Larkin Fan (10-22-2013),RichRed (10-22-2013)
It may only be one OF slot that gets filled (Choo or the guy who replace Choo and who likely will not be as good as Choo was in 2013). A lot depends on where the teams stands on Hamilton and Ludwick.
Since the OF stands to get less from a not-Choo option, you need to get more elsewhere. Again, I come back to C and SS.
BTW, I'm fine with going after lesser names (for instance, I still think Will Venable could be a steal for the Reds), but the production needs to materialize. If the Reds go after a long shot and he fails, it's going to hit the team right in the W-L record.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
Wil Venable will break your heart. I pick him up for my fantasy team EVERY YEAR. I dunno why. Just fascinated with the potential power and speed.
And every year, I cut him.
too erratic.
Dubito Ergo Cogito Ergo Sum.
CHOOOCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
pahster (10-22-2013)
He's also got a 750 career OPS. Career 322 OBP, not crazy out of line with the rest of the Reds. He's not going to be a savior. He's a catcher, chances are he's going to have some flaws offensively. Otherwise he'd be getting 100 milli like McCann might (and even he is not without his major flaws.)
He's not the Reds final answer, but he would have been the Reds best catcher this year.
Not the end of the world if they don't win next year. If right now there's no payflex, then I think you roll the dice on lesser talents. If you're on top in July, great. If not, you start to clear some of the dross from the roster, maybe get back some talent, and look to add some big pieces next winter.
The Reds could use more thump, but I don't think catcher is the position to search for it. Catching is a position where defense is at a premium. I'd rather have a light-hitting defensive wiz than a declining catcher who was known for his offense, especially at the price tag McCann will demand (possibly more than Molina for some silly reason). An organization like the Reds needs to get "thump" from the corner outfield and infield positions. I'd rather see upgrades at LF and 3B than at catcher.
And where would McCann play in a few years when his knees start to go? He's not playing first.
joshua (10-24-2013)
Todd Frazier was 9th among MLB 3Bs in HR. Unless you've got a plan to land Miguel Cabrera, Pedro Alvarez, Evan Longoria, Adrian Beltre or Ryan Zimmerman, then you're probably not going to get a lot more HR thump than Frazier can provide. And you're certainly not going to get it at a better price point than Frazier.
As for LF, it's tied to CF. Do the Reds re-sign Choo? If so, does he play LF or CF? The long-term answer in CF looks to be Billy Hamilton and he is no power hitter. So the Reds ultimately aren't going to be gaining a lot of thump in the OF. Bruce + Hamilton + Choo-level power leaves them roughly where they were in 2013.
So there's LF and 3B out the window in terms of piling on a lot of extra power. Meanwhile the Reds were 27th in MLB for HRs and SLG from catchers. Point being, if you aren't willing to add thump behind the plate on this team yet you still want to add power for the long-term, then I suggest trading Billy Hamilton.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
Mes is hitting 16 hr's per 162, McCann 126. 10 hr's isn't anything to sneeze at. But you consider that McCann is probably entering his twilight and Mes entering his prime and that gap could shrink.
Reds LF's hit 14 homers. I think that would be an easier and cheaper place to find 10 homers.
You're being selective with your choice of stats. Frazier may have been 9th in HRs, but he was 12th in SLG, 14th in OPS, and 15th in wOBA. Who could the Reds get to replace Frazier? I'd like to see Walt go after Chase Headley. You're not going to get a lot more HRs from Headley, but "thumping" isn't just HRs. I think Headley could thrive at the GABP after spending so many seasons at Petco.
Any upgrades are going to cost money. I worry more about McCann aging than Headley. McCann isn't a great defensive catcher in the first place, and he's probably going to get 5+ years. If he's still catching after 5 years, I doubt he's doing it very well.
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