McCoy took Walt's little fib hook, line and sinker:
Jocketty signed all three of his big acquisitions during the season: McGwire, Edmonds and Rolen. His suggestion that he doesn't do contracts during the season was most likely a smoke screen so he could move Dunn since he seems to have not wanted him. But lets be straight about this, it's not true that he doesn't do contracts in season and the Cincy media bought it completely (even though he never said "never" in his original quote).The Reds were faced with trying to sign Dunn to a long-term contract before the season ended — and general manager Walt Jocketty does not do contracts during the season — or face losing him to free agency.