More dealing likely on Reds' horizon - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

savafan · 12-01-2006, 01:46 PM

http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs....612010336/1035

By Marc Lancaster
Post staff reporter

Bronson Arroyo understands the Reds' place in baseball's economic food chain, and with that knowledge comes a certain level of expectation about winter wheeling and dealing.

"You know we're not in a big enough market here where they're going to go out and sign a Barry Zito or a Miguel Tejada, someone like that," Arroyo said Thursday at a news conference to promote this weekend's Redsfest. "They're going to sign guys that are like myself when they traded for me: a little bit unknown about what you're going to get out of them."

Three such pieces already are in hand in the form of shortstop Alex Gonzalez, left-hander Mike Stanton and catcher Chad Moeller, but more action figures to be on the horizon at the winter meetings next week.

Compared with previous offseasons, the Reds have been more active early in the market, signing the above free agents and dealing Jason LaRue to Kansas City. That doesn't necessarily mean their work is done, even though it remains to be seen how much payroll flexibility they'll have moving forward.

Asked on the eve of Redsfest what his primary concerns are, manager Jerry Narron cited the fifth spot in the starting rotation and clarifying the closer situation.

It looks as if the Reds will once again enter spring training without a defined closer, even though Narron clearly would prefer a go-to guy at the end of games.

"I know the difference it was when Eddie Guardado came (in a July trade)," said Narron. "I know what a difference it made to me and what a difference it made to our players, too. I thought David Weathers did a great job for us early. He had that one stretch where he blew I think three saves in a row, and they were all tough spots - a one-run lead in all of them. A lot of guys would have done that. The difference when Eddie came in was it was a guy that had done it, wanted to be in that spot and had been successful in that spot."

For the time being, Narron said the Reds would go with the same setup they used after Guardado's season-ending elbow injury - a matchup-based pair of a left-hander and right-hander. Last season, those jobs fell to Scott Schoeneweis and Weathers, and there is still a possibility Weathers might return. Stanton would step in for Schoeneweis, but everything really is undetermined at this point.

"I'm sure Bill Bray would like to be a closer, Todd Coffey would like to be a closer - we've got some guys that would really like the opportunity to do it," said Narron. "As for right now, who's going to do it? We'll see when we get to Sarasota."

That's where the final rotation spot will be sorted out, too, barring the acquisition of another established starter to join Arroyo, Aaron Harang, Eric Milton and Kyle Lohse. Narron said Matt Belisle, a reliever the past two seasons, would be in the mix. Other in-house possibilities include Brandon Claussen, Elizardo Ramirez, Phil Dumatrait and the ultimate x-factor, Homer Bailey.

Most in the organization would prefer to start the 20-year-old Bailey in Louisville next April, but the top-rated prospect might force the Reds' hand.

"With Homer, he's going to come to spring training, he's going to get a chance to pitch some, and we'll see what happens," said Narron. "I know the smart thing to do would be probably to get him some time at Triple-A and go from there, but I think all of us will be open-minded about it. But definitely, no question, we want to do what's best for the long-term."

More generally, Narron said he hopes to continue refining the team's overall approach at the plate, moving toward more situational hitting and fundamentals.

"I think we've got to be more consistent offensively," he said. "We just can't have so many strikeouts; we've got to put the ball in play. We've got to do some things to score some runs besides hitting the ball out of the ballpark."

Even if the Reds manage to improve in that department and on defense - the primary goal of the Gonzalez signing - they figure to face a much more difficult challenge to make the playoffs next season. The Cardinals, Cubs and Astros already have splurged on talent upgrades, and it's left to the Reds to find a way to keep up.

"The money that's being thrown around is just ridiculous," said Arroyo. "I'm just hoping that our front office is making some good moves and they can put a team together that'll get us over the hump, because I do not expect the Cardinals to play as bad as they did last year. I think it's going to be a tougher division and we're going to need things to click for us, obviously, because we're not going to go out and sign guys for 15 million bucks a year. ...

"We've still got some time left, so hopefully we'll pick up a couple guys and the guys we have picked up already will hopefully come through for us."

Kc61 · 12-01-2006, 02:02 PM

Narron seems to want to give the closer spot to somebody who "would like to be a closer." He also seems to think that four rotation spots are set.

I hope he is kidding.

flyer85 · 12-01-2006, 02:14 PM

from Sheehan at BP

Quote:

They may have the best player on the trade market in Adam Dunn, and I don’t know a single person who thinks, after last summer’s shenanigans, that they’ll get value for him. The Reds may be getting off track, focusing on batters’ strikeouts rather than overall offensive performance. If doing so causes them to deal Dunn on the cheap, they’ll be even worse next year. A true center fielder/leadoff man who would push Ken Griffey Jr. to center field would be the best fit, although I’m not volunteering to have the conversation with Junior about it.

cincy09 · 12-01-2006, 02:29 PM

Quote:

Asked on the eve of Redsfest what his primary concerns are, manager Jerry Narron cited the fifth spot in the starting rotation and clarifying the closer situation.

The fifth spot in the rotation? Hey Jerry, how about the three and four spots!

flyer85 · 12-01-2006, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cincy09

The fifth spot in the rotation? Hey Jerry, how about the three and four spots!

can you say Milton and Lohse ... love those Twins!!

NJReds · 12-01-2006, 02:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyer85

can you say Milton and Lohse ... love those Twins!!

Short of cutting Milton, what do you propose we do with him? Buy out the last year of his contract?

As for Lohse, we're in agreement. I don't see the point of paying him what he's likely to haul in at an arbitration hearing. I wonder if he'd be a good closer? He's got decent stuff.

savafan · 12-01-2006, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJReds

He's got decent stuff.

Decent? I'd say he has great stuff, but can he harness it?

flyer85 · 12-01-2006, 02:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJReds

Short of cutting Milton, what do you propose we do with him? Buy out the last year of his contract?

does it matter?

We all know what the Reds are going to do with him.

NJReds · 12-01-2006, 03:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyer85

does it matter?

We all know what the Reds are going to do with him.

They don't have much of a choice. That's my point. You can say the same about Griffey.

flyer85 · 12-01-2006, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJReds

They don't have much of a choice.

they do have a choice but they are like most organizations, nobody wants to stand up and be responsible for the tough decisions.

NJReds · 12-01-2006, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyer85

they do have a choice but they are like most organizations, nobody wants to stand up and be responsible for the tough decisions.

So you'd cut him if you were the one making tough decisions?

flyer85 · 12-01-2006, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJReds

So you'd cut him if you were the one making tough decisions?

just like the Dbacks did Ortiz. The knee problems finished him, now with a damaged elbow it's time to go in another direction.

NJReds · 12-01-2006, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flyer85

just like the Dbacks did Ortiz. The knee problems finished him, now with a damaged elbow it's time to go in another direction.

Gotcha, okay. You're right. They won't do that. Is he even going to be ready for spring training?

flyer85 · 12-01-2006, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NJReds

Gotcha, okay. You're right. They won't do that. Is he even going to be ready for spring training?

I have heard nothing official. Best thing for the Reds may be if he isn't able to pitch in 2007.

Falls City Beer · 12-01-2006, 03:47 PM

The FO wasted no time in enlisting Arroyo to the "go-the-cheap-route" cause. Cross your fingers, Bronson--you have no idea who's going to be called on to close your games.

12-01-2006, 01:46 PM	#1
savafan Maple SERP Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Cincinnati, Ohio Posts: 17,485	More dealing likely on Reds' horizon http://news.cincypost.com/apps/pbcs....612010336/1035 By Marc Lancaster Post staff reporter Bronson Arroyo understands the Reds' place in baseball's economic food chain, and with that knowledge comes a certain level of expectation about winter wheeling and dealing. "You know we're not in a big enough market here where they're going to go out and sign a Barry Zito or a Miguel Tejada, someone like that," Arroyo said Thursday at a news conference to promote this weekend's Redsfest. "They're going to sign guys that are like myself when they traded for me: a little bit unknown about what you're going to get out of them." Three such pieces already are in hand in the form of shortstop Alex Gonzalez, left-hander Mike Stanton and catcher Chad Moeller, but more action figures to be on the horizon at the winter meetings next week. Compared with previous offseasons, the Reds have been more active early in the market, signing the above free agents and dealing Jason LaRue to Kansas City. That doesn't necessarily mean their work is done, even though it remains to be seen how much payroll flexibility they'll have moving forward. Asked on the eve of Redsfest what his primary concerns are, manager Jerry Narron cited the fifth spot in the starting rotation and clarifying the closer situation. It looks as if the Reds will once again enter spring training without a defined closer, even though Narron clearly would prefer a go-to guy at the end of games. "I know the difference it was when Eddie Guardado came (in a July trade)," said Narron. "I know what a difference it made to me and what a difference it made to our players, too. I thought David Weathers did a great job for us early. He had that one stretch where he blew I think three saves in a row, and they were all tough spots - a one-run lead in all of them. A lot of guys would have done that. The difference when Eddie came in was it was a guy that had done it, wanted to be in that spot and had been successful in that spot." For the time being, Narron said the Reds would go with the same setup they used after Guardado's season-ending elbow injury - a matchup-based pair of a left-hander and right-hander. Last season, those jobs fell to Scott Schoeneweis and Weathers, and there is still a possibility Weathers might return. Stanton would step in for Schoeneweis, but everything really is undetermined at this point. "I'm sure Bill Bray would like to be a closer, Todd Coffey would like to be a closer - we've got some guys that would really like the opportunity to do it," said Narron. "As for right now, who's going to do it? We'll see when we get to Sarasota." That's where the final rotation spot will be sorted out, too, barring the acquisition of another established starter to join Arroyo, Aaron Harang, Eric Milton and Kyle Lohse. Narron said Matt Belisle, a reliever the past two seasons, would be in the mix. Other in-house possibilities include Brandon Claussen, Elizardo Ramirez, Phil Dumatrait and the ultimate x-factor, Homer Bailey. Most in the organization would prefer to start the 20-year-old Bailey in Louisville next April, but the top-rated prospect might force the Reds' hand. "With Homer, he's going to come to spring training, he's going to get a chance to pitch some, and we'll see what happens," said Narron. "I know the smart thing to do would be probably to get him some time at Triple-A and go from there, but I think all of us will be open-minded about it. But definitely, no question, we want to do what's best for the long-term." More generally, Narron said he hopes to continue refining the team's overall approach at the plate, moving toward more situational hitting and fundamentals. "I think we've got to be more consistent offensively," he said. "We just can't have so many strikeouts; we've got to put the ball in play. We've got to do some things to score some runs besides hitting the ball out of the ballpark." Even if the Reds manage to improve in that department and on defense - the primary goal of the Gonzalez signing - they figure to face a much more difficult challenge to make the playoffs next season. The Cardinals, Cubs and Astros already have splurged on talent upgrades, and it's left to the Reds to find a way to keep up. "The money that's being thrown around is just ridiculous," said Arroyo. "I'm just hoping that our front office is making some good moves and they can put a team together that'll get us over the hump, because I do not expect the Cardinals to play as bad as they did last year. I think it's going to be a tougher division and we're going to need things to click for us, obviously, because we're not going to go out and sign guys for 15 million bucks a year. ... "We've still got some time left, so hopefully we'll pick up a couple guys and the guys we have picked up already will hopefully come through for us." __________________ This is the Cal Ripkin Jr. of typos. If you ask me to join your fantasy baseball league and I select Legolas in the first round, don't be angry at me. It's not my fault I've read up on the players and you haven't.

12-01-2006, 02:02 PM	#2
Kc61 Member Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 10,826	Re: More dealing likely on Reds' horizon Narron seems to want to give the closer spot to somebody who "would like to be a closer." He also seems to think that four rotation spots are set. I hope he is kidding.

12-01-2006, 03:47 PM	#15
Falls City Beer Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 24,098	Re: More dealing likely on Reds' horizon The FO wasted no time in enlisting Arroyo to the "go-the-cheap-route" cause. Cross your fingers, Bronson--you have no idea who's going to be called on to close your games.

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