to correct something, but Votto was drafted in 2002. That would've been in the Jim Bowden era. I'm sure you've already been told, but just in case. Thanks.
-- Seth M., Price Hill, Ohio

You are correct, and I got that fact wrong in last week's mailbag. He was a Bowden pick and not drafted by O'Brien. I apologize for the mistake. Votto was a second-round selection by the Reds in the 2002 Draft.