50 No-Names To Consider

[mth123]

There has been a lot of talk about the Reds dealing for big names like Holiday, Ordonez, Peavey and the like. Also, popular targets like the Texas catchers, Kelly Shoppach and JJ Hardy (a personal favorite) have been discussed. The Reds have some stuff to deal and its more likely that the Reds acquire lesser known guys who fit the team's needs. Some may be free agents, some minor leaguers, some coming off of injuries, but most will be guys who are blocked or on the outs with their current team or organization. Here is my under the radar list for the 2008 off-season (a couple already signed elsewhere):

Name	         Pos	B or P	Team	Comment	
Matt Diaz	OF	R	ATL	RH stopgap for LF. Should be cheap.
Conner Jackson	1B/LF	R	AZ	Starting LF
Miguel Montero	C	L	AZ	Could share C with Hanigan
Dennis Sarfate	P	R	BAL	A flyer on a cheap comeback
Michael Wuertz	P	R	CHC	Would fit in middle innings
Ronny Cedeno	SS	R	CHC	Would be starting SS
Neal Cotts	P	L	CHC	Adds LHP for the Pen
Sean Marshall	P	L	CHC	5th Starter
Angel Guzman	P	R	CHC	Could be a sleeper back from TJ
Brian Anderson	OF	R	CHW	Platoon partner for Dickerson in CF
Cole Armstrong	C	L	CHW	Good defender showing POP in AFL. Hanigan's other half?
Heath Taylor	P	L	CLE	Could be late inning Lefty by end of 09
Tony Sipp	P	L	CLE	2nd year back from TJ. Should be able to help in pen
James Skelton	C	L	Det	Would platoon with Hanigan
Marcus Thames	OF	R	DET	RH power for LF
Andrew Sisco	P	L	FA	Could help pen with a comeback
Braden Looper	P	R	FA	Jocketty goes to his past for rotation help
Kevin Correia	P	R	FA	Good MRP, potential 5th starter if healthy
Kevin Millar	1B	R	FA	RH 1B who can add "Veteran Presence" from the bench when Alonso arrives
Josh Phelps	1B	R	FA	RH 1B
Sergio Mitre	P	R	FA	Solid Starter rehabbing TJ, 2010 Asset.	
Travis Blackley	P	L	FA	LH Prospect before injury. A flyer on a minor league deal could pay dividends
Jeff Kent	1B	R	FA	RH stopgap at 1B to buy time until Alonso arrives
Robert Andino	SS	R	FLA	Can Handle SS, better bat than Janish
John Buck	C	R	KC	Odd man out in KC. Would help the Reds.
Jimmy Gobble	P	L	KC	As a cheap non-tender FA
Justin Speier	P	R	LAA	Pricey but could help. Shouldn't cost much.
Kendry Moreles	1B/OF	S	LAA	Could play LF or 1B with Votto moving
Kevin Jepson	P	R	LAA	Power Arm with control issues
Reggie Willits	OF	S	LAA	Useful OF option who can play CF
Chin Lung Hu	SS	R	LAD	Defensive SS with more offensive upside than Janish
Jason Repko	OF	R	LAD	LF?
Delwyn Young	OF	S	LAD	LF bat?
Jason Vargas	P	L	NYM	5th Starter
Josh Thole	C	L	NYM	LH Catcher, Probably not ready yet.
Angel Pagan	OF	S	NYM	LF Stopgap with some upside
Wilson Betemit	IF	S	NYY	Could play 3B if EdE goes
Edwar Ramirez	P	R	NYY	Middle Inning Mix
Kevin Whelan	P	R	NYY	Middle Inning Mix
Brian Bixler	SS	R	Pit	SS Option???
Ronny Paulino	C	R	Pit	Could be starting C, not sure on defense.
Tyler Greene	SS	R	STL	Adds SS for the system
Bryan Anderson	C	L	STL	LH Catcher blocked by Molina
John Jaso	C	L	TB	Share with Hanigan, Power. ? on Defense.
Edwin Jackson	P	R	TB	Good Arm for Rotation
Johnny Gomes	OF	R	TB	RH Stopgap for LF. Should be cheap.
Joaquin Arias	SS	R	Tex	Texas Other SS propsect. Won't cost as much as Andrus
Ryan Spilborghs	OF	R	COL	.908 Career OPS against Lefty pitchers while still decent at .801 versus RH.
Jose Bautista	3B/OF	R	TOR	RH Stopgap for LF. Should be cheap.
Brian Tallet	P	L	TOR	Solid Lefty for Pen.

[Highlifeman21]

I would argue that Connor and Edwin Jackson (separated at birth perhaps?) are not no-names.

I would make a similar argument for Reggie Willits and Edwar Ramirez (but maybe that's just b/c I've heard plenty of him living up here on the BOS/NYY line). As for Ramirez, I would go after him only if we could put him on the Michael Phelps 12,000 calorie a day diet so that kid gains some weight. Skinny doesn't even begin to describe that kid, but I think he's an excellent target.


Good list, mth.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Highlifeman21

I would argue that Connor and Edwin Jackson (separated at birth perhaps?) are not no-names.

I would make a similar argument for Reggie Willits and Edwar Ramirez (but maybe that's just b/c I've heard plenty of him living up here on the BOS/NYY line). As for Ramirez, I would go after him only if we could put him on the Michael Phelps 12,000 calorie a day diet so that kid gains some weight. Skinny doesn't even begin to describe that kid, but I think he's an excellent target.


Good list, mth.

You are right. some are bigger names than others. Jeff Kent is on my list for example, but they are all guys no one is talking about.

[NJReds]

I think Josh Phelps signed with the SF Giants.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by NJReds

I think Josh Phelps signed with the SF Giants.

Yeah and Mitre signed with the Yankees. I started the list before that happened and left them on to keep it at 50. Got too lazy to look for 2 more guys.

[NJReds]

The Yankees declined the option on Marte. He'd be a decent lefty in the pen.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by NJReds

The Yankees declined the option on Marte. He'd be a decent lefty in the pen.

I like Marte. I wanted the Reds to deal for him last year.

[Highlifeman21]

If we sign Marte, we have zero need for Affeldt


... which is a good thing in my book

[RedsManRick]

Originally Posted by mth123

I like Marte. I wanted the Reds to deal for him last year.

He's a type B FA. I wouldn't want to lose a pick for him.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

He's a type B FA. I wouldn't want to lose a pick for him.

You only lose a pick for Type A guys.

Type B's net the team losing the player a sandwich pick (after the second round I think) but there is no penalty for the signing team.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Highlifeman21

If we sign Marte, we have zero need for Affeldt


... which is a good thing in my book

Sign Marte and Affeldt. Bray would be a decent guy to put in a package.

[blumj]

He actually is a Type A, though, so you would lose a pick.

[Will M]

Originally Posted by blumj

He actually is a Type A, though, so you would lose a pick.

only if his team offers him arbitration

[blumj]

Originally Posted by Will M

only if his team offers him arbitration

Yes, that would be the one team in MLB with the absolute least reason to worry about the risk of a one season overpay.

[remdog]

Nice work mth. I'll have to look at it closer when I have more time.

Re: Kent. Reports here are that he'll either re-sign with the Dodgers or retire. For what it's worth.

Rem