Interesting article on MLBTR here:
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/0...#disqus_thread
I am assuming that Gomes and Hernandez do not get re-signed, unless it's for the league minimum (in Gomes' case). I assume Hernandez will be free to go with Mesoraco on the horizon.
According to that piece, if you account for $10MM in arbitration raises for Bailey, Volquez, Janish, Masset, and Bray, and pickup BP's option, the Reds would have $7MM to play with before they get back to this year's payroll. If you add a 5% bump in payroll, the Reds should have about $10MM to play with next offseason. Any thoughts on what they should use that $10MM toward?
I think they should give the three-headed monster of Alonso, Sappelt, and Heisey a shot in LF. If that's the case, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world to give Reyes a shot down the stretch this year and on an option next year.
I was never a fan of BP in the cleanup spot, but clearly something has to be done to fix this lineup, especially until Bruce starts playing to his potential and/or Rolen comes back to play everyday. I worry that as time goes on, Rolen may be less and less reliable and we will need a backup plan. The lineup below could be considered a pretty good backup plan:
SS Reyes
CF Stubbs
1B Votto
2B Phillips
RF Bruce
LF Sappelt/Alonso/Heisey
C Hernanigan/Mesoraco
3B Francisco/Frazier/Cairo/Janish (assuming Rolen is out)
Another out of the box idea, if things get really bad with Rolen's health over the next couple months, could be pursuing David Wright, who is under contract through 2013. Would certainly cost a lot in terms of prospects, but would fit perfectly with our window of contention over the next 2.5 years. In their state of disarray, the Mets are likely going to consider offers for both Reyes and Wright. Reyes will come cheaper than Wright, but I'm sure a package headlined by Leake and Grandal could at least get the Mets' attention for Wright. Obviously we would have to wait to see how things play out with Rolen's health before considering a move like that, but just imagine:
CF Stubbs
2B Phillips
1B Votto
3B Wright
RF Bruce
LF Sappelt/Alonso/Heisey
C Mesoranigan
SS Janish