Reds sign Alonso!

[princeton]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/


first round draft pick signs

terms not announced

[princeton]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/

no terms announced

[Grande Donkey]

YES!!!!!!!!!

[HBP]

Good. Get playing now Yonder.

[Blue]

Fantastic! I was really down on this guy at draft time, but he has grown on me. Hopefully other recent acquisitions will do the same.

[BCubb2003]

Do we get to call him "Wild Blue"?

[VR]

Kind of anticlimactic.....what are we going to do the next 1/2 hour?

[Raisor]

This just makes it easier for the Reds to sign AROD in 10 years.

[remdog]

Do we get to call him "Wild Blue"?

To show you how sleep deprived I am at this moment, I actually liked that. :lol:

Rem

[princeton]

Kind of anticlimactic.....what are we going to do the next 1/2 hour?


check the couch cushions for spare change

[Reds/Flyers Fan]

This just makes it easier for the Reds to sign AROD in 10 years.

ARod in 10 years will hit better than Corey Patterson today

[BigRed07]

4.5 mil and a big league contract is my guess?

[GoReds33]

This is great news!

[jesusfan]

5.5 Mil and big league contract...

[AmarilloRed]

A major league contract means he will be placed on the 40 man roster, correct?

[_Sir_Charles_]

I'll go with 4.2 mil and a 40-man roster spot.

[Mario-Rijo]

Well I would have rather parted with more money than a mjor league contract. Not sure what he got, although the earlier reports was the final offer from the Reds was in the 3 Million neighborhood. I would have upped it to 4 or 5 just to keep it a minor league deal. I suppose that probably wasn't going to happen, Alonso's camp probably wanted the major league deal more than the money.

Anyhow I'm sure it's too late to get him started what with all the time he was off probably won't see him until the fall or winter at best.

[Mario-Rijo]

A major league contract means he will be placed on the 40 man roster, correct?

Absolutely.

[Raisor]

Can they rework the contract to send him back to Miami?

[princeton]

Anyhow I'm sure it's too late to get him started what with all the time he was off probably won't see him until the fall or winter at best.

I doubt that. Beckham signed a couple of days ago, and played tonight

[Mario-Rijo]

WLW was reporting earlier that the Reds made a final offer (per mlb.com) of something in the 3 million neighborhood. And yes it is a major league contract.

[NorrisHopper30]

I'm gonna say 3.9 and a major league contract.

[Tommyjohn25]

Can they rework the contract to send him back to Miami?

Now THAT was funny!

[VR]

check the couch cushions for spare change

Very nice. .37 cents. Maybe I'll send that to the Reds to help offset their overpayment.:KoolAid:

[Yachtzee]

If true, this definitely signals a nice change from the days when the Reds would draft guys like this and end up punting because the price was too high.

[Mario-Rijo]

I doubt that. Beckham signed a couple of days ago, and played tonight

Sweet, but Beckham didn't have quite the layoff (:cool:)

[Raisor]

Seriously though, since he's on a major league contract, they might as well bring him up in September.

[jesusfan]

WLW was reporting earlier that the Reds made a final offer (per mlb.com) of something in the 3 million neighborhood. And yes it is a major league contract.

That would be great compared to what he was asking for... In my humble opinion he will play next season.. .around September...

[Tommyjohn25]

Seriously though, since he's on a major league contract, they might as well bring him up in September.

Agreed there. He seems polished enough to hit, or at least hold his own.

[OnBaseMachine]

Good job by the Reds. I never doubted them for a minute. ;)

[Tommyjohn25]

I wonder where OBM is? Hopefully changing his grades on his "Walt report card" ;) Just funnin with ya OBM...Nothin' but love for ya bro!

[flyer85]

if he's worth 4.5M then I would send him to AA, they could use a first basemen in Chattanooga

[RedsManRick]

Major League contract means we could have given him a lower bonus and a nice salary. I wonder who gets dropped from the 40 man.

[Tommyjohn25]

Good job by the Reds. I never doubted them for a minute. ;)

Oops...there he is! :)

[Mario-Rijo]

Major League contract means we could have given him a lower bonus and a nice salary. I wonder who gets dropped from the 40 man.

It'd be nice if it was the guy everyone is thinking of! :D

[Raisor]

It'd be nice if it was the guy everyone is thinking of! :D

I'm not on the 40 man roster.

[CTA513]

It'd be nice if it was the guy everyone is thinking of! :D

Volquez?

:p:

[Phhhl]

Agreed there. He seems polished enough to hit, or at least hold his own.

Wouldn't that be interesting? I didn't like some of the grandstanding he did during negotiations, but I have to say I am pretty happy they managed to get him in the fold. I think he will be up here pretty quick. Votto is not a good enough defensive first baseman to have a stranglehold on the position. I think Votto will be picking up an outfielder's glove pretty soon.

[Gainesville Red]

Gapper?

[Mario-Rijo]

I'm thinking Burton to the 60 day. Or Andy Phillips or Jolbert Cabrera, probably Phillips of those 2.

[fearofpopvol1]

Major League contract means we could have given him a lower bonus and a nice salary. I wonder who gets dropped from the 40 man.

Take your pick. There are easily a number of people who can be replaced.

I'm guessing Alonso starts and finishes in Dayton.

[Degenerate39]

I'm not on the 40 man roster.

I busted out laughing reading this. Probably woke everyone up.

I think the Reds should put Votto in left field ASAP. I like him there but Alonso can only play 1st base.

[Mario-Rijo]

Take your pick. There are easily a number of people who can be replaced.

I'm guessing Alonso starts and finishes in Dayton.

Being greedy so I can see him, I hope he does.

[Mario-Rijo]

I'm not on the 40 man roster.

No but if you were we'd still be talking about DFA Patterson!

[fearofpopvol1]

Being greedy so I can see him, I hope he does.

I absolutely think he'll at least start in Dayton. I'd be shocked if he didn't.

[Az Red]

Good to hear. The days of tight fisting the draft may be over.

[flyer85]

I think the Reds should put Votto in left field ASAP. can't do that, Corey needs to play.

[NDRed]

Looks like 4.5 million and a ML contract.

http://draft.mlblogs.com/

[AmarilloRed]

From CTR:


CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Reds tonight announced they have signed to a Major League contract 2008 first-round draft pick Yonder Alonso. He will report to the club's spring training facility in Sarasota.

The junior first baseman from the University of Miami was selected with the seventh pick overall in Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

http://www.thelotd.com/ctrent/

Does this mean he reports to the Sarasota minor league team?

[BigRed07]

Winner!! Guess not. 2 million signing bonus and a 4.55 mil big league contract?

[fearofpopvol1]

From CTR:



http://www.thelotd.com/ctrent/

Does this mean he reports to the Sarasota minor league team?

Not necessarily. He's been out of uniform now for a minute. They probably want him to go down there and and sharpen his skills before he plays.

[redhawk61]

CINCINNATI - The Cincinnati Reds tonight announced they have signed to a Major League contract 2008 first-round draft pick Yonder Alonso. He will report to the club's spring training facility in Sarasota.
The junior first baseman from the University of Miami was selected with the seventh pick overall in Major League Baseball’s first-year player draft. Financial terms of the contract were not disclosed.

"Both sides are happy we could come to an agreement," said Reds Senior Director of Scouting Chris Buckley. "Yonder is a polished college player and an advanced hitter who performed at the highest level. He's one of the top players ever to come out of Miami, which has produced a lot of baseball talent."

Buckley added, "We did our homework when we drafted him. Some of our baseball people were very close to his family. We believe we made the right choice when we selected him, and we hope he has a long career as a Cincinnati Red."

During the regular season Alonso hit .373 with 15 HR, 51 RBI and 8 stolen bases for the Hurricanes and was ranked by Baseball America as one of the best prospects in the country.

As a freshman at UM he led the club into the College World Series with a team-best 69 RBI. The next season he hit .376 and led the Atlantic Coast Conference with 18 HR while recording 74 RBI and 57 runs scored. That sophomore year he also ranked second in the ACC with a .519 on-base percentage an .705 slugging percentage.

The native of Cuba was drafted out of Coral Gables (FL) High School by the Twins in 2005

[Mario-Rijo]

Looks like 4.5 million and a ML contract.

http://draft.mlblogs.com/

That link reports it about 4 but with some "perks". That blog also says Smoak didn't get a major league deal and Josh Fields didn't sign.

[redhawk61]

That link reports it about 4 but with some "perks". That blog also says Smoak didn't get a major league deal and Josh Fields didn't sign.
fields is a senior so he as till 1 week before the next draft

[11larkin11]

That link reports it about 4 but with some "perks". That blog also says Smoak didn't get a major league deal and Josh Fields didn't sign.

Fields still has time to sign I believe, he was a senior.

[flyer85]

From CTR:



http://www.thelotd.com/ctrent/

Does this mean he reports to the Sarasota minor league team?my guess is they evaluate him and decide where to send him

[11larkin11]

I would be surprised if he starts at Dayton. All I have heard is Chattanooga with the lowest being Sarasota.

[NorrisHopper30]

It is indeed a Major League deal and it's for $4.5 million. Well, heard it's $4 mil and "some perks," but you get the idea...

Also from the blog...

[johngalt]

Sort of off-topic, but the Alonso release also announced the signing of Yorman Rodriguez.

[Mario-Rijo]

fields is a senior so he as till 1 week before the next draft

I thought they cut that out period, the blog did say he has until next May. But I could swear it didn't matter? But whatever, learn something new everyday.

[corkedbat]

Just got in from the game. Great news!

Probably for more than I (or the Reds) would have preferred, but considering some of the 1st round price tags around him, I won't grouse too much if it's anything less than $5M.

The Major League contract bothers me some, but he wanted it and it puts him on the fast track - let's see him live up too it. This franchise certainlys need more top-drawer bats, let's hope he's up to the challenge.

Something tells me if he hits up too spec though, his Cincy debut might just come at some point next year.

[Mario-Rijo]

It's 4 million but with some "perks" believed to be around 4.5.

http://draft.mlblogs.com/

[Degenerate39]

can't do that, Corey needs to play.

Not if he's at home with Dusty's daughter counting his 3 mill

[flyer85]

2m bonus and 4.5 on the major league deal.

with a deal like that the plan better be he arrives by late 2009(if not sooner).

[BuckeyeRedleg]

Well done. With Alonso, Rodriguez, Duran, the big bucks paid to the late draftees, and signing all of their top picks I'm pleasantly surprised and content with the direction this franchise is headed.

Wow. I just did a 180 in 24 hours.

The future is looking bright.

[11larkin11]

Redszone least favorite pitcher Aaron Crow did NOT sign with Washington. To tell you the truth I would have no problem drafting him next year. We will most likely have a Top 5 pick and at least from the college ranks, you have to think Crow and Strasburg will be the top 2. Strasburg is being heralded as a once in a lifetime pitcher and its those two then Crow's teammate Kyle Gibson. I like where the Reds stand next year as its those three and thats just college pitchers.

[BuckeyeRedleg]

Well done. With Alonso, Rodriguez, Duran, the big bucks paid to the late draftees, and signing all of their top picks I'm pleasantly surprised and content with the direction this franchise is headed.

Wow. I just did a 180 in 24 hours.

The future is looking bright.

[MasonBuzz3]

Well done. With Alonso, Rodriguez, Duran, the big bucks paid to the late draftees, and signing all of their top picks I'm pleasantly surprised and content with the direction this franchise is headed.

Wow. I just did a 180 in 24 hours.

The future is looking bright.

I agree, I'd be interested to see the organizational top 10-20 prospects with those guys and the guys from ARI

[11larkin11]

Winner!! Guess not. 2 million signing bonus and a 4.55 mil big league contract?

Thats what Jim Callis just said on BBTN.

[fearofpopvol1]

Redszone least favorite pitcher Aaron Crow did NOT sign with Washington. To tell you the truth I would have no problem drafting him next year. We will most likely have a Top 5 pick and at least from the college ranks, you have to think Crow and Strasburg will be the top 2. Strasburg is being heralded as a once in a lifetime pitcher and its those two then Crow's teammate Kyle Gibson. I like where the Reds stand next year as its those three and thats just college pitchers.

Bye Bye Bowden.

I'm not so sure the Reds will have a top 5 pick next year. If the season ended today they would have #5, but the race is real close for 3-9.

[Razor Shines]

Well done. With Alonso, Rodriguez, Duran, the big bucks paid to the late draftees, and signing all of their top picks I'm pleasantly surprised and content with the direction this franchise is headed.

Wow. I just did a 180 in 24 hours.

The future is looking bright.

I think I agree as well. I was really hoping that Alonso would get signed, and I think he's worth what they are reporting that he got.

[Mario-Rijo]

Redszone least favorite pitcher Aaron Crow did NOT sign with Washington. To tell you the truth I would have no problem drafting him next year. We will most likely have a Top 5 pick and at least from the college ranks, you have to think Crow and Strasburg will be the top 2. Strasburg is being heralded as a once in a lifetime pitcher and its those two then Crow's teammate Kyle Gibson. I like where the Reds stand next year as its those three and thats just college pitchers.

Interesting, but if we could get a top flight SS like that Green kid (I think that's his name) we would be looking pretty good.

[Superdude]

I'm not so sure the Reds will have a top 5 pick next year. If the season ended today they would have #5, but the race is real close for 3-9.

We just traded away practically our whole offense. I'm not expecting this recent losing skid to stop any time soon.

[reds44]

*Exhales*

[fearofpopvol1]

We just traded away practically our whole offense. I'm not expecting this recent losing skid to stop any time soon.

True, but it's not like the other teams that are close are inspiring either.

[Benihana]

I agree, I'd be interested to see the organizational top 10-20 prospects with those guys and the guys from ARI

you won't have to wait long enough...
tune in on monday

[MartyFan]

I am incredibly happy with the turn of events...also found it interesting that the Reds brass were insinuating that Alonso may be able to shift to 3B...seems like Edwin will either move or get traded this off season.

[OnBaseMachine]

I gotta admit, when 10:00 rolled around I had pretty much given up hope that Yonder was going to sign. I'm glad I was wrong because I do believe Yonder is going to be a great hitter. His plate discipline is a huge plus at this point and he's got 30 homerun power and maybe more as he learns to pull the ball more. He hit well in the Cape Cod League last year using a wooden bat which is another indication he should be able to move fast. I wouldn't mind seeing him get some atbats with the Reds in September and then evaluate him from there.

[OnBaseMachine]

I wonder where OBM is? Hopefully changing his grades on his "Walt report card" ;) Just funnin with ya OBM...Nothin' but love for ya bro!

Walt and Buckley went from an F to an A pretty quickly. :D

[OnBaseMachine]

We just traded away practically our whole offense. I'm not expecting this recent losing skid to stop any time soon.

Agreed. The offense is going to struggle mightily the rest of the season, plus Cueto and Volquez may be shut down early. The Reds won't beat out the Nationals, Padres, or Mariners for the first overall pick but I think a top five pick is looking very realistic at this point.

[Matt700wlw]

I'm thinking Burton to the 60 day. Or Andy Phillips or Jolbert Cabrera, probably Phillips of those 2.

I could see Burton getting transfered. Since I like crazy scenarios, how about Alonzo at first, Votto in left, Dickerson in center, Bruce in right, and Patterson divorced from the club come September???!!! :)

[OnBaseMachine]

Reds sign first-round pick Alonso
Club agrees to terms with first baseman before deadline
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- It went down to the wire, but when midnight ET struck and moved Friday into Saturday, first-round Draft pick Yonder Alonso was signed and sealed as a member of the Reds.

After they were seemingly far apart most of the day, a deal was reached shortly before the looming deadline. Terms were not revealed, but Alonso signed a Major League contract through 2012 that is believed to be worth $4.5 million, plus incentives.

"There was a lot of negotiating on both sides," Reds scouting director Chris Buckley said.

Alonso, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft out of the University of Miami, and agent Greg Genske had made it public that he was seeking $7 million and didn't appear willing to budge. Obviously, they did in the end.

What helped bring the dollar figure down?

"Midnight," Buckley responded. "We've got a deadline. If it wasn't done, it's a reality that he would be a college senior. This is your last big year with the leverage."

General manager Walt Jocketty said late Friday afternoon that the Reds had made their final offer to Alonso and were waiting to hear back. But talks continued well into the night.

"There was a lot of massaging the deal," Buckley said.

Several first-round picks from the 2008 Draft remained unsigned as the deadline approached. On Friday, the Orioles signed No. 4 pick Brian Matusz to a $3.47 million deal with a big league contract. The No. 6 pick, Buster Posey, also signed a big deal with the Giants believed to be worth more than $6 million.

By signing the 22-year-old Alonso to a Major League deal, the Reds have to place the first baseman on their 40-man roster. But that was a lesser concern for the club during negotiations.

"One, we think he'll be here quickly," Reds assistant GM Bob Miller said. "It's not like we're worried about the [Minor League] options. The other issue is we have a lot of free agents and have some room. If it would have been a really tight roster, it would have been much more difficult."

An obvious question surrounds where Alonso will play once he reaches the Majors. The Reds already have a young rookie first baseman in Joey Votto.

"He played first most of the time at Miami, but Miami had a good third baseman," Buckley said. "We think he can play third base. He can definitely play first. He may be able to play third."

During his junior season at Miami, Alonso batted .370 with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs.

Alonso has not played baseball since the College World Series in June. The Reds haven't formally assigned him to a team in their system, but the plan is to have him go to their Minor League complex in Sarasota, Fla., and work with either the Gulf Coast League club or Class A team.

The Reds inked two other Draft picks on Friday, with 30th-round selection Juan Sulbaran and 35th-rounder Matthew Fairel agreeing to deals. Both are pitchers. This year, the organization signed 35 of its 50 Draft picks.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080815&content_id=3313686&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

[Homer Bailey]

I didn't want to be the bearer of bad news because I was informed that Yonder was being very stubborn and non responsive, and I'm so glad that I did not share that information. I'm honestly so shocked that he signed, and I'm again hopelessly faithful in the Reds organization, which has always led to disappointment.... Oh well. Well done Reds. Can't say that very often.

[Homer Bailey]

Well done. With Alonso, Rodriguez, Duran, the big bucks paid to the late draftees, and signing all of their top picks I'm pleasantly surprised and content with the direction this franchise is headed.

Wow. I just did a 180 in 24 hours.

The future is looking bright.

Im excited to, but we are talking about 3 players. They are all far from guarentees, but it is a step in the right direction.

[Homer Bailey]

I could see Burton getting transfered. Since I like crazy scenarios, how about Alonzo at first, Votto in left, Dickerson in center, Bruce in right, and Patterson divorced from the club come September???!!! :)

Patterson gives Dusty the speed he needs. Can't let him go.

[Matt700wlw]

Patterson gives Dusty the speed he needs. Can't let him go.

I can get him speed.....it's cheaper

[Kc61]

I am incredibly happy with the turn of events...also found it interesting that the Reds brass were insinuating that Alonso may be able to shift to 3B...seems like Edwin will either move or get traded this off season.

Must say that was my reading of the press release as well. Implies that third base will be an open position.

I hope the Reds sit down with Votto when he returns and tell him that he remains in the team's plans. Guy coming back from bereavement leave, now the press will be consumed with Alonso, a first baseman. Votto will need some comforting.

Very positive move for the Reds to sign Alonso.

[GAC]

Not if he's at home with Dusty's daughter counting his 3 mill

I hope they paid him in pennies then. ;)

[princeton]

"He played first most of the time at Miami, but Miami had a good third baseman," Buckley said. "We think he can play third base. He can definitely play first. He may be able to play third."

Reds have too many third base prospects already

he looks like a first baseman.

[juvey21]

this is just awesome and as a reds fan you cant help to get excited about the future of this organization...alot of people on this site i think are smart enough to know that the reds are in a better position to COMPLETE a rebuilding process than in the last say 10-12 years. They actually have the abundance of young talent to make it happen and i cant wait!!!:)

[redsmetz]

I thought they cut that out period, the blog did say he has until next May. But I could swear it didn't matter? But whatever, learn something new everyday.

The only exception is for college seniors - they obviously cannot play at the college level anymore, so they do not have the same deadline. For those with eligibility elsewhere, it's a means (nerve wracking to us) to push the question.

[jojo]

2m bonus and 4.5 on the major league deal.

with a deal like that the plan better be he arrives by late 2009(if not sooner).

That would be a big cave in by Alonzo.... :cool:

Don't mess with the Reds.

[Ghosts of 1990]

this is good news

[lollipopcurve]

alot of people on this site i think are smart enough to know that the reds are in a better position to COMPLETE a rebuilding process than in the last say 10-12 years.

Absolutely correct, and it's not even close. The thing is, the approach they've taken this year -- selling off expensive assets, bringing in developed prospects and investing big $$$ in amateur talent -- should be the general approach (degrees will vary) for most years. It shouldn't end in 2008. That said, this year the organization has made a remarkable effort in its approach to acquiring young talent. Best I've seen in 25 years of following the whole system closely. I'm very pleased.

[BuckeyeRedleg]

Im excited to, but we are talking about 3 players. They are all far from guarentees, but it is a step in the right direction.

No, I was talking about the entire draft and Latin America signings.


Signing the 30th and 35th round picks were like getting two extra high picks as well.

[Falls City Beer]

Thank goodness. What an embarrassment and backpedal that would have been.

[redsmetz]

I will say this (and this may surprise folks here on RZ who assume I'm all sunshine and light), this kid better produce big time. I'm a bit irked at his posturing this summer, particularly in the last week or so. If the reports of the deal are correct, there is absolutely no reason this couldn't have been done ages ago. The Reds have shown in the last two years a readiness to spend to acquire good amateur talent. Personally I think these numbers for Alonso could have been arrived at a month to six weeks ago and we could have had him getting this season's experience.

It's going to take a lot for Alonso to win me over and believe he's nothing more than a blowhard who is full of himself. I'm glad they got the deal done, but this was a needless waste of time, IMO.

Get to work now, Yonder!

[lollipopcurve]

It's going to take a lot for Alonso to win me over and believe he's nothing more than a blowhard who is full of himself. I'm glad they got the deal done, but this was a needless waste of time, IMO.

I know what you mean, but he's got the right uniform on now. The ARod stuff bugged me, and I sure hope he ends up showing the same devotion to his teammates as he does to his mate from Miami. Now that he's in Cincy, I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt and look at his negotiation as a possible sign that this is a tough minded, competitive kid who wants to win at every turn, whether it's an off-field negotiation or a meaningless at bat at the end of a blowout. You have to keep in mind that this moment was a key moneymaking opportunity for Alonso -- perhaps his best one, if he struggles as a pro.

They've scouted this kid pretty hard for years, according to reports. My guess is that not only do they like the bat, they like the makeup. One thing I know for sure, they know him better than I do.

[traderumor]

I will say this (and this may surprise folks here on RZ who assume I'm all sunshine and light), this kid better produce big time. I'm a bit irked at his posturing this summer, particularly in the last week or so. If the reports of the deal are correct, there is absolutely no reason this couldn't have been done ages ago. The Reds have shown in the last two years a readiness to spend to acquire good amateur talent. Personally I think these numbers for Alonso could have been arrived at a month to six weeks ago and we could have had him getting this season's experience.

It's going to take a lot for Alonso to win me over and believe he's nothing more than a blowhard who is full of himself. I'm glad they got the deal done, but this was a needless waste of time, IMO.

Get to work now, Yonder!
I really do not take negotiations too personally. While he hires the agent, the agents are working the system to get the best possible deal for their client. To me, this is just an agent doing his job well.

[icehole3]

This kid can rake and Im not worried one bit about him, his atbats were nothing but oooohs and aaahs all year, he can hit my friend.

[princeton]

this kid better produce big time.

works for me

[jojo]

I really do not take negotiations too personally. While he hires the agent, the agents are working the system to get the best possible deal for their client. To me, this is just an agent doing his job well.

Ya. Assuming Alonzo becomes an everyday major league player, he'll most likely be unfairly compensated for his production relative to the market for his first 6 years.

I don't begrudge a player for trying to leverage his position to help set himself up if he doesn't make it. To me, as a person who buys into the American dream hook, line, and sinker, it's much more reprehensible that Dunn was only paid $450K for 2004.

I think we kind of conflate several issues in this situation. Probably everyone has said at one time that we'd be willing to play in the major leagues for free. Many of us also probably think it's surreal to suggest one will turn down $4M to play baseball because it's not enough.

But like RMR said, when we're put into the actual analogous situation, we negotiate too. I have my dream job for all intents and purposes and I was ready to walk away from the table at several points during the negotiation process.

It's just anyone who hangs out with Arod probably needs to consider hiring one of those image consultant people......

[jojo]

This kid can rake and Im not worried one bit about him, his atbats were nothing but oooohs and aaahs all year, he can hit my friend.

Ya but he had an aluminum bat.... :cool:

[Sea Ray]

So how many years do we have before his options expire? Does this year count as an option year?

[Joseph]

So is he a free agent after 2012, or do we still have his rights for another year since free agency doesn't kick in until after 6 years?

[jojo]

So how many years do we have before his options expire? Does this year count as an option year?

This is pretty complicated, there are many ways the Reds could handle him that would effect this and I haven't thought this through fully, but I'll throw this out for debate/correction:

Once added to the 40 man, he can have up to 4 option years provided he doesn't play in the majors during any of them-I don't think this season has to burn one at least in the sense that in the very least he would be afforded the typical 3 full option years you would expect.

[Betterread]

Well done on the signing. Between Alonso, Smoak and Hosmer, the Reds supplied the smallest bonus (by far) but coughed up future money and a ML contract. I like that approach. If the guy is as good as advertised it won't matter. If he flames out, he can be traded and his new team would be responsible for his salary.
Now lets see if the Reds made the right choice between Smoak and Alonso and it will be an obvious comparison in the future between the three of them. I think the greatest pressure will be on Hosmer so he will be the long shot of the three. I think Alonso is a good safe bet to be a solid ML 1B offensive force - which would be great, of course. I am curious to see if he has 35 HR a year power potential with the walks.

[jojo]

So is he a free agent after 2012, or do we still have his rights for another year since free agency doesn't kick in until after 6 years?

Once he is out of options, it depends upon the Reds. They would have to carry him on their 25 man or try to pass him through waivers to retain him. They'd still control him but there are ways they could lose control sooner than the typical 9 years that giving him a major league contract would afford them (3 option years plus 6 years service time).

Basically a lot of it depends upon how he develops and what the Reds roster looks like at the time a "grey area" decision would have to be made.

Giving a player a major league contract basically means he has to be added to the 40 man roster (but not necessarily the 25 man/active roster). Thus he skips the years in the minors preceding ones required to be "option years" but he could still be assigned to the minors to develop without accruing major league service time (of course until the fateful time where he becomes "out of option years").

It's absurd to think that a major league club could control a player for 12 years before that player has a right to put his wares into the free agent market. In that light, maybe Alonso doesn't look so greedy by having his agent play hardball? I think this point of context is often under appreciated by casual fans and hard core enthusiasts alike.

It can make sense to give a college player a major league contract if you're certain about what you're getting in the player but it definitely adds to the risk if the player doesn't quite develop as expected. In the case of Alonzo where his value is almost entirely due to his bat, the Reds are making a calculated risk because offense tends to be a less risky bet. As alluded to above, this could make for some very, very interesting threads in 3 years depending upon how the Reds 25 man roster looks and hos Alonzo develops.

Once again, my head hurts now so any corrections to ambiguous/incorrect statements are welcome.

[Strider]

It's going to take a lot for Alonso to win me over and believe he's nothing more than a blowhard who is full of himself. I'm glad they got the deal done, but this was a needless waste of time, IMO.



A negotiation plays out over time. The deadline is the catalyst for getting the deal done. Had the Red's offered $4.5M out of the chute, you can bet the final deal would have been higher...probably $6M or more. Both sides in a negotiation assume that the other side will move but that they will have to change their offers too.

The Reds did what they had to do. They negotiated understanding the give and take involved, trying to minimize dollars spent yet completing the deal by the deadline. Alonso's agent also understood that the longer he held to the $7M, the higher the Red's would ultimately have to increase their offer. When the Red's said...OK, this is it...then reluctantly Alonso's side had to lower their demands to keep the negotiation alive.

Also, most of the public comments during a negotiation are using the press to put pressure on the other side. I'm sure, given the Red's current comments about roster space, that they understood that they would need to give Alonso a major league deal. Just like any negotiation, though, you don't want to give that point unless you get something in return. In this case Alonso lowered his $ demands. By saying how reluctant they were to give up a major league deal, they put a value on that chip greater than it would have been valued otherwise.

Like any classic negotiation...you have to be willing to walk away from the table if need be. They played that well...not too soon to give up needless concessions and not to late for the other side to react.

It's pretty obvious that Jockety and crew know what they are doing.

Kudos to them...

:D

[Degenerate39]

I hope they paid him in pennies then. ;)

Griffey made sure of that!

[OnBaseMachine]

In the same day the Reds added a Yorman and a Yonder. :)

[Degenerate39]

In the same day the Reds added a Yorman and a Yonder. :)

The M&M boys will have nothing on the Y&Y boys

[OnBaseMachine]

Reds sign top draft pick
Alonso, Reds get deal done just before deadline

By John Fay • jfay@enquirer.com • August 16, 2008

The key to getting the deal done with Yonder Alonso?
Advertisement

“Midnight,” said scouting director Chris Buckley. “We had a deadline.”

Alonso, the Reds’ top pick in the June draft, signed with about 15 minutes to spare Friday.

The deal is a major-league contract worth about $4 million in present value. It runs through 2012 and ensures Alonso must remain on the club’s 40-man big-league roster.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said four hours before the deadline that the ball was in Alonso’s court.

“We’ve made a final offer,” Jocketty said.

Alonso came off his original demand of nearly $7 million.

“There was a good amount of negotiating on both sides,” Buckley said. “It was closer to our (offer).”

Alonso will go on the 40-man roster immediately, and the clock on arbitration starts. Offering a big-league deal was crucial.

“One, we think he’ll be ready,” assistant GM Bob Miller said. “Two, we have a lot of free agents. There’s room on the roster. But he’s a very accomplished player.”

The Reds also signed Yorman Rodriguez, a 16-year-old outfielder from Venezuela. He’s considered one of the top prospects in all of Latin America.

Alonso, a first baseman, could have returned to school at the University of Miami.

The Reds would have retained the No. 8 pick in next year’s draft, as well as their regular first-round pick.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080816/SPT04/308160011/1071

[princeton]

“One, we think he’ll be ready,” assistant GM Bob Miller said. “Two, we have a lot of free agents. There’s room on the roster.”

three, the 2005 draft was so lean that not many new players have to go on the roster this winter in order to protect them from Rule 5 draft.

Carlos Fisher, Sam Lecure, Travis Wood are the only semi-notables. Reds don't have to add Roenicke (2006 draft) for a year, but might anyway because there's room and because they probably want to call him up in September.

Roster crunch might begin at end of next season. The 2006 draft was a bit deeper.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Ya but he had an aluminum bat.... :cool:

Didn't he also play in the Cape Cod league with a wooden bat and produce VERY solidly?

[RedEye]

Didn't he also play in the Cape Cod league with a wooden bat and produce VERY solidly?

Yes, I believe Buckley or Jocketty mentioned that when the Reds first selected Yonder. BTW, as a University of Miami faculty member, I'm glad to see this happen. I never taught Yonder, but I saw him play last year. From what I've heard, he's a real nice kid, too. I think the Reds made a good decision on this.

[jojo]

Didn't he also play in the Cape Cod league with a wooden bat and produce VERY solidly?

He's probably been exposed to wood more than most college jrs give his time with Arod.

[TheBigLebowski]

I know not everyone will agree with me but, WJ's stock has increased about 200% with me over the course of the past 4 weeks. I really think the losing is going to end.

Yonder Alonso's never going to be the kind of guy I want to sit down and have a beer with (my opinion of him reflects princeton's almost 100%) but, if he hits like I think he'll hit, I'm glad he's here.

[TheBigLebowski]

He's probably been exposed to wood more than most college jrs.

:eek:

[oneupper]

Which teams failed to sign their first round guys? I didn't see that list anywhere.

[OnBaseMachine]

Which teams failed to sign their first round guys? I didn't see that list anywhere.

The Nationals failed to sign Aaron Crow (#9 overall) and the Yankees couldn't sign Gerrit Cole (#28 overall).

[redsmetz]

A negotiation plays out over time. The deadline is the catalyst for getting the deal done. Had the Red's offered $4.5M out of the chute, you can bet the final deal would have been higher...probably $6M or more. Both sides in a negotiation assume that the other side will move but that they will have to change their offers too.

The Reds did what they had to do. They negotiated understanding the give and take involved, trying to minimize dollars spent yet completing the deal by the deadline. Alonso's agent also understood that the longer he held to the $7M, the higher the Red's would ultimately have to increase their offer. When the Red's said...OK, this is it...then reluctantly Alonso's side had to lower their demands to keep the negotiation alive.

Also, most of the public comments during a negotiation are using the press to put pressure on the other side. I'm sure, given the Red's current comments about roster space, that they understood that they would need to give Alonso a major league deal. Just like any negotiation, though, you don't want to give that point unless you get something in return. In this case Alonso lowered his $ demands. By saying how reluctant they were to give up a major league deal, they put a value on that chip greater than it would have been valued otherwise.

Like any classic negotiation...you have to be willing to walk away from the table if need be. They played that well...not too soon to give up needless concessions and not to late for the other side to react.

It's pretty obvious that Jockety and crew know what they are doing.

Kudos to them...

:D

Strider, nice amplification of the process. I understand that this has been the virtual kibuki dance, if you will, but I still would have liked to have seen this accomplished sooner, rather than later. Then again, that's fairly obvious. It's done, lets play ball.

[OnBaseMachine]

* First-round pick Yonder Alonso will report to Sarasota on Monday for his physical and work out for two days before being assigned to a minor-league team.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=blog07&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3ae57bcc87-152a-4f72-96fb-cc08b1f396efPost%3a64b3e719-691a-4dd8-8467-06bcf9d68ea8&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com

[NorrisHopper30]

* First-round pick Yonder Alonso will report to Sarasota on Monday for his physical and work out for two days before being assigned to a minor-league team.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=blog07&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3ae57bcc87-152a-4f72-96fb-cc08b1f396efPost%3a64b3e719-691a-4dd8-8467-06bcf9d68ea8&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com

Good to hear, where do you all think he will be assigned?

I can't wait to see how he does.

[OnBaseMachine]

Alonso: more than $4.55 million

By Hal McCoy | Saturday, August 16, 2008, 04:09 PM
Latest comment

OK, so here’s the scoop, the breakdown of the contract the Cincinnati Reds gave No. 1 pick Yonder Alonso.

Mama, do let your babies grow up to be first basemen.

Alonso’s contract is worth a little more than $4.55 million, with incentives.

The breakdown:

He receives a $2 million signing bonus - $1.5 million now, $500,000 on June 15 of next year.

For the rest of this season, he gets $50,000 in salary. His salary then escalates to $400,000 next year, $500,000 in 2010, $600,000 in 2011 and $1 million in 2012. If he is arbitration eligible in 2012, that supersedes the $1 million.

In addition, for his last three college semesters, the Reds will contribute $78,000 - that’s $60,000 in tuition and $18,000 in books and board.

In addition, a trip for his immediate family will be paid for by the Reds for his first major-league game.

In addition, he gets $25,000 if he is Rookie of the Year, $100 if he is MVP and $100,000 if he is MVP of the World Series (for what team?).

Everything is guaranteed, he is on a major-league contract and he will be in big-league camp in spring training next spring and in 2010.

While Alonso said he was confident a deal would get done - it was cementt done he had his fall class scheduled to the University of Miami on a table to his left and a contract for the independent Long Island Ducks to his right. Just in case.

Alonso has been friends with A-Rod since they were in the Boys Club together when they were 9 and was taking advice from the New York Yankee superstar. In fact, A-Rod offered to let Alonso share an apartment in New York if he played for the Ducks.

Let’s see, $4.55 million from the Reds and a start at Class A Sarasota, or a chintzy check from the Ducks and a chance to get a glimpse of Madonna. Some choice.

Asked to describe himself as a player, Alonso said, “I have a lot of hunger, I’m a very passionate guy about baseball and I’m a winner.”

With that contract, he can wipe out the hunger part.

When the Reds drafted him in June, he said he was looking forward to meeting Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn.

Whoops. Now what?

“Well, I don’t want to see them, but I ‘m looking forward to seeing Jay Bruce and Joey Votto.”

One of the major issues in the deal is that Alonso wanted a major-league contract and to be placed on the 40-man roster.

“It was very important to me to be part of a major-league 40-man roster, to be part of the club,” he said.

Despite the class schedules and the independent contract as his fallbacks, Alonso said he spent Friday afternoon watching Al Pacino in ‘88 Minutes’ to take his mind off the clock ticking away his future.

“The movie was very funny and relaxing, but the day was very stressful,” Alonso added.

He said A-Rod advised him, “Stay relaxed and don’t panic. They’ll get something don’t. And even if they don’t, you’ll still be playing baseball. Hey, it’s an honor and a privilege to know him and to go to his home in the winter and hit in his batting cage.”

Somebody asked what was next - meaning what would he do in the next few days - and Alonso was taking the long-term approach when he said, “I’m going to hit line drives, drive in guys and make it to the big leagues as soon as possible.”

http://www.daytondailynews.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/dayton/cincinnatireds/

[OnBaseMachine]

Good to hear, where do you all think he will be assigned?

I can't wait to see how he does.

I'd assign him to AA Chattanooga but I figure the Reds will start him in Sarasota. The minor league season ends on September 1st so he's probably only going to play in eight or nine games and receive maybe 35-40 atbats. Here's what I would do - assign him to Sarasota or Chattanooga for a few games and then send him to Louisville since they are going to the playoffs which would give him plenty more atbats depending on how far Louisville advances in the playoffs. If he plays well there then I'd bring him up for a handful of atbats in Cincy after the AAA playoffs are over.

[NorrisHopper30]

Hal doesn't sound like he likes the guy.

[NorrisHopper30]

I'd assign him to AA Chattanooga but I figure the Reds will start him in Sarasota. The minor league season ends on September 1st so he's probably only going to play in eight or nine games and receive maybe 35-40 atbats. Here's what I would do - assign him to Sarasota or Chattanooga for a few games and then send him to Louisville since they are going to the playoffs which would give him plenty more atbats depending on how far Louisville advances in the playoffs. If he plays well there then I'd bring him up for a handful of atbats in Cincy after the AAA playoffs are over.

Sounds like a good plan to me, get him more at bats before spring training '09 (which he gets an invite to if I understand correctly.).

I'm sure he could split time with Barker in AAA, who isn't hitting very well currently..stick him in there and get him some playing time in a playoff experience.

[princeton]

“I’m going to hit line drives, drive in guys and make it to the big leagues as soon as possible.”

nobody ever says, "I'm going to try to walk and strike out a lot"

[LouisvilleCARDS]

A negotiation plays out over time. The deadline is the catalyst for getting the deal done. Had the Red's offered $4.5M out of the chute, you can bet the final deal would have been higher...probably $6M or more. Both sides in a negotiation assume that the other side will move but that they will have to change their offers too.

The Reds did what they had to do. They negotiated understanding the give and take involved, trying to minimize dollars spent yet completing the deal by the deadline. Alonso's agent also understood that the longer he held to the $7M, the higher the Red's would ultimately have to increase their offer. When the Red's said...OK, this is it...then reluctantly Alonso's side had to lower their demands to keep the negotiation alive.

Also, most of the public comments during a negotiation are using the press to put pressure on the other side. I'm sure, given the Red's current comments about roster space, that they understood that they would need to give Alonso a major league deal. Just like any negotiation, though, you don't want to give that point unless you get something in return. In this case Alonso lowered his $ demands. By saying how reluctant they were to give up a major league deal, they put a value on that chip greater than it would have been valued otherwise.

Like any classic negotiation...you have to be willing to walk away from the table if need be. They played that well...not too soon to give up needless concessions and not to late for the other side to react.

It's pretty obvious that Jockety and crew know what they are doing.

Kudos to them...

:D

I don't know the salaries for the guys above and below Alonso, but it seems like his agent did a pretty good job of getting him a deal, getting him on the 40 man roster, with a nice signing bonus.

I had one of my last classes in decision making before I graduated last year, but its a pretty common technique of cognitive bias to use anchoring. I mean the number we say and he says is completely arbitrary. They just put out about the highest realistic number of a $7 mil for him, and anchored negotiations from there. We said one around $3 mil I believe.

I don't think his agent or him really expected $7 mil per year, but using that as a number to anchor from, he probably got more than say - asking for $5 mil. Now to a lot people getting him for much less than his arbitrary anchor number, its a GREAT move. I can't say without looking at other people, it seems decent, but if he got $4.55 mil and picks ahead of him got less value and no 40 man roster spot, its pretty obvious him and his agent negotiated great.

I wonder what the reaction here would have been if they publically said they were shooting for about $4 mil and a minor league contract, and then it came out that the Reds signed him for $4.55, a bonus, and a MLB contract? Then it would have seemed like the Reds overpaid, and probably would have got bashed. And really, there is no difference, just the arbitrary number each side anchored from.

[OnBaseMachine]

Alonso, Reds get deal done
Top pick scheduled to report to Sarasota on Monday
By Jeff Wallner / Special to MLB.com

CINCINNATI -- With Friday night's signing deadline fast approaching, Yonder Alonso waited with a copy of both his fall class schedule at the University of Miami and a contract offer from the Long Island Ducks of the independent Atlantic League.

Alonso considered his primary option, signing a deal with the Reds, who made him their No. 1 choice (seventh overall) in the 2008 First-Year Player Draft, to be far less likely.

"I had no idea I was going to sign," Alonso said Saturday afternoon during a conference call. "I felt like both sides kind of eased up on some things. At the end of the day, it was all about baseball. I felt like we wanted to get something done."

Just minutes before the midnight ET deadline, Alonso and the Reds agreed to a Major League contract through 2012, reportedly worth $4.5 million plus incentives.

By signing a Major League deal, the Reds must place the 22-year-old first baseman on the 40-man roster, which was one of Alonso's primary demands.

"It was very important for me to be on the 40-man roster," he said. "Just being part of the club and having something to do with the club was big."

Alonso's close pal, Yankees slugger Alex Rodriguez, offered him advice throughout the negotiations. Alonso first met Rodriguez when he was 9 years old, and A-Rod has served as his friend and mentor ever since.

"We talk every week," Alonso said. "He gives me a lot of advice. He told me to stay relaxed, not to panic. He told me that eventually we'll get something done. If it doesn't work out, at the end of the day, I was going to play baseball. It's an honor to know him."

Rodriguez offered to allow Alonso to live with him in the event he signed with the Long Island club.

Instead, Alonso is scheduled to report to Sarasota, Fla., on Monday to work out. He's expected to join the Reds' Class A affiliate in Sarasota shortly thereafter.

"This makes us all happy," Reds manager Dusty Baker said of Alonso's signing. "I got a call from [Reds general manager] Walt [Jocketty] on my home phone. I had my cell phone turned off. When my phone rang, I knew it was going to be good news or bad news."

Alonso, who hit .370 with 24 home runs and 72 RBIs as a junior at Miami, believes he could play first base, third base or left field in the Major Leagues.

He's also not lacking for confidence.

"I play with a lot of hunger," Alonso said. "I consider myself a line-drive hitter. I can drive the ball, but I'm more of a gap-to-gap guy. I'm a very passionate guy. I take baseball very seriously. I'm a winner."

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20080816&content_id=3319604&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

[jojo]

:eek:

Ya, upon rereading , it didn't come out as intended.

[oneupper]

I'd assign him to AA Chattanooga but I figure the Reds will start him in Sarasota. The minor league season ends on September 1st so he's probably only going to play in eight or nine games and receive maybe 35-40 atbats. Here's what I would do - assign him to Sarasota or Chattanooga for a few games and then send him to Louisville since they are going to the playoffs which would give him plenty more atbats depending on how far Louisville advances in the playoffs. If he plays well there then I'd bring him up for a handful of atbats in Cincy after the AAA playoffs are over.

They're not going to send him to AAA and much less Cincy.

Get him some ABs in Sarasota or Dayton and then maybe Arizona or Winter Ball.

[Matt700wlw]

He'll start in Sarasota.

[Stingray]

If I understand the option system correctly, here's what I'd do for the remainder of this year: Have Alonso work out in Sarasota until Sept 1 w/o assigning him to a minor league club - then bring him to Cincy and give him some playing time for the last month of the season with the Reds. Option him to whatever level the Reds feel he can excell in 2009.

This appraoch would still give the Reds 3 option years, starting in 2009, if needed. Whereas, if he played in the minors this year, it would use one of the allowable options in 2008 leaving only two for 2009 and beyond which could be a problem if he needs more development time than expected or has an injury which prolongs his development. This approach could avoid the Willy Mo problem.

[REDREAD]

So is he a free agent after 2012, or do we still have his rights for another year since free agency doesn't kick in until after 6 years?

Free agency is based on Major league service time.
He's going to be starting in the minors.
I'm not 100% sure on the rules, but I think since he has a Major leauge contract, option years happen immediately, so the Reds can only keep him in the minors 3 years instead of the normal 6 years. I am pretty sure that is how it works.

[gm]

Reds have too many third base prospects already

he looks like a first baseman.


Actually, Alonso looks more like a catcher (kinda wide n' stubby, like Javy)

The Red's farm system has too many 3rd base prospects? Given the long history of the Reds, that has to be a first!

Still, I'd like to see them start "way over" Yonder out at the hot corner. It's not easy to find a LHH 3rd baseman with pop

Of course for the Reds, finding a left (or right) hand hitting 1st baseman who can hit 25+ HR/season has been a challenge since Esasky came down with vertigo...and lately Votto looks like he's following in the Morris-Casey-Hatteberg banjo-hitting tradition...hope I'm wrong

The "first to the show" contest is 'way too easy this year. Yonder and Stewart are the sexy picks...so I'll go with a dark horse: Sean Conner, 10th round. (Easy name to remember...I wonder if he has a Welsh accent?)

[princeton]

Actually, Alonso looks more like a catcher (kinda wide n' stubby, like Javy)...The "first to the show" contest is 'way too easy this year. Yonder and Stewart are the sexy picks...so I'll go with a dark horse: Sean Conner, 10th round. (Easy name to remember...I wonder if he has a Welsh accent?)

over your way, Edgar Martinez was stubby and played third badly...

I'll take Mace Thurman. maybe he'll show his BJ Ryan impression. Some guys throw a hammer; he throws a Mace. I can remember that. Hopefully I won't have to remember who I picked for seven or eight years, as in some past drafts...

[Raisor]

over your way, Edgar Martinez was stubby and played third badly...



Edgar played third pretty well until his knees went out.

[OnBaseMachine]

Alonso signed; now we'll see if he delivers
Reds insider

By John Fay • jfay@enquirer.com • August 17, 2008

It was one of those surreal baseball moments. What happened Friday definitely does not happen in the real world - or even The Real World for that matter, although Yonder Alonso may come off as someone with the sense of entitlement usually reserved for cast members of MTV's long-running reality show.

But back to Friday night.

As the clock neared midnight, the entire Reds baseball operations staff was holed in Bob Miller's office trying to come up with a deal that would get Alonso, the Reds' top pick, to sign.

Meanwhile, Alonso was somewhere in Miami deciding whether to sign or spend next year as an Alex Rodriguez houseguest and a member of the Long Island Ducks.

In the end, the deal got done. Alonso came off his demands quite a bit. The Reds went up quite a bit. But they structured the deal in such a way that Alonso isn't getting as much up front as he would have gotten had he signed the day he was drafted.

The deal is worth $4.55 million. But he only got $1.5 million to sign. He'll make $50,000 more this season, and get another $500,000 in bonus money next June. There's a lot more in the contract - everything from money for tuition to tickets to bring his family to his big league debut.

The deal is a classic example of one where both sides can claim victory.

But was the deal a good one for the Reds? That all depends on how Alonso turns out.

If he's the next Brandon Larson, the Reds just wasted a whole lot of Bob Castellini's money. If he's the next Lance Berkman, it will be the best $4.55 million the Reds have spent in a long time.

By giving him a big-league contract, the Reds set the clock in motion. He must be ready in three seasons or it creates roster problems.

The Reds think he will be.

"We think he can be ready in two years," general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He thinks he's ready now. I like that."

When Alonso's ready the Reds will have to find a spot for him to play. Joey Votto has been one of the bright spots in a dismal season.

"We've got some flexibility there," Jocketty said. "We'll look at moving Joey to outfield. Yonder can play third. We'll play him at both first and third and see how it works out."

But back to Berkman, whom the Reds passed on to take Larson, by the way. Alonso was a Berkman-type hitter at Miami. He hit for power. He hit for average. And his on-base percentage was off the charts (.534).

The Reds don't have that kind of hitter right now. Jay Bruce is a tremendous talent, but he strikes out a lot and doesn't walk nearly enough. Brandon Phillips has great power and speed, but his on-base percentage is lower than Edwin Encarnacion's.

Can Alonso be a No. 3 hitter to build the lineup around? We'll find out over the next couple of years.

The Reds thought enough of his bat to spend all that money to get the deal done.

"We think he'll be an above-average hitter with above-average power," Jocketty said.

If that turns out to be the case, it will make for a really nice ending to story that began surreally.

http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080817/COL09/808170426/1071

[princeton]

it didn't sound terribly surreal.

no Tammy Faye, no inland hurricane, no melting clocks

not even a time machine or a talking duck

[redhawk61]

I hope Yonder can teach Jay a thing or two about plate discipline.

[SMcGavin]

I hope Yonder can teach Jay a thing or two about plate discipline.

I am high on Yonder, but don't forget he and Jay Bruce were born five days apart from each other. What kind of numbers do you think Bruce could have put up in college baseball this year?

[paulrichjr]

I thought this would help some like me that don't know all of the rules.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=law_keith

Process in which amateurs get major-league deals
Sunday, August 17, 2008 | Feedback | Print Entry
Reader Dan B. posed a question to me about the difference between major- and minor-league deals given to amateur players when they sign their first pro contracts:

Take Brian Matusz for example -- he got a four-year MLB deal. How exactly does that work? I know a minor league deal would give a team control over a player for six years. And once he starts collecting service time, it's six years MLB service time before he hits MLB free agency. What happens to Matusz after his four years?
(Note: Matusz, a left-handed pitcher, actually signed a five-year deal running from 2009-2013 with the Baltimore Orioles and also received a signing bonus worth $3.2 million.) There are two different concepts at work here: How long a player is under contract and how long he is under control.
A player is under control to his MLB club until he has accumulated six years' worth of major-league service time. Any day spent on a big league roster or a big league disabled list adds one day of service to the player's tally, and when those add up to six years (172 days of service equaling one year), the player becomes eligible for major-league free agency at the end of whatever contract is currently in force for him.
While accumulating those six years of service, the player will likely sign three or four or as many as 10 or 12 contracts of varying duration. The primary end of a contract is to set salaries for the player, and a typical minor league contract signed by an amateur player will fix his signing bonus and his salary for the first year of his minor league playing career. A major league contract, however, has several additional features. One appealing feature to clubs is that the player's signing bonus payment may be spread out over the life of the contract, rather than paid out in one lump sum.
A major-league contract also puts the player on the team's 40-man roster immediately, regardless of where he's headed to start his career, burning a spot on that roster for at least one and probably two to three years when the player would not otherwise need to be on it. (A player must be on the 40-man roster to appear in the majors, for example.)
When a player signs a major-league contract and then is assigned to the minors, the club is charged for one optional assignment against the limit for that player. This option covers the entire year in which the assignment is first made, during which the player can be sent up and down from the majors to the minors repeatedly without costing the team another option. The ordinary limit for one player is three options (that is, three years in which the player was assigned via option to the minors), but a player who signs a major-league contract out of the draft will almost always qualify for the fourth option exemption, if needed. Matusz signed a contract for 2009, so the team won't use an option for him this year, meaning that he'd be "out of options" after 2012 (assuming he was optioned in each of those four seasons) and then would have to clear waivers to be assigned to the minors.
Back to Dan B.'s original question, when Matusz's five-year major-league contract expires, he'll be treated like any other player on the 40-man roster. If he's in the big leagues, he'll get a new deal commensurate with his service time, with the caveat that his salary can not be less than 80 percent of his total compensation from the previous year (salary plus bonus). If he has enough service time by that point to file for salary arbitration, he can do so and use his previous contract as a baseline to argue for a certain percentage raise rather than an absolute dollar figure increase. Regardless of the expiration of the contract, however, he'll remain under the Orioles' control until he accumulates the six years of service time required for free agency. So if, for example, Matusz debuts in the big leagues on Opening Day of 2010 and never returns to the minors, his current contract will expire after 2013, he'll earn at least $960,000 on a new contract in 2012, will become eligible for salary arbitration after 2013, and will be eligible for free agency at the end of the 2015 season.
Matusz should be a fast mover through the minors and probably won't even use all of his options, but in general, major-league deals are bad deals for the signing clubs. The risk of a player running out of options is always there, and giving a player a 40-man roster spot before it's required means that the team may not have that spot when they need to add another player, either to recall him to the majors or to protect him from the Rule 5 Draft. A player should receive a lower signing bonus if he gets a major-league deal because the club is losing the value of that roster spot for some period of time, and it appears that that's one of several ways in which the Orioles got a bargain in their negotiations with Matusz.

[princeton]

Matusz signed a contract for 2009, so the team won't use an option for him this year, meaning that he'd be "out of options" after 2012 (assuming he was optioned in each of those four seasons) and then would have to clear waivers to be assigned to the minors.

I assume that the Reds will assign Alonso to Sarasota on "rehab" so that they don't burn up a year of options for a week of games

[corkedbat]

I assume that the Reds will assign Alonso to Sarasota on "rehab" so that they don't burn up a year of options for a week of games

IIRC, someone posted that he would not burn an option if he played fewer than a certain number of minor league games this season (I believe it was 20).

[camisadelgolf]

IIRC, someone posted that he would not burn an option if he played fewer than a certain number of minor league games this season (I believe it was 20).

If he spends less than 20 days on a minor league roster, he does not use an option year.

[Sea Ray]

If he spends less than 20 days on a minor league roster, he does not use an option year.

So does that mean he'll get 4 options starting next year?


The ordinary limit for one player is three options (that is, three years in which the player was assigned via option to the minors), but a player who signs a major-league contract out of the draft will almost always qualify for the fourth option exemption, if needed. Matusz signed a contract for 2009, so the team won't use an option for him this year, meaning that he'd be "out of options" after 2012 (assuming he was optioned in each of those four seasons) and then would have to clear waivers to be assigned to the minors.

[jojo]

So does that mean he'll get 4 options starting next year?

I think it depends if he gets put onto the 25 man roster at some point before he'd use the 4th option year.

[camisadelgolf]

So does that mean he'll get 4 options starting next year?

Yes.