[lidspinner]

by signing Votto like we did the Reds brass will have the spend the better part of the next 5 years figuring out how to contend while using younger players who wont break the bank....now, if we all of a sudden become the Cardinals and sell out every home game and content for a World Series title each and every year then we might be able to afford a Stanton type contract but without those scenarios falling perfectly in place we will never have 2 Votto type contracts on this team at the same time....

In a perfect world where money did not matter I would do that trade for sure...who knows what those minor leagueres will do when they make it to the big leagues.....we know what Giancarlo can do and he would make this lineup pretty scary and we would automatically be a staple in the playoffs for the next few years......

but on the other hand, I am counting on those minor league pitchers that you just traded away to anchor this teams pitching staff for the future....now we need to find another sure fire starter and a pen guy, possibly closer in Stephenson......those are not just pitchers that you trade away and still expect to win games.....that is IF they pan out.

good topic and a good what if.....its fun to read everyones opinion on what they would do....sure makes for some good thoughts.....remember this, if Giancarlo has another good to great year in 2013, he will break the arbitration record or come close to it....if he has another great to above great year in 2014 he will break ARods contract hands down and he will be sought after by every owner with half a billion dollars sitting around for a contract. (half a billion might be an exaggeration but I could see him fetching 360-380 mill for 12 years.......he has that type of star power if he puts it together like most experts think he will....once he learns, or should I say IF he learns how to be a hitter and not just a power hitter, you will see a contract like the one I stated....its comming from some owner thats for sure.