Reds Fantasy 2008: Your The GM!

[RedLegSuperStar]

Ok.. So winning any type of division/wild card in 2007 is slightly out of the Reds reach. So since some of us have soured on Wayne Krivsky and his recent moves.. what would you do this off season to bolster this organization into contenders for 2008? What is your opening day roster? Projected pay-roll? Did you hire a new manager? Have fun with it..

[RedLegSuperStar]

Moves Made:

Pick up Javy Valentin's option. With Ross's defense and Javy's bat they make a good pair and frankly their just isn't much out there to replace either.

Pick up Adam Dunn's option for 2008 at 13 million (10 Teams in which Dunn can be dealt to).. Wouldn't one have to be Texas?

Adam Dunn, Travis Wood, Mike Stanton and Cash (4 Million) to the Rangers
Brandon McCarthy and Hank Blalock to the Reds

Dunn would take over Sammy Sosa's role as DH as well as play some LF. He could even be converted to 1st baseman in spring training. Reds would get a young middle of the rotation guy and a power hitting corner infielder who could platoon with Encarnacion at 3rd and Votto at 1st.

Sign Andruw Jones to a 5 years 110 million.

Reds will have to over pay to get him but we need to replace Dunn's offense. Defense is what we should be going for and he has the Gold Gloves to prove it. He has had a off year but his power numbers are their. Put him in Great American Ball Park and stock up on fireworks. The line-up would look something like:

Brandon Phillips - 2B
Joey Votto - 1B
Ken Griffey Jr. - RF
Andruw Jones - CF
Josh Hamilton - LF
Hank Blalock - 3B
Alex Gonzalez - SS
David Ross - C

The bench would then be stronger with:

Edwin Encarnacion - 3B
Ryan Freel OF/2B/3B
Javy Valentin C/1B
Jorge Cantu 2B/1B
Jeff Keppinger 3B/SS/2B

Sign Randy Wolf to a 3 year 28 million dollar deal w/ team option for 2011 at 12 million. He does have a team option with the Dodgers at $9 million or buy-out at $500,000. That option becomes guaranteed if he reaches 180 innings (currently at 102.2). The deal gives the Reds a solid starting rotation:

Aaron Harang
Bronson Arroyo
Randy Wolf
Brandon McCarthy
Homer Bailey

I move Matt Belisle to the bullpen and use him in long relief. With Belisle the bullpen consist of:

Matt Belisle
Jon Coutlangus
Marcus McBeth
Brad Salmon
Jarrod Burton
Bill Bray
David Weathers

To finish off the offseason I hire Davey Johnson as the new Reds manager. Davey has been out for some time but with the roster I'm putting together.. I think he would take the job.

Estimated pay-roll would be: $91 Million (added $4 Million from the Dunn/Stanton deal)

[TOBTTReds]

Pick up Adam Dunn's option for 2008 at 13 million (10 Teams in which Dunn can be dealt to).. Wouldn't one have to be Texas?

Adam Dunn, Travis Wood, Mike Stanton and Cash (4 Million) to the Rangers
Brandon McCarthy and Hank Blalock to the Reds

Dunn can't be traded until June 15th if the option is picked up.

[Patrick Bateman]

Having Edwin regularly sit on the bench would be a gross mismanagement of assets. He either needs to be traded, or played regularly.

If the alternative to EE is Blalock, I will happily stick with the younger, cheaper, and better EE. Plus McCarthy would be a horrendous fit for GABP, and isn't very good to begin with.

I also would not want to give Wolf nearly 10M per season when he's injured half the time.

Also, I don't see any way the Reds are going to up their payroll by 20M. No chance.

[BRM]

Originally Posted by AvesIce51

Dunn can't be traded until June 15th if the option is picked up.

I think a lot of people are assuming he would waive that clause for the right deal.

[RedLegSuperStar]

Originally Posted by AvesIce51

Dunn can't be traded until June 15th if the option is picked up.

He can be traded to one of the 10 teams of his choosing. After June 15th he can be dealt to whomever.

[bucksfan2]

Originally Posted by AvesIce51

Dunn can't be traded until June 15th if the option is picked up.

I thought he had full no trade protection, that doesn't mean he can't be delt.

If I am the GM here is what I do:
Assuming Jr. hits 600
-I talk to Jr, thank him for his services, and trade him to see if he can get that world series ring.
-Guys who are not back on the big leauge club next year
Stanton, Coffey, Freel, Valentine, Conine, Castro. Coffey starts in AAA, and the rest are traded, retired, or released.
-Hatty is returned as a bench player.
-Votto starts the season as the everyday 1b and is given half the year until he is platooned if he struggles.
-Dunn's optoin is picked up and I either look to trade him or sign him to a multi year deal. This depends on what happens in FA
-Hamilton is my starting RF
-I look to try and add either Jones or Hunter in FA. I realize you will have to overpay but so be it, its time to do something for the fans.
-I leave Bruce in AAA for the first month of the season
-My bench consists of Hopper, Dickerson, Keppinger, Hatty,

My rotation is
Harang
Arroyo
Bailey
Livingson
Durmatrait

Pen
Belisle
Bray
Maj
Salmon
Count/Guradado
Weathers
McBeth

Batters consist of
1b Votto, Hatty
2b Phillips, Keppinger
SS Gonzo
3B Encarnacion
LF Dunn
CF Jones/Hunter
RF Hamilton
C Ross, Moeller
OF Hopper, Dickerson

[BRM]

Here is what MLB4U has for Dunn's 2008 option and subsuquent no-trade clause.

if the option is exercised, he receives a complete a no-trade clause until June 15, 2008 (after that date he can select 19 teams to which he cannot be traded to w/out his consent)

[TOBTTReds]

Originally Posted by RedLegSuperStar

He can be traded to one of the 10 teams of his choosing. After June 15th he can be dealt to whomever.

From mlb4u.com

if the option is exercised, he receives a complete a no-trade clause until June 15, 2008 (after that date he can select 19 teams to which he cannot be traded to w/out his consent)

I guess he could wave the clause if he wanted to be dealt.

[flyer85]

I wouldn't mind a trade with Texas but no way would I want either McCarthy or Blalock.

[Red Leader]

I would do everything I could to acquire OF Jason Ellison. He's the difference.

[johngalt]

What about a 3-way trade where the main components would be the Reds getting Joe Nathan and a ML-ready prospect, the Angels get Adam Dunn and the Twins receive prospects and/or young players from the Angels?

Something along the lines of:

Reds get:
Joe Nathan
Jeff Mathis

Angels get:
Adam Dunn

Twins get:
Ervin Santana
Erick Aybar
Sean Rodriguez

[kheidg-]

No way I sign Randy Wolf. Always injured and out this season - you give him almost 10 million a year? Almost Eric Milton-esque.

I don't make many drastic moves. Get rid of Conine and Stanton this season for anything if possible. Let Hatteberg walk, take the draft picks. See if Votto is ready - maybe sign a veteran backup to a minor league deal as insurance. Sign Guardado to an incentive laden contract. If you can get something of good value for Dunn, trade him - otherwise pick up the option and get the draft picks after the year is up. Most importantly, get rid of Castro.

Roster
Rotation: Harang, Arroyo, Bailey, Lizard, Belisle/Livingston/Cueto/Dumatrait
Bullpen: Guardado, Weathers, Coutlangus, Bray, Salmon, McBeth, Coffey/odd man from rotation/minor league free agent

Starters: Valentin, Votto, Phillips, Gonzalez, Encarnacion, Griffey, Hamilton, Dunn
Bench: Freel, Hopper, Ross, Keppinger, Cantu/free agent

If Dunn is traded, put Freel in the outfield until Bruce is ready.

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by kheidg-

No way I sign Randy Wolf. Always injured and out this season - you give him almost 10 million a year? Almost Eric Milton-esque.

I don't make many drastic moves. Get rid of Conine and Stanton this season for anything if possible. Let Hatteberg walk, take the draft picks. See if Votto is ready - maybe sign a veteran backup to a minor league deal as insurance. Sign Guardado to an incentive laden contract. If you can get something of good value for Dunn, trade him - otherwise pick up the option and get the draft picks after the year is up. Most importantly, get rid of Castro.

Roster
Rotation: Harang, Arroyo, Bailey, Lizard, Belisle/Livingston/Cueto/Dumatrait
Bullpen: Guardado, Weathers, Coutlangus, Bray, Salmon, McBeth, Coffey/odd man from rotation/minor league free agent

Starters: Valentin, Votto, Phillips, Gonzalez, Encarnacion, Griffey, Hamilton, Dunn
Bench: Freel, Hopper, Ross, Keppinger, Cantu/free agent

If Dunn is traded, put Freel in the outfield until Bruce is ready.

I like this plan. I would add the Lizard into the competition with the other four for the final two rotation spots. Homer better show me something at AAA in these last two months before I hand him the #3 spot in the rotation.

I would try to sneak Weathers and Hatteberg through the waiver wire this month, and deal them if we can get something of value. I would even try to move Jr. if we could get decent value. I really liked the two deadline deals that Wayne did make, I just wish he would have dealt these guys also (particularly Weathers and the Hat.) I think either Jr. or Dunn should be moved by Opening Day to make room for the legend that is Jay Bruce.

[Benihana]

Originally Posted by johngalt

What about a 3-way trade where the main components would be the Reds getting Joe Nathan and a ML-ready prospect, the Angels get Adam Dunn and the Twins receive prospects and/or young players from the Angels?

Something along the lines of:

Reds get:
Joe Nathan
Jeff Mathis

Angels get:
Adam Dunn

Twins get:
Ervin Santana
Erick Aybar
Sean Rodriguez

I'm not interested in trading for closers, or any relief pitchers for that matter. I think finding a good reliever is more a matter of throwing what you have to the wall to see if it sticks, in a Krivksy-like manner. Granted, what Wayne has been doing so far has obviously failed, trading for guys is not the answer, either. Just ask Gary Majewski. I would much rather see what we have with Burton, Coutlangous, McBeth, Guevara, Roenicke et. al. than trade one of our most valuable chips for some relief help. I am in favor of moving Dunn given the right deal, but for me that criteria includes starting pitching, not relief.