The Reds' spring training camp will be its smallest in more than a decade - and that's good, manager Jack McKeon said, because there aren't a lot of questions about who will make the squad.
The team announced Friday 46 players would attend major-league camp in Sarasota, Fla., which begins Feb. 12 when pitchers and catchers report. It will be the smallest Reds camp since 45 players attended in 1987.
''It's been like a tryout camp in the past, there were so many guys,'' McKeon said Friday. ''Outside of the pitching staff, we're pretty set in our ideas on who's got a chance to make the ballclub.''
In other words, players like outfielders Chris Stynes and Jon Nunnally need good springs to retain their starting positions, but they're not going to get beat out for a roster spot by a guy who played in Class A last year.
''It's healthy for us to have a small camp,'' General Manager Jim Bowden said. ''It's good for the players because they're going to get a lot of playing time.''
McKeon said the 46 players who will attend is actually not that small.
''I've had camps with 41, 42 guys before,'' said McKeon, who has managed with three other teams but enters his first spring as Reds manager. ''I don't think I've ever had a camp with more than 45 guys.''
The Reds invited 49 players to major-league camp, but three will not report. Outfielder Deion Sanders is not expected to play this year, while pitcher Justin Atchley and catcher Justin Towle are recovering from shoulder injuries.
Nine non-roster invitees include pitcher Jose Rijo, infielder Brandon Larson and outfielder Steve Gibralter.
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