I agree. It may not be top priority but it would help. My main concern would be:
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The key to this deal, if it happens, is the money. Rolen is worth money, if the Reds have it to spend, but I think it would put the Reds near their limit. If they can give better prospects and split the money, I'd do it, unless the prospects are expected to contribute next year.
I think the Reds finally realized that they can't compete with EE's glove at 3B. Rolen's glove will be a more important upgrade than his bat.
I'd argue that 3b and CF are the biggest problems with the offense to date.
Hey, at least our pitchers are good hitters!Code:Split G GS PA AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS TB GDP HBP SH SF IBB ROE BAbip tOPS+ sOPS+
as DH 9 38 32 5 11 3 0 3 7 1 0 5 8 .344 .447 .719 1.166 23 1 1 0 0 0 0 .381 225 192
as P 86 203 171 11 25 4 1 3 13 0 0 6 59 .146 .174 .234 .408 40 5 0 25 1 0 2 .200 15 134
as C 95 387 331 31 98 16 2 3 30 4 5 45 38 .296 .379 .384 .762 127 6 2 4 5 6 2 .322 118 115
as PH 80 143 124 15 27 10 2 2 11 3 0 19 44 .218 .322 .379 .701 47 3 0 0 0 3 0 .321 98 114
as 2B 95 410 363 54 100 16 3 16 69 15 8 33 41 .275 .334 .468 .802 170 13 3 3 8 3 4 .268 125 112
as 1B 95 413 360 54 109 18 1 16 63 5 1 46 70 .303 .389 .492 .881 177 8 5 2 0 5 4 .339 148 110
as Infield 95 2006 1759 210 467 90 8 47 227 27 15 185 279 .265 .340 .406 .746 714 38 23 19 20 19 21 .289 111 98
at Def. Pos. 95 1628 1451 184 386 75 8 25 149 40 17 122 199 .266 .324 .380 .705 552 29 12 24 19 13 16 .290 99 93
at Off. Pos. 95 1626 1430 172 346 66 6 55 183 12 9 157 320 .242 .324 .412 .736 589 23 21 9 9 9 17 .273 108 87
as RF 95 408 362 42 79 16 2 19 51 5 3 42 79 .218 .302 .431 .733 156 6 2 1 1 2 3 .226 106 86
as SS 95 396 360 42 86 27 1 4 31 7 3 22 55 .239 .290 .353 .643 127 6 5 6 3 4 4 .270 82 82
as LF 95 405 363 47 84 19 2 12 35 1 2 30 96 .231 .298 .394 .692 143 4 6 2 4 1 3 .278 95 79
as Outfield 95 1248 1122 146 265 51 6 33 105 25 11 94 240 .236 .299 .381 .680 427 14 10 14 8 3 12 .271 92 77
as 3B 95 400 345 29 74 13 1 8 34 1 3 39 75 .214 .306 .328 .633 113 5 8 4 4 1 7 .248 80 70
as CF 95 435 397 57 102 16 2 2 19 19 6 22 65 .257 .297 .322 .620 128 4 2 11 3 0 6 .300 76 66
Fwiw, that chart isn't exactly the best way to point to the difference between EE & Rolen. Rolen would replace EE. Only EE. That chart includes everyone that has had any time at 3rd (Hairston, Rosales, Sutton, etc).
This is just what the Jays have been waiting for. Rolen has a healthy stretch and some sucker with a history with him comes along and takes him off their hands before his back explodes again. All things considered, I'd rather have EdE.
How quickly we forget Jr. landing on the DL again and again and again.
Gonzo is not going to be the primary shortstop next year. It would be ridiculous for that to happen. He's had too many injuries, too much mileage to be the primary shortstop next year. And his contract is up.
Anything's possible, but that's not a realistic scenario.
As for third base, it's not as if EE has been injury free this season. Worst case, we have another mix and match year at third. And it's not like Griffey at all. Rolen isn't getting a lengthy extension, this is for a couple of years.
I'm not ecstatic about this possibility, but it would be a reasonable risk, a decent move for 2010 if the price is not too high.
Rolen didn't miss that much time before his current contract started. So I wouldn't be surprised if his next contract addresses injury concerns.
Like others have mentioned, this only works if there are also other moves made as well. It's something entirely different if it's the only move.