Ichiro

[ChatterRed]

Anyone interested in the 35 year old Ichiro as our LFer? He could probably be had in a trade with Seattle. Is on the verge of hitting 200 hits for the 8th consecutive time. Stole 42 bases this year while being caught only 4 times. In a bad Seattle season, he still batted .310 with an OBP of .360.

On the decline? Hardly. He hit only .303 in 2005 with an OBP of .350, and stole 33 bases that year while being caught 8 times. Batted .312 in 2003 with similar stats. Has never played less than 157 games in a season. Is a gold glove caliber fielder.

I know age is concern, but I don't think so with this guy. I also think he'd bring a work ethic good for our young guys.

With guys like Votto and Bruce coming behind him, I think he'd be a nice table setter.

Besides, we have a nice trade history with Seattle.

Lineup:

LF Ichiro
CF Dickerson
2B Phillips
1B Votto
3B Encarnacion
RF Bruce
C Hanigan
SS Gonzalez/Keppinger

The top 3 guys wreak havoc on the basepaths. Wouldn't surprise me to see Jocketty do something like this. Dickerson has yet to make an error in 227 innings/35 games. Ichiro is a gold glove caliber outfielder. Bruce should improve. Phillips is gold glove caliber at 2B. Gonzalez is solid at SS if he returns healthy. Votto is improving but a liability at times. EE is a liability but only 24 years old. Votto, EE, Bruce, Phillips, and Dickerson all have 20-30 HR capability. Ichiro has 40 stolen base capability. Phillips has 20-30 SB potential. So does Dickerson.

Pitching, speed, and defense. Wouldn't surprise me at all.

[George Foster]

The best table setter since Rose....seriously. He just hit his 261 hit today....that's incredible.

However he's a favorite in Seattle, selling a ton of jersey's.
They would want the "moon" for him.

[ChatterRed]

Yeah, I looked it up. He's making $17 million this year. Reds won't go for that.

Next.

[CySeymour]

Originally Posted by ChatterRed

Yeah, I looked it up. He's making $17 million this year. Reds won't go for that.

Next.

I think that says it all, and really, I can't blame them. But if you do get him, you can't waste his arm in LF. Bruce would have to move over to left.

[Red in Atl]

Hells yeah. He could end up getting 2000 hits in 9 seasons. Incredible player all around.

Ichiro rf
Dickerson cf
Philips 2nd
Bruce lf
Votto 1st
Encarnacion 3rd
Hanigan C
Gonzalez ss

Bench: Kepp, Castillo, Hairston, Valentin, Hopper

Sign CC and our rotation is set

CC
Volquez
Harang
Arroyo
Cueto

Bullpen: Cordero, Burton, Massett, Bray, Affeltd, Roenicke, Weathers

Would the 30 million saved on Griffey and Dunn get us CC and Ichiro? Probably not, but damn close. I would love that team.

[EV4Prez]

If we got ichiro for 18 mil i would take him in a heartbeat for 3 years..

[levydl]

Originally Posted by George Foster

The best table setter since Rose....seriously.

Um, no and no. Rickey Henderson, hands down.

[Caveman Techie]

Wrong side of 35 for me to take a chance on with that much money. Now if I was a fan of NY, I would definatley be advocating getting him.

[ChatterRed]

Originally Posted by Red in Atl

Hells yeah. He could end up getting 2000 hits in 9 seasons. Incredible player all around.

Ichiro rf
Dickerson cf
Philips 2nd
Bruce lf
Votto 1st
Encarnacion 3rd
Hanigan C
Gonzalez ss

Bench: Kepp, Castillo, Hairston, Valentin, Hopper

Sign CC and our rotation is set

CC
Volquez
Harang
Arroyo
Cueto

Bullpen: Cordero, Burton, Massett, Bray, Affeltd, Roenicke, Weathers

Would the 30 million saved on Griffey and Dunn get us CC and Ichiro? Probably not, but damn close. I would love that team.

I have to admit. I do agree that if the Reds continued to perform like they have in finishing this season, and they added Ichiro and Sabathia........I think this team would definitely make the playoffs next year and GABP would probably average close to 30,000 per game. If Harang returned to his ace form, then factor in Sabathia being an ace, then Volquez and Cueto's continued improvement with Arroyo's.......they'd have one of the best staff's in mlb.

Would ownership even consider this? I doubt it. But the payroll flexibility makes it fun to think about.

[levydl]

Originally Posted by ChatterRed

I have to admit. I do agree that if the Reds continued to perform like they have in finishing this season, and they added Ichiro and Sabathia........I think this team would definitely make the playoffs next year and GABP would probably average close to 30,000 per game. If Harang returned to his ace form, then factor in Sabathia being an ace, then Volquez and Cueto's continued improvement with Arroyo's.......they'd have one of the best staff's in mlb.

Would ownership even consider this? I doubt it. But the payroll flexibility makes it fun to think about.

Why stop there? Mike Schmidt and Willie Mays are available . . .

[redsbuckeye]

I feel I should point out it's not really 30 million saved. Griffey and Dunn would have potentially made a combined 30 million but their payroll isn't necessarily a planned item for next year. For all we know it was management's intentention to ditch the payroll and not fill it in anyway.

It's not like the Reds have a salary floor in place (beyond 25 major league minimums), they can spend as little as they want to.