Whoa! This is big, giant, wonderful news that’s come entirely out of nowhere!

Joey Votto and the Reds are close to a long-term contract extension. Votto confirmed a report by mlbtraderumors.com.

“I can’t comment till it’s done,” he said. “You’ll have to ask Walt (Jocketty). It’s a gray area. I’ll be much more forthcoming later.”

So the MLB trade rumor site broke the story, but honest-to-goodness, legitimate journalists and Joey Votto have confirmed that the deal is in the works.

This and Opening Day is on Thursday? It’s shaping up to be an excellent start to the season.

The Cincinnati Reds today made a roster cut of sorts when they traded third baseman and slugger Juan Francisco to the Atlanta Braves for right-handed pitcher J. J. Hoover.

Francisco has always had prodigious power, but had a Wily Mo Peña air about him. Tons of power and talent with almost no way of ever achieving it.

In his report on the trade, John Fay also touched on how he didn’t exactly impress the Reds in Spring Training this year.

Francisco was out of options and the Reds were out of patience with him. He came to camp overweight and had not rehabbed from a calf injury to the club’s satisfaction.

“Some of the things weren’t working out the way you want them to,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “Hopefully, he’ll find happiness and get it together in Atlanta. If things go right and go in the proper direction, he could be a force.”

Hoover gives the Reds more pitching depth, as he’s a player with options and both starting and relieving experience. John Sickels wrote a profile on him last year that rated his ceiling as a third or fourth starter.

Hoover has the four classic pitches: fastball, curveball, slider, changeup. His heater is a tick above average in the low 90s, but works well due to the contrast with his secondary pitches. All three of his non-fastball offerings are rated as solid major league average. Although he doesn’t have a genuine plus pitch, none of them are weak, arsenal is diverse, he mixes them well, throws strikes, and has been extremely durable in his career.

That reminds me a lot of Sam LeCure.

For most teams, Hoover would profile as a solid number three or four starter, chewing up innings at a good clip with consistent performance. But the Braves see Hoover’s path to the majors as clearing more quickly in the bullpen, and it is hard to argue with the results so far: he’s been outstanding in that role in Triple-A.

Hoover will be reporting to the Reds’ AAA affiliate, Louisville, but there was no word on what role the Reds will use him in. Regardless, he adds to the team’s depth in the pitching department, which is something you can never have enough of. If you doubt that, just look at the 2011 Reds.

As for Francisco, it’ll be interesting to see if his change of scenery helps at all. He should have some opportunity’s with the Braves’ third basemen out for a little while with injury. Of course, that change of scenery thing never really helped Wily Mo.

The Cincinnati Reds start the season next Thursday, but there are still a few players left to cut from the roster to get down to the required 25.

The pitching staff is likely set. As John Fay notes, there are only 12 healthy pitchers on the roster: Jose Arredondo, Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey, Bill Bray, Aroldis Chapman, Johnny Cueto, Jeff Francis, Mat Latos, Mike Leake, Sam LeCure, Sean Marshall, and Logan Ondrusek.

The Reds almost always carry 12 pitchers, and I don’t think anyone expects 2012 to start off any differently. The only question is, “Who will fill what role?”

Arroyo, Cueto, Latos, and Leake are all locks for the rotation, with the fifth spot coming down to a decision between Bailey, Chapman, and Francis. I’d love to see Chapman make it, but if he doesn’t, the Reds should resist the urge to send him to the bullpen. He needs to start this year, and since it’s his last option year, this is his last chance to learn in the minors. If he makes the rotation, I’d expect both Bailey and Francis to join the bullpen.

As for the real remaining cuts, those will be among the 16 position players. Three have to go.

A lot of the roster is set. The final two spots for positions players will come down to Juan Francisco, Todd Frazier, Willie Harris, Paul Janish and Wilson Valdez. Francisco and Valdez are out of options.

The “out of options” rule says those players will get one last chance, so Francisco and Valdez are in. Paul Janish won’t make it, so it’s really down between Frazier and Harris. I’m hoping Frazier gets the nod.

It was coming down to the wire, but the Cincinnati Reds finally released the schedule of events and entertainment during their opening week of baseball for the 2012 season. The best events encompass an exhibition game the day before opening day, opening day, opening night, and then opening Sunday.

Spring Showcase Exhibition Game – Tuesday, April 3 – Reds vs. Futures, 7:10 p.m. (Gates open at 5 p.m.)

• Batting Practice: Fans can see the Futures team, comprised of the top prospects in Reds minor league system, take batting practice from 5-5:50 p.m., followed by Reds players taking batting practice from 5:50-6:40 p.m. The pregame activities will include live mics on Reds coaches and players as well as broadcasters conducting interviews.
• Autographs: The Reds Futures will be signing autographs from 6-6:30 p.m. on the Terrace Level concourse. Twenty players are scheduled to participate including Billy Hamilton, Neftali Soto, Ryan LaMarre and 2012 first round draft choice Robert Stephenson.
• Ceremonial First Pitch: One lucky fan will be randomly chosen from the crowd on-hand to offer up a ceremonial first pitch at 6:45 p.m.
• Gold Glover: Reds minor league catcher Tucker Barnhart will receive his Rawlings Gold Glove during pregame ceremonies. Barnhart won the award in Rawlings inaugural selection of the Minor Leagues top defensive players at their positions last year.
• Behind-the-scenes access: Fans will have the opportunity to tour the tunnels beneath Great American Ball Park and take a photo in front of the Reds Clubhouse entrance.
• Tickets: All game tickets to the Spring Showcase are deeply discounted and start at $5: reds.com/showcase
• Kids free at HOF: Fans 12 and under get free admission to the Reds Hall of Fame & Museum with a Spring Showcase game ticket.

Opening Day – Thursday, April 5 – Reds vs. Miami Marlins, 4:10p.m. (Gates open at 1:40 p.m.)

• 93rd Findlay Market Opening Day Parade Grand Marshal: Aaron Boone, former Reds infielder and current ESPN broadcaster, will serve as the Grand Marshal of the Findlay Market parade, which begins at 1 p.m.
• Ceremonial First Pitch: Retiring Hamilton County Sheriff Simon L. Leis Jr. will throw out the ceremonial first pitch.
• National Anthem: Award-winning singer/songwriter Rodney Atkins will sing our National Anthem.
• Honorary Captain: U.S. Senator Rob Portman will serve as the Honorary Captain of the Game.
• Game Ball Delivery: Miss Ohio Audrey Bolte will deliver the official Game Ball to the mound during pregame ceremonies.
• Moment of Remembrance: The Reds will honor former owner Carl H. Lindner and local victims of the March tornado outbreak with a special Moment of Remembrance.
• American Flag: U.S. Air Force Active Duty Recruiters from the 338th Recruiting Squadron at Wright Patterson Air Force Base and local Future Airmen will hold the giant American flag during the National Anthem.
• God Bless America: Hamilton Country Sheriff’s Court Service Officers James Whitacre and Jeffrey Whitacre will sing God Bless America during the seventh-inning stretch.
• Take Me Out to the Ball Game: Bob Kevoian from the nationally syndicated “Bob and Tom Show” will lead the crowd in singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game during the seventh-inning stretch.

Opening Night – Saturday, April 7 – Reds vs. Miami Marlins, 7:10 p.m. (Gates open at 5 p.m.)

• First Pitch: Josh Hutcherson, star of “The Hunger Games” and Northern Kentucky native, will throw out a ceremonial first pitch.
• National Anthem: Eben Franckewitz, “American Idol” season 11 contestant and Loveland native, will sing the National Anthem.
• Players in the Fan Zone: Reds players will walk a red carpet in the Fan Zone along with Eben Franckewitz, Miss Ohio Audrey Bolte and Miss Teen Ohio Kendall Fein from 5:20-6:10 p.m.
• 2012 Kroger Calendar: The first 20,000 fans will receive a 2012 Reds Calendar, presented by Kroger.
• Gold Gloves: 2011 NL Rawlings Gold Glove winners Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto will be recognized during pregame ceremonies.
• Silver Slugger: 2011 NL Louisville Slugger Silver Slugger winner Brandon Phillips will receive his award during pregame ceremonies.
• Rusty Griswolds: 80’s cover band The Rusty Griswolds will perform from a stage on the right field porch during inning breaks and after the game.
• Postgame Fireworks presented by TriHealth: The Rusty Griswolds will play live during the post-game fireworks show featuring Rozzi’s Famous Fireworks.

Sunday, April 8 – Reds vs. Miami Marlins, 1:10 p.m. (Gates open at 11:40 a.m.)

• Easter Sunday: The Easter Bunny will be available for photos with fans in the newly remodeled Fan Zone from Noon to 1:30 p.m. The photo opportunity is free of charge.
• Reds Easter Tin: The first 8,000 kids 12 and under will receive a Reds Easter Tin filled with red and white jelly beans, presented by Meijer.
• National Anthem: Gloriana, the Academy of Country Music Awards Top New Vocal Group of 2010 will sing the National Anthem.
• Meijer Family Days: Sundays are family days at the ballpark! One member of the family pays full price and may purchase up to three non-premium tickets at half-price in advance of game day only. Excludes Outer View Level and Kroger Bleachers.

Boxscore

The Cincinnati Reds sent out 18 of their finest players against the Chicago Cubs today, but despite a 4-for-6 showing from Brandon Phillips and defending a lead going into the ninth, the Cubs got the better of them.

In addition to Phillips’ four hits, Joey Votto, Jay Bruce, Drew Stubbs, and Dioner Navarro each contributed a couple. Scott Rolen and Chris Heisey brought the total to 14 with a hit apiece. Fourteen hits (plus six walks) ain’t bad, but when you leave 27 aboard, you’re not going to get very far.

Matt Latos toed the rubber for the Reds, going four and two-thirds innings giving up three runs (two earned) on four hits and two walks. Latos was followed by Justin Freeman, Sean Marshall, Kanekoa Texeira, Clayton Tanner, and Mark Serrano, but only Tanner gave up more runs. Four (earned) to be exact, two of them homers, on four hits and a walk. The lead went along with the runs, earning young Tanner the loss.

The loss puts the Reds at 10-16 for the spring: not exactly worrisome or important, but not exactly exciting to watch either. Tomorrow the team hosts the Angels at 4:05 EDT.