Price: Paul Maholm or Jason Marquis could make rotation

GOODYEAR, Ariz. — When Reds manager Bryan Price was asked about left-hander Paul Maholm this morning, Price made it sound like there's a good chance either Maholm or veteran right-hander Jason Marquis will be in the rotation if Homer Bailey isn't ready for the start of the season.

Price has said all along that left-hander Tony Cingrani and right-hander Anthony DeSclafani are the top two candidates to join Bailey, Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake in the rotation. But Bailey is behind because he's coming off elbow surgery. It's unlikely that he'll be ready for the first time through the rotation.

Maholm, 32, is 77-100 with a 4.30 ERA in the majors – almost all as a starter. He made 22 of his career 23 relief appearances last year for the Los Angles Dodgers.

"No. 1, he's looked great in his bullpens and live batting practice. No. 2, the experience factor. He's played on some good teams in Atlanta and L.A., and we have a need for starting pitchers," Price said. "We still have a question mark on when Homer is going to be ready. We've got a question mark at (the fourth and fifth spots). I'm confident that the two Anthonys are going to be able to do that job and do it well. But we're going to need that type of depth. Paul is right in the middle of it, as are Marquis and (David) Holmberg and these other starters are competing for a spot in the rotation.

"An example would be if Homer is not able to go. If we're healthy, that means Cueto and Leake and three spots in the rotation – two that we think could potentially be filled by young pitchers in Cingrani and DeSclafani. That to me suggests that a veteran guy in that other spot would be fairly important, someone who knows how to manage a game and has pitched in the league and has had success in the league.

"I think that's why guys like Jason and Paul are here."