UPDATE: Reds & Homer Bailey agree on 6 yr / $105 Million Contract

[PepperJack]

I don't know if this adds any validity to the news, but Reds PR assistant Jamie Ramsey expelled the virtues of Homer just after news broke.

https://twitter.com/Jamieblog

The #Reds were 16-16 last year in games that Homer Bailey pitched. Here are the Reds game-by-game run totals in the 16 defeats....(+)

0, 0, 2, 2, 1, 4, 0, 3, 0, 3, 2, 2, 1, 4, 2, 1

Homer's 2013 WHIP of 1.12 was the best among all Reds pitchers since 1995 (Schourek). WHIP is walks + hits divided by innings pitched

If you rely solely on his record, you're probably going to overlook how good Homer Bailey is. He turns 28 in May.

Though he did add this.

RT @ianroewer @Jamieblog is all your homer talk an indication a deal is close? //Honestly, I have no idea. Just reading Twitter.

He would only know for sure, if they told him to write up a news release.

[RedEye]

I always had a hunch this was what was going on behind the scenes. Especially since the Votto and BP contracts came back-to-back, Walt and Bob have been putting a lot of their energy into signing their own. Not a bad policy.

[dubc47834]

Darn that Walt and his penny-pinching bosses.

Yeah...it's time to move on from Walt!!!

[Tom Servo]

He's no Emilio Bonifacio.

[dsmith421]

Any long-term deal carries risks, but Homer's '12 and '13 seasons have been excellent and his peripherals indicate a pitcher that still has upside. If the Reds can keep Latos as well it gives the club two absolute hammers at the top of the rotation for the foreseeable future, and that's without considering Stephenson.

[Red Raindog]

happy dance coming I hope

[toledodan]

How does one hand out a 100 MM extension while asleep?

That's a noodle scratcher.

maybe he talks in his sleep

[CySeymour]

So after Homer, that would leave Leake, Cueto and Latos as free agents after the 2015 season. My guess is they'd only be able to sign one of those. Leake may be the most obvious cost wise.

[RedEye]

So after Homer, that would leave Leake, Cueto and Latos as free agents after the 2015 season. My guess is they'd only be able to sign one of those. Leake may be the most obvious cost wise.

Perhaps. But I hope they go after Latos.

[AmarilloRed]

The thing I'd like to know-is the 6th year guaranteed-or is it a option? I'll feel a lot better if it's a option.

[George Foster]

If Bailey does sign a deal now instead of after this season it proves he is not a gambler. I would take the deal too, it's the smart move. If you have an injury, or just a bad pitching year headed to free agency you lose a lot of money...a lot of money. Bird in the hand......

[Kc61]

This is good news, it sounds credible, and Walt in his interview today really emphasized LTC. I sensed that was his focus.

The concern would be Reds' flexibility to add to the team going forward. But presumably they know what they are doing in terms of team finances.

Good news, or report, or rumor, whatever.

[RedEye]

The concern would be Reds' flexibility to add to the team going forward. But presumably they know what they are doing in terms of team finances.

Bob Castellini seems emotional to me at times, but he doesn't strike me as an imprudent businessman. I have to believe they've got some sort of long-term financial plan for remaining competitive.

[Wonderful Monds]

But he doesn't want to be in Cincinnati no more...

[Kc61]

Bob Castellini seems emotional to me at times, but he doesn't strike me as an imprudent businessman. I have to believe they've got some sort of long-term financial plan for remaining competitive.

Agree.

You know, I still wish the Reds had re-arranged the offense a bit in the off-season. Not necessarily a huge addition, but something. But if Bailey signs it's a positive baseball move.

If the signing happens, I hope the press asks Bob or Walt about flexibility for the future. I'd like to hear the answer. On the Bowden show today, after Walt's interview, the hosts were speculating that the Reds might sign Bailey and follow it up with a hitter by the deadline.