Reds sign Emmanuel Burriss

[Superdude]

Originally Posted by Gallen5862

Matt Eddy
@eddymk
#Reds sign 2B Emmanuel Burriss, C Nevin Ashley & RHRP Jeff Stevens to minor league deals.

Yea Stevens. I love seeing that trade come full circle.

[Vottomatic]

Latest news is Walt signing Felipe Lopez, Austin Kearns, and Majewski to minor league deals.

Reds win that trade too.

[RedsManRick]

I'd prefer Burris to Valdez.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

I'd prefer Burris to Valdez.

Me too. If he's the utility infielder for cheap, it wouldn't be the worst thing.

[camisadelgolf]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

I'd prefer Burris to Valdez.

I'd prefer a box of rocks over Valdez since--theoretically, at least--there'd be no chance of Dusty writing it in the lineup.

[cumberlandreds]

I'm hoping these signngs are just for AAA depth and not intended for the major league roster.

[mth123]

Exactly who do you guys think would make a good utility infielder? Anybody good is going to be a starter somewhere. Good bench guys cost a lot of coin and I'd rather the Reds address the OF and the bullpen with the money they have.I'd be fine with Didi, but if the Reds want him to play every day, Burris isn't the worst choice. I prefer him to say Valdez or Janish.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by mth123

Exactly who do you guys think would make a good utility infielder? Anybody good is going to be a starter somewhere. Good bench guys cost a lot of coin and I'd rather the Reds address the OF and the bullpen with the money they have.I'd be fine with Didi, but if the Reds want him to play every day, Burris isn't the worst choice. I prefer him to say Valdez or Janish.

In thinking either Jeter or Longoria for the UT spot.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by mth123

Exactly who do you guys think would make a good utility infielder? Anybody good is going to be a starter somewhere. Good bench guys cost a lot of coin and I'd rather the Reds address the OF and the bullpen with the money they have.I'd be fine with Didi, but if the Reds want him to play every day, Burris isn't the worst choice. I prefer him to say Valdez or Janish.

I don't have a list of guys, but I just feel there has to be something better out there than a guy coming off of back to back seasons where he couldn't crack a .500 OPS in the Majors. There are pitchers who do that.

[Tom Servo]

The thing is that guys like Valdez and Burriss are about the most dire of no-hit infielders. A quick list of guys who are/were available I'd rather pick up:

Jarrett Hoffpauir
Jason Bartlett
Ronny Cedeno
Luis Rodriguez
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez
Adrian Cardenas
Brendan Harris

[lollipopcurve]

there has to be something better out there than a guy coming off of back to back seasons where he couldn't crack a .500 OPS in the Majors

Versatility with defensive proficiency, speed, LH bat -- that's what makes him a decent fit. OPS is a limited way to look at the player required for the role.

[dougdirt]

Originally Posted by lollipopcurve

Versatility with defensive proficiency, speed, LH bat -- that's what makes him a decent fit. OPS is a limited way to look at the player required for the role.

Mentioning that he is a left handed bat, but then saying don't look at his OPS seems kind of silly to me.

Major Leaguers should be able to hit a little bit. I am not saying you need to be an .800 OPS bench guy or anything, but being a slight upgrade to a pitcher at the plate isn't exactly what I am looking for off of the bench. It isn't like the Reds are going to be pulling infielders in the late innings for defensive replacements or using Burris as a fill in if someone gets hurt, so his perceived spot on the bench should actually be able to swing the bat.

[M2]

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

The thing is that guys like Valdez and Burriss are about the most dire of no-hit infielders. A quick list of guys who are/were available I'd rather pick up:

Jarrett Hoffpauir
Jason Bartlett
Ronny Cedeno
Luis Rodriguez
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez
Adrian Cardenas
Brendan Harris

I'll be mildly surprised if the Reds don't pick up another utility IF or two to create some competition for that job. Hopefully only one will exist on the 25-man roster at any given time. I imagine Burriss wouldn't be offended by playing in Louisville if someone else beats him out for a spot.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Tom Servo

The thing is that guys like Valdez and Burriss are about the most dire of no-hit infielders. A quick list of guys who are/were available I'd rather pick up:

Jarrett Hoffpauir
Jason Bartlett
Ronny Cedeno
Luis Rodriguez
Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez
Adrian Cardenas
Brendan Harris

Hoffpauir, Cardenas and Harris can't play SS. May as well skip it and use Frazier if we need a SS. I like the Cedeno idea, but if it takes much more than the minimum, I'd pass and spend it elsewhere (though if the Reds were to deal one of Didi or Cozart, that would change the thought process). Rodriguez or Gonzalez would be OK I guess, but I don't see how they are better than Burris. I don't know much about Bartlett's health. If he's going to play and would sign for cheap, I'd be all for it. I have a feeling he's done though.

My point is that I wouldn't expend very limited resources looking for somebody to be the back-up SS when Burris and Didi are already on board. If the idea is a 3B/offensive option, there are guys I like better than the guys on that list. I am mildly intrigued by the Cardenas idea if it has to be a league minimum guy, but I'd spend a little more on a part-time 3B if it means Frazier is the LF solution and the new guy is splitting time with Rolen, but I could live with a Rolen/Cardenas combo at 3B and Frazier in LF if it means the resources are there for a decent CF option to be acquired. I'd pass on Harris and Hoffpauir completely.

[traderumor]

Originally Posted by dougdirt

Mentioning that he is a left handed bat, but then saying don't look at his OPS seems kind of silly to me.

Major Leaguers should be able to hit a little bit. I am not saying you need to be an .800 OPS bench guy or anything, but being a slight upgrade to a pitcher at the plate isn't exactly what I am looking for off of the bench. It isn't like the Reds are going to be pulling infielders in the late innings for defensive replacements or using Burris as a fill in if someone gets hurt, so his perceived spot on the bench should actually be able to swing the bat.

I think Valdez had value in that you weren't suddenly seeing the infield turn into a sieve or discombobulate when he was called on. His bat was frustrating, but on a team where D is a large part of our ability to stay in games, having a glovey utility infielder is about more than a late inning defensive replacement.

One of the problems with your profile for that spot is that if a middle infielder with a plus glove can hit, he's a starter somewhere.