If you were GM what would you do in the next 10 days??

Here is what I do......

I attempt to play the teams that lose out on Halladay against each other and get the most value that I can for Harang. Right now the best deal that I have seen proposed has been the Yankees deal; Aaron Harang and Chris Dickerson/Drew Stubbs to New York for Phillip Hughes, Miguel Cabrera, and Jesus Montero.

I then look to deal one of the relievers of Weathers or Rhodes. I would attempt to package them with Arroyo and look at either the Dodgers or the Angels. I would still look at getting SS Brandon Wood from the Angels; Bronson Arroyo and David Weathers to the Angels for Brandon Wood and Sean O'Sullivan.

I also consider kicking the tires on a Francisco Cordero deal only because Hughes was obtained from the Yankees. It appears as though he has settled in nicely as a setup guy, according to Yankees' fans. Not sure what kind of return Cordero could get but I would think that he has some trade value right now.

This leaves the team after the trades like this.

C - Ryan Hanigan
1B - Joey Votto
2B - Brandon Phillips
SS - Brandon Wood
3B - Edwin Encarnacion
LF - Melky Cabrera
CF - Willy Taveras/Chris Dickerson
RF - Laynce Nix/Jonny Gomes/Jay Bruce when he is back from the DL

SP - Edinson Volquez
SP - Johnny Cueto
SP - Homer Bailey
SP - Micah Owings
SP - Matt Maloney/Travis Wood

Bullpen then consists of Masset, Hughes, Herrera, Fisher, Roenicke, Burton, and Cordero if he is not traded. I think this can make quite a team, a good balance of left and right-handed hitters. What would everyone else do?

I'd give Rick Sweet a hint that there could be a promotion coming at the end of the season.

I'd trade Arroyo or Harang and keep the other for the rest of this season and all of next season.

I'd begin getting Votto one start a week in Left Field.

I'd DFA Willy Taveras and Jerry Hairston, Jr.

In the trade for Harang or Arroyo, I'd try to get a Major League Shortstop.

I'd keep Edwin and try to trade him during the off-season, as his value will be higher and the club's prospects at 3rd Base will be more clear.

The Reds are clearly not going to contend for anything this season, HOWEVER, that does not mean you sell solid veterans for minor leaguers 2-3 years away. If I were to deal the likes of Harang, Arroyo, Cordero, etc. I would want major league ready guys to step in. So I looked at some deal I hadn't thought about before and actually it looked good.

1. Cincinnati Reds trade SP Aaron Harang to the New York Yankees for SP Phil Hughes, C Jesus Montero and a PTBNL. WHY? The Yankees are desperate for a SP and Phil Hughes doesn't seem to handle the New York pressure. Word is Cashman has no place for Hughes and is growing tired of his inconsistancy. Of course most of you know the Reds are already talking to Yankees about a deal similar to this one (via my source).

2. Cincinnati Reds trade CL Francisco Cordero and RP Arthur Rhodes to the Los Angeles Dodgers for CF Matt Kemp, SS Devaris Gordon and a PTBNL. WHY? Really the two Dodger weaknesses are the bullpen and back of the rotation. Here they get a great closer and a shut down lefty specialist who can get out righties as well. The Reds get their CF for now and the future and a very high ceiling guy at SS. This trade is possible because of Juan Pierre's good play and the Dodgers depth at CF in the minor leagues.

3. Cincinnati Reds trade SP Bronson Arroyo and SS Jerry Hairston Jr. to the New York Mets for SP Jonathan Niese and 1B/OF Nick Evans. (Reds pick up half of Arroyo's contract). WHY? The Mets really need two things: A SP and a veteran SS, they get both here and at half the price. The Reds receive a minor league lefty SP and a future utility man in Nick Evans.

Offseason: With money freed up by dealing Cordero, Harang and Arroyo I think the Reds need to go after a LF with some pop and a SS to hold the position until Gordon is ready. But the only real LF's with pop who will be on the market are Jason Bay and Matt Holliday, both are too expensive. So I think Todd Frazier needs to get his chance at 3B in 2009 and Edwin move to LF until Yonder Alonso is ready to play in the big leagues.

2010 Lineup:
1. CF Matt Kemp
2. SS Miguel Tejada
3. 1B Joey Votto
4. 2B Brandon Phillips
5. LF Edwin Encarnacion
6. RF Jay Bruce
7. 3B Todd Frazier
8. C Ryan Hanigan
9. P

2010 Rotation:
1. Johnny Cueto
2. Edinson Volquez
3. Homer Bailey
4. Phil Hughes
5. Micah Owings/Matt Maloney/Travis Wood/Zach Stewart/Mike Leake/Jonathan Niese

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2011 and Beyond Lineup:
1. SS Devaris Gordon
2. 2B Brandon Phillips
3. 1B Joey Votto
4. LF Yonder Alonso
5. CF Matt Kemp
6. RF Jay Bruce
7. 3B Todd Frazier
8. C Jesus Montero
9. P

2011 and Beyond Rotation:
1. Jonny Cueto
2. Edinson Volquez
3. Homer Bailey
4. Phil Hughes
5. Mike Leake

trade anyone making over 10 million next year.

Heck, I'd trade Weathers AND Rhodes if you can get any kind of booty for both of them. If not, keep one. Heck, I'd trade Arroyo AND Harang too. I think Aaron's hitting his decline and it would be smart to move him while he still has value. I just don't see either one of those guys being much better than replacement level next year, so why not move them now? Those 4 guys would be the guys I'd look to move, but not to make a move just to make one, only if it helps the team in 2010-11. I don't care about 2009 at this point. Cordero is an interesting chip as well.

I would also look to deal with AL clubs, because that league is so much better than the NL right now anybody with any success at all in the AL would blossom in the NL.

I would trade either Harang or Arroyo, possibly both to unload their contracts, and sign a bat with that free money in the offseason.
I would trade Weathers, and probably keep Rhodes since he's under contract at a steal of a price for next year.
Won't be able to trade Ramon now, but I wouldve done that before the injury.

And then i'd kick myself for not getting a bat in the offseason or even during the season when it still mattered and my team had a chance to do something. I'd have a hard time sleeping at night, knowing I knew what the problem was, and didn't try to fix it before it was too late. Thats what I would do.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by mroby85

And then i'd kick myself for not getting a bat in the offseason or even during the season when it still mattered and my team had a chance to do something. I'd have a hard time sleeping at night, knowing I knew what the problem was, and didn't try to fix it before it was too late. Thats what I would do.

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It kind of reminds me of the Cavs trading for Shaq in the offseason, the Cavs could have made the same move midseason last year but didn't, and they got punished for it in the playoffs. Everyone knew the Reds needed a bat(s) to compete, but instead of solving the problem now they are going to fix it when it is already too late.

I would just quite my job.

I'd trade Arroyo for whatever I could get to dump his salary, and would move Harang if I could get a decent price. I'd also look to trade Weathers and maybe Rhoads. I

'd also keep my eye out for a guy that could be the long term answer for the RH bat issue. I told a friend of mine last year that even though the Reds were "sellers" that I would have LOVED for them to make a run at Jason Bay (and I still wish that they had). If you can find a youngish RH bat that isn't a rent-a-player, I'd work to make that happen.

First, I'd trade Harang for the best shortstop I could find, then I trade Weathers for the best available player I could find.

I keep Arroyo because he eats innings and though he's not a #1 or #2 or maybe even a #3 guy, he will take the ball and he's a good change of pace to have at the back of the rotation.

I also keep Rhodes because he's another mentor for our young staff, and lord knows we need a guy like that.

I'm not sure what Harang will bring us. He's clearly on the downhill slide, but surely he, and maybe Stubbs or another prospect can get us a good SS. This is the position, above any other, that absolutely HAVE to get better at, and we have a couple of players that will be able to get us what we need.

These 2 players are dealt, not so much to push this year, but to really focus on next year.

I would drink as much beer as humanly possible and hope some team gets desperate enough to take some of this chaff off my hands.

As always its easier said than done......what SS would you guys be getting for Arroyo/Harang? I seriously doubt Arroyo and Weathers would get you SS-Wood alone.

I would FIRE Dusty
Get someone with half a manager's brain in there and this team is instantly improved.

Trade EE while hes still got some value.


*a little bit more long team plan*
I would try to aquire some great role players like the Ryan Theriots, Mark DeRosas, Jeff Keppingers (funny we traded him) and surround my young players with guys who have the basic fundamentals. With some guys who can flat "get it done" combined with budding young guys like Votto & Bruce and I think your 1 big bat away from a really dangerous team with the type of talent our young starting pitchers have.

Send Micah Owings to Louisville and tell them he is the every day left fielder and see if he hits.

See if Micah Owings could really hit if he was an every day Left fielder.

Choice 1--Stand pat with the team I have now, but level with the fans. You know, the old "we've got a good young nucleus but we don't want to mortgage our future" line.
-----OR-----
Choice 2--If choice 1 seems undesirable, DO SOMETHING. Don't tell the fans we're buyers & then sit on my hands while things get worse each week. Heck, after the LA & Chi series, we'll probably have no chance to even finish at .500, much less enter the playoffs. But if I'm not going to stand pat, make some kind of a move.
I'm just so frustrated at the seeming paradox...we're buyers. but we're just not buying right now.