Who plays CF in 2014?

[Wonderful Monds]

It seems increasingly unlikely that it'll be Choo. I still don't think Hamilton will be ready, recent hot streak aside.

I would like them to find the Choo of 2014 if one is out there. My guy to look at would be Colby Rasmus. Toronto wasn't anything great this year, and Rasmus is only under contract for one more year. Even if Toronto feels like they can contend, I feel like a player under a one year contract could be had for the right offer, if you can convince a team on the fringe like Toronto you can still help their roster out even without him.

[Gizmo]

I would still like for them to find a way to make it be Choo for another year. Probably not gonna happen, but the guy has been vital to our success this season and would hate to lose him at the top of the order.

[Trajinous]

Center fielders

Rick Ankiel (34)
Coco Crisp (34) - $7.5MM club option with a $1MM buyout
Rajai Davis (33)
Jacoby Ellsbury (30)
Curtis Granderson (33)
Franklin Gutierrez (31) - $7.5MM club option with a $500K buyout
Tony Gwynn Jr. (31)
Nyjer Morgan (33)
Andres Torres (36)
Chris Young (30) - $11MM club option with a $1.5MM buyout

These are the Free Agents for Centerfield, according to mlbtraderumors.com. Pretty bleak outside of Granderson and Ellsbury. They will be really expensive and may be cheaper to re-sign Choo. I really hope they do and sell him this team's ability to contend for the next 3 years.

Otherwise the Reds are going to fill it internally with Heisey and maybe Hamilton if he ready.

[davereds24]

I know he makes a decent amount now, but this will be Choo's one and most likely only chance at a huge contract. He's not going to take a discount IMO.

I like what Heisey brings in CF actually, but only if they had an above average bat in LF, and I don't think Ludwick can provide that. I'd take Crisp but financially I see Hamilton getting the keys.

[Larkin Fan]

No thanks on Heisey. He's best when used in small doses.

[Wonderful Monds]

No thanks on Heisey. He's best when used in small doses.

Yeah, they have to do better than that. Need a real starter in CF.

[Ironman92]

Yeah, they have to do better than that. Need a real starter in CF.

Like Stubbs, Patterson or Taveras....

[RedlegJake]

Of that list only Granderson and Ellsbury are really much better than Heisey, imo. Neither of them are going to be worth what they get, either. A platoon partner for Heisey maybe? Crisp against righties is .287/.359/.467/.827
Heisey against lefties .270/.317/.541/.858
Gutierrez against righties .283/.313/.630/.943

note that Gutierrez will almost certainly be bought out of his option (500K buyout against a 7.5mm opt)since he is a health risk (only 149 games since 2011) but if he could be signed to a 1 year low cost "prove yourself again" type deal he might be a good risk and an excellent platoon partner for Chris

[armybrat45103]

Hamilton will open in 2014. If he falters, we may see Ervin faster than we though.

[dubc47834]

Hamilton will open in 2014. If he falters, we may see Ervin faster than we though.

Everything I have heard says that BHam will not open up with the Reds. I personally don't think he is an everyday answer tho.

[AmarilloRed]

Since Stubbs was brought up earlier in the thread, he's got a .678 OPS this year with Cleveland. I checked the Indians board and they think that's just fine for the #9 slot.I really expect him to do .670-.700 for the near future.

Although-he will be entering his arbitration years soon. That had to be a calculation the Reds made when they made the trade. That-and his terrible year in 2012.

[REDREAD]

Since Stubbs was brought up earlier in the thread, he's got a .678 OPS this year with Cleveland. I checked the Indians board and they think that's just fine for the #9 slot.I really expect him to do .670-.700 for the near future.

Although-he will be entering his arbitration years soon. That had to be a calculation the Reds made when they made the trade. That-and his terrible year in 2012.

Yes. Stubbs is not a horrible complimentary player. I think the Reds had to move him to Cleveland to get the $$ to work for Choo.

For example, if Stubbs was a FA, he'd be a nice stop gap to play CF next year until BHam is deemed ready.

I have the feeling that BHam's first year is going to require some patience from the fans and the media. The guy was promoted aggressively. He struggled the first half in AAA, but then did much better in the second half.
I worry a bit about when he's promoted. Is extra time in AAA going to lessen his adjustment period in the major leagues? I honestly don't know, but I can see lots of people turning on him when he struggles the first 6-8 weeks in the bigs.
Heck, Parra didn't get much of a grace period when he started the year.

[PepperJack]

Depending on how the team feels about Hamilton for next season, there are tiers to this question.


Reds think Hamilton is "close": Cheap stopgap for a season. DeJesus would have worked here had they claimed him. Tells me they either didn't think highly of him for the job, didn't have the money, or think maybe the Rays will cut him loose after the season, and could get him cheaper then.
If money is super tight, I could see DRob and Heisey platoon, while hoping Hamilton is ready by midseason or earlier.

If Reds think Hamilton is a year+ away: I would look into players such as Gerrardo Parra( poor man's Choo), Emilio Bonifacio( and hope he rebounds), or some other fringy type CF.

[Kingspoint]

Anyone but Choo, or anyone else that bad defensively.

[Kingspoint]

All right. Let's bring back Stubbs.

I deserved that. (and knew it was coming)