Major League Baseball

Reds moves are minor deal

Published Apr. 2, 2010 2:29 a.m. ET

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The Cincinnati Reds' plans to slash their spring training roster got pushed back another day.

The Reds made two moves on Thursday, optioning right-hander Carlos Fisher to Triple-A Louisville and reassigning catcher Corky Miller to their minor league camp. They're left with 38 players in camp - 13 over the limit for opening day.

General manager Walt Jocketty had indicated the club would substantially reduce the roster on Thursday. The club wasn't able to tell some of the players about its plans before they left the training complex following a 7-6 win over Texas, so the rest of the moves were put off for another day.

That meant that right-hander Mike Leake and left-hander Travis Wood would have one more night before learning which of them had won the fifth starter's spot and their first promotion to the major leagues.

Part of the delay has been caused by the tight competition for backup jobs and bullpen spots. The starting lineup and the rotation have been set for weeks. Manager Dusty Baker said making the final cuts has been far more difficult this year than in his two previous seasons with the Reds.

``This has been the toughest we've had since I've been here,'' Baker said. ``So that means we're getting better as an organization. (Fifth-year coach) Billy Hatcher said this is the toughest he's seen since he's been here. He said there were times when they were just trying to fill out the roster.''

Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman is expected to start the season in the minors. The left-hander was in the competition for the fifth starter's spot until he developed back spasms that set him back a week. Jocketty said the Reds haven't decided where to send Chapman, who is still learning English and adjusting to professional baseball.

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