[_Sir_Charles_]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

My quick reactions:

- Guthrie is a mid-rotation starter, just get LeCure back and you're in the same place. Hardy is a legit upgrade, but playing over his head offensively. Luke Scott has the same OPS as Chris Heisey and is a poor defensive LF.

- Gordon is up because Furcal cannot stay healthy

- Ramirez is a SS like Alonso is a LF. He also has a .601 OPS. I love the idea of acquiring Ramirez, but he's our LF or 3B of the future, not our SS fix in 2011. He also makes $15M, $15.5M, and $16M the next three years. I'm not sure if the money is there and even if it is for 2011, you're not picking up Phillips' option next year. On top of all of that, Ramirez is not exactly known for his great attitude and work ethic. Some of that is likely a lack of a mentor and his early success giving him a free pass -- but something tells me that won't fly in Cincy.

I'm not against a trade at all, but we have a bit of tendency to engage in grass-is-greener thinking in suggestions like this.

I'm not really FOR acquiring Ramirez...but I'd think that Dusty might be the perfect person to be that mentor for Ramirez and to knock him into shape. But that contract...I don't see it happening.