Offseason Priorities

[dman]

A new hitting coach. Brook Jacoby has got to go. We need somebody who can help Jay Bruce be less streaky, and if we keep Stubbs on board, somebody that can help him transform into the hitter we've seen glimpses of.

[*BaseClogger*]

Originally Posted by Wonderful Monds

This won't be a popular opinion, but we definitely need a 3B. IMO Todd Frazier is not a starting player.

I think a platoon of Jack Hannahan and Todd Frazier, with Frazier getting some playing time at other positions too, could be effective...

[Wonderful Monds]

Originally Posted by *BaseClogger*

I think a platoon of Jack Hannahan and Todd Frazier, with Frazier getting some playing time at other positions too, could be effective...

I'm guessing Headley is off the table now. Though the Pads don't need him seeing as they won't be any good during the time he's still around.

[corkedbat]

I want a CFer who can lead off and get on base at a solid rate. Top candidates: Dennard Span, Dexter Fowler and Jacoby Ellsbury. I might consider Shane Victorino, but it would have to be a very friendly FA deal.

When it comes to 3B & LF its a little more "fluent". I'm OK with Frazier at one of those spots. If Ludwick agrees to his side of the options or comes back for $5-8M, that's great. Frazier at 3B and Ludwick in LF, but even then, I'd like for them to add a LH bat with power, An OFer would be great, but one that could play some 3B would be even better.

If Luddy hits the open market and the bidding gets close to the 8-figure mark, I'd look elsewhere at 3B or LF. Ryan had a great season, but I don't think it beyond the realm of possibility he regresses. IMO, Walt needs to find a way to insert one more impact bat into the lineup - either by trade or Free Agency. Nick Swisher would be a dream, but I'm not sure the Reds can afford him if the Yanks decide they want him back.

This year's salary (the final of a sixth year deal) was $10.5M. I might be willing to go $3yrs/$39M (a graduated scale with some deferred dollars). If he (likely) is too pricey, my other targets would be Justin Upton, Chase Headley, Shin-Soo Choo, Logan Morrison or Josh Willingham. I still think Josh would be a perfect fit in this offense and 2 more years @ $7M per is probably just as reasonable as what Ludwick gets.

[Wonderful Monds]

Chase Headley via trade and Ryan Ludwick resigned is probably the best case scenario offensively. I don't see the point in getting a long term CF. Billy Hamilton is a year away at most.

[Wonderful Monds]

Also don't be surprised if the Reds pick up Chris Young and cash from the DBacks to play CF next year. They're looking to dump him and I just get the feeling he's a Jocketty player. "Adequate" hitter, good in CF.

Something under the radar I'd want to happen but won't is to pay a good bit of money to get Toronto miracle worker Dwayne Murphy to be our hitting coach. Won't happen and I don't even know if it'd be possible. But the guy seems like the Dave Duncan of hitting coaches.

If Dusty doesn't return or takes another role besides manager, I'd probably make Bryan Price manager if he wants it to make absolutely certain he sticks around here.

[Kc61]

The Reds lineup must have a third left handed hitter, or switch hitter, at least on a platoon basis. Right handed pitchers have too much of an advantage with only two LHH.

The Reds starting lineup must have one more high OBP guy. If it's the same guy as the new LHH, that's fine.

The Reds bench is only five men deep and it cannot have two of those spots consumed by non-hitters like Cairo and Valdez. The bench has to hit more.

The Reds have to deal with CF. They can't keep going with Stubbs' failure to make contact. IMO, Heisey is not the answer, he is overly aggressive which inflates his Ks and reduces his BBs.

Leake is very questionable in the rotation. A ground ball pitcher cannot give up so many homers. If the Reds can get a closer, they should move Chapman to the rotation and use Leake in a trade or in middle relief.

If Rolen retires and/or Ludwick doesn't sign, the Reds have to figure out third base and left field. Presumably Frazier will start in one position or the other.

CF, adding left handed hitting, adding OBP, improving the bench, getting a closer, making Chapman a starter, firming up LF/3B, these are the key off-season priorities for the team IMO.

[corkedbat]

Originally Posted by Wonderful Monds

Also don't be surprised if the Reds pick up Chris Young and cash from the DBacks to play CF next year. They're looking to dump him and I just get the feeling he's a Jocketty player. "Adequate" hitter, good in CF.

Something under the radar I'd want to happen but won't is to pay a good bit of money to get Toronto miracle worker Dwayne Murphy to be our hitting coach. Won't happen and I don't even know if it'd be possible. But the guy seems like the Dave Duncan of hitting coaches.

If Dusty doesn't return or takes another role besides manager, I'd probably make Bryan Price manager if he wants it to make absolutely certain he sticks around here.

Why the heck would we want Chris Young when he's basically the same player as Stubbs and we would have to give up players to get him? Not to mention he's due $20M (Drew made $587K this season) over the next two years. While the Diamondbacks may want to deal him, they want something solid back for him.

I can't understand why anyone would say we don't need a CFer with OB skills just because Billy Hamilton might be ready in a year or two when he is just now playing his first CF game or two in the AFL and hasn't even had a AAA AB yet. You get a CFer who can get on base and then if Billy lives up to his potential and is ready to push for the job, you have a high OBP veteran CFer to trade. Oh wow, that would be terrible. Why would we ever want that?

[Wonderful Monds]

Originally Posted by corkedbat

Why the heck would we want Chris Young when he's basically the same player as Stubbs and we would have to give up players to get him? Not to mention he's due $20M (Drew made $587K this season) over the next two years. While the Diamondbacks may want to deal him, they want something solid back for him.

I can't understand why anyone would say we don't need a CFer with OB skills just because Billy Hamilton might be ready in a year or two when he is just now playing his first CF game or two in the AFL and hasn't even had a AAA AB yet. You get a CFer who can get on base and then if Billy lives up to his potential and is ready to push for the job, you have a high OBP veteran CFer to trade. Oh wow, that would be terrible. Why would we ever want that?

I didn't say I wanted young. I said I have a feeling the Reds want young.

As for CF, Billy Hamilton is obviously going to get a shot in CF. So why waste resources on getting a long term CF when the team is clearly going to put Billy there by 2014, at the absolute latest? Trading valuable resources that could be used elsewhere for a position we already have a player for? Why would we ever want that?

[fearofpopvol1]

Originally Posted by Rojo

A 200-hit guy would be nice. I'm with FlightRick on this maybe being a thirdbaseman, with Frazier being your garden-variety power LF.

I agree this would be ideal, but who? I don't think the Reds have the cash for this. Frazier isn't perfect at 3B, but he's at least a pretty decent option to plugin there. A LFer could come from a variety of places/options. Here's one I'd even consider, based on ST next year: Xavier Paul. Maybe you even platoon him with Heisey out there.

I would not get rid of Stubbs for a bag of balls, but would have no problem trading him if he can garner something of value. He can always be a defensive substitution and a pinch runner.

Also don't have a problem with Valdez. He's a whipping boy around here, but it's not his fault. He should have never started as many games as he did this year, but the entire IF was out for periods of time. He should be used for occasional spot starts and/or possibly for defensive substitutions if someone were to go down.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by *BaseClogger*

I think a platoon of Jack Hannahan and Todd Frazier, with Frazier getting some playing time at other positions too, could be effective...

[Wonderful Monds]

Originally Posted by fearofpopvol1

I agree this would be ideal, but who? I don't think the Reds have the cash for this. Frazier isn't perfect at 3B, but he's at least a pretty decent option to plugin there. A LFer could come from a variety of places/options. Here's one I'd even consider, based on ST next year: Xavier Paul. Maybe you even platoon him with Heisey out there.

I would not get rid of Stubbs for a bag of balls, but would have no problem trading him if he can garner something of value. He can always be a defensive substitution and a pinch runner.

Also don't have a problem with Valdez. He's a whipping boy around here, but it's not his fault. He should have never started as many games as he did this year, but the entire IF was out for periods of time. He should be used for occasional spot starts and/or possibly for defensive substitutions if someone were to go down.

I think a bench with Frazier and Paul as its first 2 options is a strength. But counting on Xavier Pauls to be significant contributors is a mistake too many 00's Reds teams made.

[KronoRed]

Originally Posted by Wonderful Monds

I didn't say I wanted young. I said I have a feeling the Reds want young.

As for CF, Billy Hamilton is obviously going to get a shot in CF. So why waste resources on getting a long term CF when the team is clearly going to put Billy there by 2014, at the absolute latest? Trading valuable resources that could be used elsewhere for a position we already have a player for? Why would we ever want that?

The Reds don't know if they have a player for that spot, there is always a chance that Hamilton will fall flat on his face in AAA, anyway the Reds need a guy for 2013 and it certainly is not Stubbs.

They should kick the tires on Fowler, he doesn't have a long term deal.

[Wonderful Monds]

Originally Posted by KronoRed

The Reds don't know if they have a player for that spot, there is always a chance that Hamilton will fall flat on his face in AAA, anyway the Reds need a guy for 2013 and it certainly is not Stubbs.

They should kick the tires on Fowler, he doesn't have a long term deal.

Ellsbury is my guy if they want an impact CF without the commitment.


I really want Headley for 3B because he seems like a perfect fit for the Reds, and I don't think they would get both. But I'd love either. Fowler too though, though his away splits kind of scare me.

[HokieRed]

Priority number one, IMO, should be something I don't think Walt will able able to accomplish: extending Bailey. Not to say there aren't many other things to be done. There are, but this stands out as number 1 for the strength of the team over the next several years. Priority number two is getting Chapman into the rotation. Bailey, Chapman, Cueto, and Latos as a group can keep this club at or close to the top irrespective of a lot of the other personnel.