Can the Reds keep Jared Burton

[Stingray]

61 Bronson Arroyo R/R 6-5 190 02/24/77 25 man roster
31 Matt Belisle R/R 6-3 195 06/06/80 25 man roster
* 45 Bill Bray L/L 6-3 215 06/05/83 15-day Disabled List

* 51 Jared Burton R/R 6-5 225 06/02/81 15-day Disabled List

56 Todd Coffey R/R 6-5 230 09/09/80 25 man roster(options?)
37 Rheal Cormier L/L 5-10 195 04/23/67 25 man roster(age 40)
40 Jon Coutlangus L/L 6-1 185 10/21/80 25 man roster(options?)
* 66 Phil Dumatrait R/L 6-2 170 07/12/81
* 81 Eddie Guardado R/L 6-0 205 10/02/70 60-day Disabled List

39 Aaron Harang R/R 6-7 270 05/09/78 25 man roster
* 75 Bobby Livingston L/L 6-3 195 09/03/82
28 Kyle Lohse R/R 6-2 200 10/04/78 25 man roster
* 38 Gary Majewski R/R 6-1 215 02/26/80
* 58 Calvin Medlock R/R 5-9 185 11/08/82
22 Eric Milton L/L 6-3 205 08/04/75 25 man roster
* 54 Elizardo Ramirez L/R 6-0 180 01/28/83 15-day Disabled list

35 Kirk Saarloos R/R 6-0 185 05/23/79 25 man roster
* 53 Brad Salmon L/R 6-3 230 01/03/80
57 Victor Santos R/R 6-2 205 10/02/76 25 man roster
* 37 Brian Shackelford L/L 6-1 195 08/30/76
29 Mike Stanton L/L 6-1 215 06/02/67 25 man roster(age 40-)
25 David Weathers R/R 6-3 230 09/25/69 25 man roster(age 36)



This question is currently on the back burner but its one that will have to be faced when Burton’s 30 day rehab is up. I want to find a way to keep him but it’s going to be really hard unless he performs very well with the Bats. Realistically six of our pitchers(in bold print above) seem unlikely to be cut or optioned(not withstanding Coffey’s last two appearances). Bray, Majewski, Dumatrait, and maybe Homer and Salmon are likely to be recalled within a couple of months. Those moves would use between 9-11 of the 12 available pitchers slots. So, barring injuries, to keep Burton between 3-5 of Comier, Coutlangus, Milton, Saarloos, Stanton, and Santos would have to be cut, traded or optioned in order to keep Burton on the 25 all year. It’s hard to see the Reds moving more than 3 of those guys.

If the club is out of the race it would be easier but we probably won’t know that early enough to be a factor.

A young power lefty like Burton could be a big asset for the Reds in the future. Any thoughts on how the keep him?

[Joseph]

I like what Burton showed us in Spring Training and hope he can replicate it during the regular season.

The only options I see for keeping him are not pleasant, but may need to be done.

Obviously with Cormier we all seem to think he's expendable. Perhaps a deal can be worked to move him to a team that needs a lefty for a suspect prospect of sorts.

I can't see Stanton, Weathers or others going, so do you send down Coffey? Maybe.

Coutlangus? Possibly if you're willing to relegate stanton to lefty specialist.

Santos? Has he done anything to warrant it since becoming a Red? No, but like Ross, he has a track record that suggests this performance is an aberration.

Bray, Burton, Majewski all are going to be looking for spots sooner rather than later and there are some tough tough choices that will have to be made.

[flyer85]

Simple answer is that if they are smart, yes.

He has some nasty off-speed pitches and has the potential to be a back of the bullpen pitcher, something the current pen lacks. It may take time but pitchers with his stuff don't just stroll by everyday.

[Stingray]

Simple answer is that if they are smart, yes.

He has some nasty off-speed pitches and has the potential to be a back of the bullpen pitcher, something the current pen lacks. It may take time but pitchers with his stuff don't just stroll by everyday.

I couldn't agree more - but my question is what moves do the Reds make to permit keeping him?

[flyer85]

I couldn't agree more - but my question is what moves do the Reds make to permit keeping him?

I think you have to make room for Bray and Burton, which means that Cormier and someone else goes. I wouldn't mind them trading Stanton.

[rotnoid]

I think you have to make room for Bray and Burton, which means that Cormier and someone else goes. I wouldn't mind them trading Stanton.

He might be the only one with any value right now, but as a free agent, Stanton can't be traded until June, IIRC.

[Rotater Cuff]

isn't cormier getting 2 million or so this year?

[Redsland]

isn't cormier getting 2 million or so this year?

$2.25 million this year with a club option for '08.

Stanton is in the first year of a two-year $5.5 million deal, so he'd be a tough person to cut if he started going all Chris Hammond on us.

Similarly, Weathers is in the first year of a two-year $5 million deal.

[REDREAD]

I couldn't agree more - but my question is what moves do the Reds make to permit keeping him?

Well, since Hamilton is contributing, that gives the Reds a lot more leeway. If Hamilton was struggling, it would be harder to keep Burton, because then the Reds would be playing with a 23 man roster essentially.

They've got some leeway to leave Maj and Bray in AAA until they perform well.

It looks like Cormier might be pitching himself to a DFA.

Coutlangus might be a candidate to option down as well, especially if Cormier is kept. We really don't need 3 lefties in the pen.

Or in a worse case scenerio, they could carry 13 pitchers occasionally. Hopper and Moeller have been the 25th man so far this season. It's not as if losing one of them off the roster would be that big of a deal. The bench is so weak that it really limits pinch hitting/substituions anyhow. Although, I'm not a big fan of this idea.. Just throwing it out there.

What I think is most likely is that the guys with options will be shuttled up and down during the year to keep Burton on the roster. I'm sure the Reds are hoping that after Burton finishes his rehab that he will be able to throw strikes with more regularity so that he can at least be used in mop up.

[Falls City Beer]

Salmon's proven nothing.

[TRF]

Salmon's proven nothing.

5 K's in 5.1 ip, 0.56 WHIP, a 0.00 ERA coming off a year at AAA with the following 2.34 ERA, 72 K's in 57 IP.

What exactly does he have LEFT to prove? He's proven a heckuva lot more than Bailey has to date.

[deltachi8]

The easy way is if Santos remembers he is Victor Santos in the next couple weeks.

[flyer85]

The easy way is if Santos remembers he is Victor Santos in the next couple weeks.

it will happen at some point. Although these hot streaks can last a long time, especially if used in low leverage situations(like Cormier last year).

[redsmetz]

61 Bronson Arroyo R/R 6-5 190 02/24/77 25 man roster
31 Matt Belisle R/R 6-3 195 06/06/80 25 man roster
* 45 Bill Bray L/L 6-3 215 06/05/83 15-day Disabled List

* 51 Jared Burton R/R 6-5 225 06/02/81 15-day Disabled List

56 Todd Coffey R/R 6-5 230 09/09/80 25 man roster(options?)
37 Rheal Cormier L/L 5-10 195 04/23/67 25 man roster(age 40)
40 Jon Coutlangus L/L 6-1 185 10/21/80 25 man roster(options?)
* 66 Phil Dumatrait R/L 6-2 170 07/12/81
* 81 Eddie Guardado R/L 6-0 205 10/02/70 60-day Disabled List

39 Aaron Harang R/R 6-7 270 05/09/78 25 man roster
* 75 Bobby Livingston L/L 6-3 195 09/03/82
28 Kyle Lohse R/R 6-2 200 10/04/78 25 man roster
* 38 Gary Majewski R/R 6-1 215 02/26/80
* 58 Calvin Medlock R/R 5-9 185 11/08/82
22 Eric Milton L/L 6-3 205 08/04/75 25 man roster
* 54 Elizardo Ramirez L/R 6-0 180 01/28/83 15-day Disabled list

35 Kirk Saarloos R/R 6-0 185 05/23/79 25 man roster
* 53 Brad Salmon L/R 6-3 230 01/03/80
57 Victor Santos R/R 6-2 205 10/02/76 25 man roster
* 37 Brian Shackelford L/L 6-1 195 08/30/76
29 Mike Stanton L/L 6-1 215 06/02/67 25 man roster(age 40-)
25 David Weathers R/R 6-3 230 09/25/69 25 man roster(age 36)



This question is currently on the back burner but its one that will have to be faced when Burton’s 30 day rehab is up. I want to find a way to keep him but it’s going to be really hard unless he performs very well with the Bats. Realistically six of our pitchers(in bold print above) seem unlikely to be cut or optioned(not withstanding Coffey’s last two appearances). Bray, Majewski, Dumatrait, and maybe Homer and Salmon are likely to be recalled within a couple of months. Those moves would use between 9-11 of the 12 available pitchers slots. So, barring injuries, to keep Burton between 3-5 of Comier, Coutlangus, Milton Saarloos, Stanton, and Santos would have to be cut, traded or optioned in order to keep Burton on the 25 all year. It’s hard to see the Reds moving more than 3 of those guys.

If the club is out of the race it would be easier but we probably won’t know that early enough to be a factor.

A young power lefty like Burton could be a big asset for the Reds in the future. Any thoughts on how the keep him?

I don't think it's a given that Dumatrait gets called up and I don't expect to see Homer in Cincinnati this season except as a spectator. Likewise, if Salmon comes up, he'll come up because there's a slot open. Bray & Maj will be problematic.

I don't think it's out of the question that if Toddy Coffey continues to struggle, that he will be optioned (presuming he's got options and I would think he does). Certainly Cormier could be moved, one way or another. It's a long season and we're going to do all we can to hang on to Burton, IMO.

[RedsManRick]

I think they would outright cut Cormier before sending Burton back. More likely, Wayne gets a nothing prospect for him.