Post Predicts Aurilia Will Get Over $2 Million

[Henry Clay]

This is from today's Cincinnati Post:

Shortly after the World Series, Aurilia and the Reds mutually agreed to decline an option for 2006 that would have paid him $2 million. If he does return to Cincinnati, it likely won't be for significantly more than that figure. Aurilia doesn't have much leverage on that front, as his time on the open market hasn't generated the kind of offers he hoped for.

Signing Aurilia at this point is a bad idea absent any discussion of contract terms. The Womack trade makes signing Aurilia make no sense. I actually would have preferred Aurilia to Womack, but that train has sailed. To give Aurilia an amount OVER the $2 million option that was rejected makes no sense. The market isn't biting on the guy. The Reds would be bidding against themselves and paying a premium for a guy who should be filling a utility role and get utility money. A part of the team's analysis needs to be a study of what it will take away from the team in terms of youth development in those positions (Olmedo, Bergolla), money for long-term deals (Dunn, Kearns, Pena, Harang, Claussen), and the chance of using a cheaper option from the marketplace or even from the minor league system (Holbert). After all, the team already has Freel, Womack, Olmedo, and Bergolla and can keep the $2 million plus Aurilia might get. I feel like this decision (along with a number of the veteran signings) is being made off of a Fleer baseball card set that is 5 or 6 years old. If the Reds dedicate $4 million or more to Aurilia and Womack this next season, there will much gnashing of teeth.

[NC Reds]

The Reds need to figure out how to get Dunn and Kearns signed to long-term deals. Don't waste money on Rich at this point.

[4256 Hits]

Every time I log on to the Redszone I am scared that I am going to see a sticky on top that Aurilia has been signed. So far I get to smile when there isn't one but I still think in the next day or two he is going to sign.

[Joseph]

Well the deadline is soon.

[KronoRed]

Every time I log on to the Redszone I am scared that I am going to see a sticky on top that Aurilia has been signed.

Same here, talk about executing 2006 before it even begins.

[Hondo]

I have posted this before but Dan O'Brein needs to sign Austin Kearns to a 4 year/ 10 million dollar deal, and that will domino effect the Adam Dunn situation into a 6 year/60 million dollar deal...He wants to know his buddys are not all gonna get jetisoned in trades....ala Aaron, Sean, etc...

I believe Sean Casey will resign with Cincy after he is a Free-Agent as a backup here...

[Phhhl]

When exactly is the deadline to sign Aurillia? I keep hoping and praying time runs out and we can forget about this guy. For some reason, I thought today was the day. When is it?

[Elam]

When exactly is the deadline to sign Aurillia? I keep hoping and praying time runs out and we can forget about this guy. For some reason, I thought today was the day. When is it?

Sunday night at midnight I believe.

[Phhhl]

Sunday night at midnight I believe.

Thanks.

I don't know what people expected from Encarnacion last year. But, I was very pleased with how he played after the Randa trade... errors notwithstanding. I just feel that there is absolutely no question that it will be Womack at second and Aurillia at third if he is signed... especially at 2 mil. Aurillia's behavior borderlined on insubordinate with some of his comments in the paper last year. He's an old fart malcontent with no range who can't get on base, and there is absolutely no reason to even carry him on this squad even as a utility man. To go into next season with him in a starting role will signify the lowest ebb of this decade.

[RFS62]

We ran a tremendous offensive machine out there last year. Our defense was putrid, and made our already historically bad pitching that much worse.

So what are we looking to do? Replace rangy defenders with no range guys who can put the bat on the ball and hit to the right side and do the little things, as if the offense was the problem. We're weakening the offense by not playing to our strengths, and we're weakening the defense and as an extension the pitching with aging statues in the field, all to satisfy age old baseball axioms that don't apply to our style of play.

I'm ok with an offense that gets em on, over and in. We're not geared that way, and we thumped to incredible numbers with what we've got. And we got thumped with the pathetic pitching and defense we ran out there.

So, let's hurt our strengths and make our weakness' more weak.

Good plan.

[creek14]

We ran a tremendous offensive machine out there last year. Our defense was putrid, and made our already historically bad pitching that much worse.

So what are we looking to do? Replace rangy defenders with no range guys who can put the bat on the ball and hit to the right side and do the little things, as if the offense was the problem. We're weakening the offense by not playing to our strengths, and we're weakening the defense and as an extension the pitching with aging statues in the field, all to satisfy age old baseball axioms that don't apply to our style of play.

I'm ok with an offense that gets em on, over and in. We're not geared that way, and we thumped to incredible numbers with what we've got. And we got thumped with the pathetic pitching and defense we ran out there.

So, let's hurt our strengths and make our weakness' more weak.

Good plan.

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, it's so warm and cozy here now that 62 has come over to the dark side.

[RFS62]

Ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, it's so warm and cozy here now that 62 has come over to the dark side.

I've tried to be fair. I tried to give DanO a chance, to state his plan and show some results.

That isn't a permanent free pass, and his ticket got punched with me with the Milton and Ortiz acquisitions.

He's in over his head.

I'm sick to death of letting guys learn on the job in Cincy. We pay for their mistakes for years.

[westofyou]

I'm sick to death of letting guys learn on the job in Cincy. We pay for their mistakes for years.

Everything sticks like a broken record
Everything sticks until it goes away
And the truth is, we don't know anything

A winning Reds team and I are getting old
And we still haven't walked in the glow of each other's majestic presence
Listen Reds hear my words
They're the ones you would think I would say if there was a me for you

[RFS62]

How ironic to use They Might Be Giants in any reference to the Reds.

[Chip R]

How ironic to use They Might Be Giants in any reference to the Reds.

If DanO keeps signing these old guys that may be more apt than you think.