Cincinnati Reds general manager Dan O'Brien announced the signing of free-agent LHP Kent Mercker to a two-year contract.
Mercker, 36, enjoyed one of his finest seasons in 2004, finishing 3-1 with a 2.55 ERA in a career-high 71 appearances for the Cubs. He held opponents to a .205 batting average, including .237 by lefthanders and .172 by righthanders.
In 138 relief apps during the last 2 seasons for the Reds, Braves and Cubs, Mercker has posted a sterling 2.24 ERA.
Money Guesses?
IIRC Redread was willing to go 4 million to Kent a week ago.
I say 2.3
For 2 years, just to clarifyOriginally Posted by westofyou
Not 4 million for 1 year.
That said, I'm pleasantly surprised that DanO was able to pull this off.
I know that some will say that he's not worth the money on a rebuilding club (assuming he makes over 1 million), but this is a great signing, IMO. It will make the club much more bearable to watch.
Good work DanOYou've had a pretty good offseason so far. Maybe not optimal, but a huge improvement from last year when you ignored all the clubs' problems. Nice to see him actually making an attempt to do something this year.
[Phil ] Castellini celebrated the team's farm system and noted the team had promising prospects who would one day be great Reds -- and then joke then they'd be ex-Reds, saying "of course we're going to lose them". #SellTheTeamBob
Nov. 13, 2007: One of the greatest days in Reds history: John Allen gets the boot!
In the Reds world of babystep improvements all I can say is: at least it's pitching!!!
“And when finally they sense that some position cannot be sustained, they do not re-examine their ideas. Instead, they simply change the subject.” Jamie Galbraith
For 2 years, just to clarify
Not 4 million for 1 year.
That said, I'm pleasantly surprised that DanO was able to pull this off.
I know that some will say that he's not worth the money on a rebuilding club (assuming he makes over 1 million), but this is a great signing, IMO. It will make the club much more bearable to watch.
Good work DanO
:MandJ: Well, DanO still has work to do, but it's a marked improvement from last year. I'm not ready to cannonize him yet. A lot of his offseason grade will depend on how these new acquisions actually produce, but last offseason, DanO deserved a failing grade. At least he has potential to get a C or B- for this offseason.
Of course, there's still plenty of time to do something dumb like non-tender Jimmeniz, and hurt his grade.
[Phil ] Castellini celebrated the team's farm system and noted the team had promising prospects who would one day be great Reds -- and then joke then they'd be ex-Reds, saying "of course we're going to lose them". #SellTheTeamBob
Nov. 13, 2007: One of the greatest days in Reds history: John Allen gets the boot!
... or actually bring in a legitimate stud pitcher. If you pull the little nuggets of info from the lines and lines of filler in DOB's quotes, it really sounds like they're trying to bring in some starting pitching.
Let's say DOB lands someone like Millwood and signs Jimenez. What would you give him for a grade for the offseason?
I'm hoping not more then 500K a year, but I know it'll be more.
Kinda low, 2 years of good numbers, LH... you have to think market price.
which is why I know he'll get more money. I'm just saying what I would have paid for him.
The REDS may not have the best bullpen in baseball this year, but they'll be fighting for the oldest in baseball soon.
John Franco next? He fits the minimum age requirements for this club. Is Jesse Orosco available? Can Hume still pitch?
If there is one position you can sign the old guys at, it's relief. We improved, that's all I care about... but the cash he's getting could change things...
Probably triple that figure, I imagine.
I would be willing to go 2 years, $1.5MM total, and that's stretching it, IMO. Anything above that is a bad signing, IMO.
Grape works as a soda. Sort of as a gum. I wonder why it doesn't work as a pie. Grape pie? There's no grape pie. - Larry David
Merker makes number 41 on the roster - someone has to go!
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