Alright, I want to see some opinions out of some Redszoners on what you would do this offseason. Harsh critiquing is gladly accepted from anyone, and any ones opinion is up for criticism. So Lets see what you would do if you were the Reds GM this off-season, and dont be afraid of calling me an idiot for my ideas...
Heres what I would do:
First of all I would tell Adam Dunn that he has two options, Work his tail off this off season, and fully devote himself to baseball. Or we'll trade him. This kid is loaded with potential, I just dont think he is working hard enough to show this potential. Now I dont know anything about Dunn, so he could be a really hard worker, Im just saying it isnt showing.
So if he decides he'd rather get traded, I offer him to the angels for the deal they wanted to give the Orioles, Ervin Santana and Eric Aybar. I dont know if they'd accept this, but they need power in their lineup, and Dunn would be a great DH.
After this deal, I swing Arroyo to the Devil Rays for Carl Crawford. Ala ESPN the Insider, Crawford is on the block for a top of the rotation starter.
I try to deal Hatte,Larue, and a prospect to the Red-Sox for Matt Clement. However they would have to eat some of Clement's salary so this may be unlikely.
I would then give Jose Guillen a short contract worth around 4 mil a year, just long enough to keep the seat warm for Jay Bruce.
I also then go lookin for Bullpen help. I offer JC Romero and Octavio Dotel, and let the duke it out for the closer job.
That means I go into the Season with this line up.
Crawford-CF
Phillips-2B
Griffey-LF
Encarnacion-3B
Guillen-RF
Votto-1B
Ross-C
Aybar-SS
And a opening day rotation of
Harang
Santana
Clement
Milton
Lohse
And a Bullpen of
Majz
Bray
Coffey
Dotel
Romero