What Happened to the Savings?

[HUHUH]

Dunn and Griffey are off the books. That's a savings of 20-some odd million per year. Sure, I know, so-and-so's contract went up and we're paying more for such-and-such next year, and Griffey has deferred money, and......but that happens every year. The fact of the matter is two players making over 20 million last year will not receive this money from the Reds next year. Why is nobody mentioning this money? Why hasn't this money been reinvested into the Reds? How to do this? I'll tell you:

1) Do not, I repeat, do not, trade any pitchers. None of them. Keep them all.

2) Do not waste $10 million per year on people like Burrell, Dye, Abreu, etc. Why the fascination with such a "right-handed bat to stick between Bruce and Votto"? Don't we have a lot of right-handed hitters as it is? It appears to me that the only left-handed bats on the roster who stand to see playing time next year are Bruce, Votto and Dickerson. This is too many lefties? We need more righties?

3) Don't trade away our young talent. None of it. We need it all.

4) Use the 20 million to sign 4 or 5 (or even 6 or 7!) free agents who can play defense, run, make contact, and maybe a little pop. We need baseball players, not swollen strikeout kings, and they can bat right, left, or standing-upside down for all I care.

[I(heart)Freel]

Per my post in another thread... this is before a possible Hairston deal, and with John Fay's arbitration guesses.



Contracts

Phillips 4.75

Agon 5.38

R Hernandez 6

Harang 11

Arroyo 9.5

Cordero 12

Lincoln 1.5

Rhodes 2


Arbitration

Encarnacion 1

Weathers 4


Minimum ($400k)

(remainder 15 players) 6


TOTAL 63.13


Est BUDGET 80


Left to Spend 16.87

[Bip Roberts]

I think they have more like 13

[redsfandan]

I bet EE will make more than $1 million.

[Orodle]

Dunn and Griffey are off the books. That's a savings of 20-some odd million per year. Sure, I know, so-and-so's contract went up and we're paying more for such-and-such next year, and Griffey has deferred money, and......but that happens every year. The fact of the matter is two players making over 20 million last year will not receive this money from the Reds next year. Why is nobody mentioning this money? Why hasn't this money been reinvested into the Reds? How to do this? I'll tell you:

1) Do not, I repeat, do not, trade any pitchers. None of them. Keep them all.

2) Do not waste $10 million per year on people like Burrell, Dye, Abreu, etc. Why the fascination with such a "right-handed bat to stick between Bruce and Votto"? Don't we have a lot of right-handed hitters as it is? It appears to me that the only left-handed bats on the roster who stand to see playing time next year are Bruce, Votto and Dickerson. This is too many lefties? We need more righties?

3) Don't trade away our young talent. None of it. We need it all.

4) Use the 20 million to sign 4 or 5 (or even 6 or 7!) free agents who can play defense, run, make contact, and maybe a little pop. We need baseball players, not swollen strikeout kings, and they can bat right, left, or standing-upside down for all I care.

I agree with most of your points...especially with not trading any pitchers. However, no matter what your gunna have to over spend on the free agent market. I dont know if your gunna be able to find 6 or 7 guys in that price range that aren't a lot different than what we already have. Go get Hairston or Kapler. However, I think our biggest need is middle relief. We need someone that can consistently get out of jams.

[redsfandan]

... However, I think our biggest need is middle relief. We need someone that can consistently get out of jams.

over a good leftfielder with pop and a good, healthy shortstop?

[I(heart)Freel]

I bet EE will make more than $1 million.

I woulda thought so too... that was Fay's first published guess. I don't know first year arbitration situations very well.

Even if Edwin makes $2 mill, thats still $15 mill left before you hit the $80 mill estimated payroll.

Lets say $3 for Hairston. That's $12 left.

I think I'd prefer someone on the low end of free agency, like a Rivera. Because it will leave a lot left over to retool the bench (gimme Sean Casey as PH specialist and clubhouse conscience) AND to sign some flier/risks, like a Mulder etc. If they pan out, great. Better team for it. If they don't, you don't hesitate to drop them like it's hot.

[redsfandan]

If we had money left over it would also be easier to make a deal in july to help us if we're in the playoff hunt. Plus the spare money could be directed towards our next shortstop.

[ChatterRed]

I still would like to acquire a #5 starter. But on the other hand, I hate the idea of trading Micah Owings. I'd like to see how he does when healthy again. I'd also like to keep Ramon Ramirez and see how he does.

I guess I need to just accept that this upcoming year will be a test to see who the real deals are and who are frauds. That's really what the '09 season is about.

[redsfandan]

Arbitration Figures Submitted
By Tim Dierkes [January 20 at 6:22pm CST]
In this post we will attempt to keep a record of arbitration figures submitted by teams and players. Hearings will be held in February if the sides can't agree beforehand. If it reaches a hearing, an independent panel chooses either the player or the team's figure. This list is ordered by player request amount.

Ryan Howard: $18MM. Phillies: $14MM. Diff: $4MM.
Prince Fielder: $8MM. Brewers: $6MM. Diff: $2MM.
Garrett Atkins: $7.95MM. Rockies: $6.65MM. Diff: $1.3MM.
Dan Uggla: $5.35MM. Marlins: $4.4MM. Diff: $950K.
Justin Duchscherer: $4.6MM. A's: $3MM. Diff: $1.6MM.
David Weathers: $4.6MM. Reds: $3MM. Diff: $1.6MM.
Zack Greinke: $4.4MM. Royals $3.4MM. Diff: $1MM.
Ryan Ludwick: $4.35MM. Cardinals: $2.8MM. Diff: 1.55MM.
Justin Verlander: $4.15MM. Tigers: $3.2MM. Diff: $950K.
Jeff Francoeur: $3.95MM. Braves: $2.8MM. Diff: $1.15MM.
Ryan Zimmerman: $3.9MM. Nationals: $2.75MM. Diff: $1.15MM.
Mark Teahen: $3.85MM. Royals: $3.05MM. Diff: $800K.
Corey Hart: $3.8MM. Brewers: $2.7MM. Diff: $1.1MM.
Mike Jacobs: $3.8MM. Royals $2.75MM. Diff: $1.05MM.
Andre Ethier: $3.75MM. Dodgers: $2.65MM. Diff: $1.1MM.
Edwin Encarnacion: $3.7MM. Reds: $2.55MM. Diff: $1.15MM.
Conor Jackson: $3.65MM. D'Backs: $2.45MM. Diff: $1.2MM.
Josh Willingham: $3.6MM. Nationals: $2.55MM. Diff: $1.05MM.
Scott Olsen: $3.5MM. Nationals: $2.5MM. Diff: $1MM.
Rick Ankiel: $3.3MM. Cardinals: $2.35MM. Diff: $950K.
Kelly Johnson: $3.3MM. Braves: $2.35MM. Diff: $950K.
Casey Kotchman: $3.25MM. Braves: $2.475MM. Diff: $775K.
John Maine: $3MM. Mets: $2.2MM. Diff: $800K.
Wandy Rodriguez: $3MM. Astros: $2.25MM. Diff: $750K.
Rickie Weeks: $2.8MM. Brewers: $2MM. Diff: $800K.
Geoff Geary: $2.1MM. Astros: $1.425MM. Diff: $675K.
Brian Bannister: $2.025MM. Royals: $1.45MM. Diff: $575K.
Pedro Feliciano: $1.95MM. Mets: $1.35MM. Diff: $600K.
Melky Cabrera: $1.7MM. Yankees: $1.2MM. Diff: $500K. UPDATE: signed.
Brian Bruney: $1.55MM. Yankees: $1.1MM. Diff: $450K.
Shawn Hill: $775K. Nationals: $500K. Diff: $275K.

Well EE & Weathers won't be able to complain about how much they'll make in '09.

[JoshFogg]

cant u tell, this team is ready. 5th pacae is what BobCast promised when he took over.

[NeilHamburger]

That decision to offer Weathers arb. really looks bad now. Of course, even if they hadn't they wouldn't spend the money on someone good, Bob would just buy more apples. I wonder how long before fans realize Bob is just Linder with a mouth and a better idea of how to use PR to fool people

[JoshFogg]

That decision to offer Weathers arb. really looks bad now. Of course, even if they hadn't they wouldn't spend the money on someone good, Bob would just buy more apples. I wonder how long before fans realize Bob is just Linder with a mouth and a better idea of how to use PR to fool people

scary but true. He lied to everyone. He is a huge Dbag