That's true, but no significant free agents there either that maybe we could have signed... I just thought it was fun to think about
That's true, but no significant free agents there either that maybe we could have signed... I just thought it was fun to think about
Matt Thornton +$750,000 just traded to Red Sox for Brandon Jacobs
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/0...medium=twitter
Last edited by LoganBuck; 07-12-2013 at 11:55 PM.
Hugs, smiling, and interactive Twitter accounts, don't mean winning baseball. Until this community understands that we are cursed to relive the madness.
Rios makes the most sense. Although his contract may be a problem in trying to resign Choo if that matters.
If the choice is Choo or Rios, it's a no-brainer, IMO. Choo.
IMO, Rios contract and it's impact on next season are pretty moot. I don't think the Reds have room to take on much money at all this season. To acquire Choo in the first place, The Reds needed Ludwick to defer $4.5 Million in the form of an option buy-out and the Indians to kick in $3 Million in the trade. The Reds were out of Payflex before they acquired Choo. Shrewd budgeting by Walt got it done (and is probably an unnoticed series of moves that should get him consideration for Exec of the year).
I'd have liked to have Thornton and the talent in the deal wasn't anything the Reds couldn't match. IMO, the Reds couldn't take on the $3 Million or so it would have cost them.
This is why I think the targets need to be lower dollar role players who may be able to prop things up incrementally while we wait for Ludwick, Cueto, Marshall and Broxton to return. The White Sox guys to target would probably be Alejandro De Aza (owed about $1 Million for the rest of the year) and/or Matt Lindstrom (About $1.5 Million). To get De Aza in particular, the Reds would probably need to give up a much more highly regarded player than the guy in this deal. To get both, the Reds would probably need to convince the Sox to take some money back, maybe somebody like Ondrusek.
All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!
Reds either need to get an impending free agent or, if longer term, somebody capable of playing CF. With Ludwick signed for next year a corner man signed for 2014 makes less sense.
Reds also need a catcher who can hit a little. They are getting nothing from that position and the guys are banged up. A stop gap veteran.
I like Rojo's Ryan Doumit idea. He can catch, has pop and may get a Ludwick like bounce moving to GABP. He's owed a little over $1.5 Million for the rest of the year and $3.5 for 2014. When Ludwick comes back he can be a good bench player who provides a third catcher, can play corner OF and spell Votto at 1B. He's a switch hitter who has been better against LHP this year, but it's kind of mixed for his career. He'd be a good get for the bench IMO and could take some PT in the OF until Ludwick comes back. Not sure if his money next year would hurt much, but maybe the Reds could find a taker for Hannahan. LH Bats who can play 3B might be something a team would take off the Reds' hands.
All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!
I liked Doumit as a player when he played for the Pirates (though not when they played the Reds). Switch-hitter with power, versatile enough to play C, 1B, and OF (though IMO he is below-average defensively at C and RF). He reminded me of Eddie Taubensee (though Eddie was a left-handed hitter). He would be a good target for bench strength and part-time duty in LF.
Another player I think the Reds could target is Marlon Byrd. He would look pretty good in LF until Ludwick is back up to speed, and I think he has an advantageous contract. And much like Doumit and the Twins, the Mets aren't going anywhere.
Eric Stratton, Rush Chairman. Damn glad to meet ya.
Disagree.
I don't think the Reds spent hundreds of millions of dollars on Votto, Phillips, Bruce et al to not squeak out an extra $4-$8M to get them over the hump to a potential championship. A midseason acquisition looks a lot different than an offseason one. This is not Carl Lindner and John Allen's Reds, this is Bob Castellini. He knows what it takes to win, and if it means a couple extra million, he'll figure out a way to make it happen IMO.
Not insinuating that we'll see a big name acquisition for sure, but I don't think money will be the driving factor, especially if we're just talking about a couple of extra million bucks for this year. A LTD is another story.
That said, de Aza wouldn't be the worst target (I was actually thinking about him the other day). While he's not a great defensive CF, this could be a good buy-low opportunity. One problem is he bats lefty, so he wouldn't be a good platoon partner for Paul or Choo this year or next.
Go BLUE!!!
vaticanplum (07-14-2013)
Who would I love for the Reds to have? Jose Reyes.
With the Blue Jays going 3-7 in their last 10 they are now 8 and 1/2 out of the 2nd wildcard and 12 out in the division.
Now, he's owed a ton of money. But, if the Reds let Choo and Arroyo go this offseason I think they could get him.
Only problem is the only way I see the Reds getting him is if they give up Stephenson. I guess it depends on how much you really want to go for it this year.
Imagine in August this lineup:
Reyes
Choo
Votto
Ludwick
Bruce
Phillips
Frazier
Mesoraco
Also, looking ahead to 2014, if Hamilton is able to turn it on a little look at the potential 2014 lineup:
Reyes
Hamilton
Votto
Ludwick
Bruce
Phillips
Frazier
Mesoraco
If Hamilton turns the corner the top of that lineup is just insane. It'd be like the 80's Cardinals on base in front of Votto.
Would you do Stephenson for Reyes?
Last edited by NeilHamburger; 07-13-2013 at 03:10 PM.
Yet they jammed all kinds of money in 2014 with the way they structured deals with Ludwick, Hannahan, Broxton and Latos. It sure looks like there is no money left for 2013. Low Dollar acquisitions will likely have to do. It's possible that Cast will step-up now that the season is half over, the Reds in position but showing some needs, but that would be the exception that got it done. The Reds are pretty obviously at their limit IMO.
All my posts are my opinion - just like yours are. If I forget to state it and you're too dense to see the obvious, look here!
I think that's kind of the point.
The season is half over. The team is in contention with a few obvious holes/needs. Attendance has been strong. A pennant is likely within reach.
I think Reds fans have been (understandably) conditioned to think like this after years of austerity and penny-pinchin without an understanding of what it takes to win under the Lindner/Allen/Bowden regimes. It was this same kind of thinking that led most if not all Reds fans to think locking up Votto long term was impossible. And then after Votto, extending Phillips was really impossible. Castellini proved that it wasn't, and it's not.
Ever gone to a casino with a clear spending limit, hit that limit, but have eleven against a dealer's 6? You have to double down, even of it means going over your predetermined limit. Otherwise, you're not playing to win. I think Castellini understands that as well as anyone.
Last edited by Benihana; 07-13-2013 at 05:13 PM.
Go BLUE!!!
Revering4Blue (07-13-2013)
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