6 | Cincinnati Reds
2006: 3rd place 80-82
Manager: Jerry Narron.
Key free agents: SS Alex Gonzalez (3 years, $14 million), RP Mike Stanton (2 years, $5.5 million).
Acquired in trade: SP Kirk Saarloos (from Oakland), 1B-OF Jeff Conine (from Philadelphia).
Going, going, gone: 3B Rich Aurilia (signed by San Francisco), SS Royce Clayton (signed by Toronto), RP Ryan Franklin (signed by St. Louis), C Jason LaRue (traded to Kansas City), RP Scott Schoeneweis (signed by Mets).
On the hot seat: Can Ken Griffey Jr., now a right fielder, stay healthy? He hasn't had 500 at-bats in a season since 2000 and comes into this season after fracturing his left hand this winter wrestling with his kids on his yacht.
Written in Stone: The Reds actually flirted with contention last year, but don't worry, it won't happen again. Just turn your head to the left and take a gander at that rotation. Yuck. Beyond Aaron Harang (a Billy Beane giveaway you won't read about in "Moneyball," traded from Oakland to Cincy for current Mariner Jose Guillen) and Bronson Arroyo, who was everything they hoped for last season and will have to be again, the Reds are flailing. At least, until all-world pitching prospect Homer Bailey arrives, which won't be long. David Weathers isn't exactly Mariano Rivera, and the lineup isn't going to scare many, even on the off chance Griffey stays healthy.
Lineup card
P Hitters Avg HR RBI
CF Ryan Freel .271 8 27
LF Adam Dunn .234 40 92
2B Brandon Phillips .276 17 75
RF Ken Griffey Jr. .252 27 72
3B Edw. Encarnacion .276 15 72
1B Scott Hatteberg .289 13 51
SS Alex Gonzalez .255 9 50
C David Ross .255 21 52
TH Starters W-L ERA SO
RH Aaron Harang 16-11 3.76 216
RH Bronson Arroyo 14-11 3.29 184
LH Eric Milton 8-8 5.19 90
RH Kyle Lohse 5-10 5.83 97
RH Matt Belisle 2-0 3.60 26
TH Closer W-L ERA SV
RH David Weathers 4-4 3.54 12
Capsules by Bill Reader, section editor; Written in Stone and division rankings by Larry Stone, Seattle Times baseball reporter.Stats from 2006 season unless noted.
Copyright © 2007 The Seattle Times Company