Kent Mercker signs for 2 years

[missionhockey21]

Originally Posted by Redmachine2003

I predict Loaiza will be the next for DanO to sign.

If DJ is non-tendered, I could see it for sure. I might not like it but it would seem like what he has often targeted.

[flyer85]

Since Weathers was signed for $1.25M, I am guessing 2 years for $2.75M

[RosieRed]

For what it's worth (which is probably nothing but comparison's sake):

Justin Speier signed a $4.15M, two-year deal with Toronto today. He is RH, 31, and last year was 3-8 with a 3.91 ERA for the Blue Jays. Had 7 saves in 62 appearances.

[Krusty]

I'm telling you now.....the Reds will tender Jiminez a contract. There is money to spend.

[Red Thunder]

There is the veteran leadership O'Brien wanted:

Mercker: age 36
Weathers: age 35
Weber: age 35

[redsfan30]

Originally Posted by Krusty

I'm telling you now.....the Reds will tender Jiminez a contract. There is money to spend.

I agree. Jiminez is too important to this club. There is money to spend. We were apparently a player for Matt Clement and Dan O'Brien has said that there are other offers on the table to players but won't say who they are.

[missionhockey21]

Originally Posted by Krusty

I'm telling you now.....the Reds will tender Jiminez a contract. There is money to spend.

I also believe he will be tendered a contract, I just think the chances of us adding someone (espicially if we are talking a guy like Millwood) being much greater if DJ isnt tendered a contract. I'll believe the extra cash when I see it spent, I hope it will be.

[westofyou]

Why?

One reason is that a situational left hander wil only face 250-300 batters a year.

Give a guy 2 million bucks and that can be $8968 dollers per batter or $37,735 per inning (that's based on Merkers BF and IP as a Cub)

Lots of resources thrown at a guy who face about 3.5% of the batters faced in a season.

That's one way to look at it.

Another is that Merker had a good year last year as a LH situation releiver and the Reds didn't.

Here are the best LH relievers from last year in Rus Saved Above Average

And then the worst.

LEFT HANDED PITCHERS
INNINGS PITCHED BETWEEN 30 AND 100
GAMES STARTED < 1
ERA displayed only--not a sorting criteria
ERA vs. the league average displayed only--not a sorting criteria
BATTERS FACED < 300

RSAA                           RSAA      IP       GS       ERA      ERA      BFP    
1    Ron Mahay                    19     67          0     2.55     2.08      290   
T2   Mike Gonzalez                14     43.1        0     1.25     3.07      169   
T2   Brian Shouse                 14     44.1        0     2.23     2.40      184   
4    Steve Kline                  13     50.1        0     1.79     2.53      202   
T5   Chris Hammond                12     53.2        0     2.68     1.95      224   
T5   Kent Mercker                 12     53          0     2.55     1.77      223   
7    Ray King                     11     62          0     2.61     1.70      248   
8    Billy Wagner                 10     48.1        0     2.42     1.89      182   
9    Jamie Walker                  9     64.2        0     3.20     1.44      277   
T10  Eddie Guardado                7     45.1        0     2.78     1.86      176   
T10  Trever Miller                 7     49          0     3.12     1.51      208   

SEASON
2004



RSAA                           RSAA      IP       GS       ERA      ERA      BFP    
1    Gabe White                  -19     59.2        0     6.94    -2.51      265   
2    Javier Lopez                -11     40.2        0     7.52    -3.21      187   
T3   Mike Matthews                -8     30          0     6.30    -1.99      137   
T3   Felix Heredia                -8     38.2        0     6.28    -1.65      182   
T3   Phil Norton                  -8     65.2        0     5.07     -.76      296   
T6   John Grabow                  -7     61.2        0     5.11     -.79      286   
T6   Steve Colyer                 -7     32          0     6.47    -1.83      147   
T8   C.J. Nitkowski               -5     33          0     5.73    -1.29      160   
T8   John Franco                  -5     46          0     5.28     -.97      207   
T10  Matt Perisho                 -2     47          0     4.40     -.09      212   
T10  Aaron Fultz                  -2     50          0     5.04     -.40      216   
T10  Mike Gallo                   -2     49.1        0     4.74     -.43      223   
T10  Arthur Rhodes                -2     38.2        0     5.12     -.48      182   
T10  Brian Fuentes                -2     44.2        0     5.64    -1.33      201

[Red Leader]

Originally Posted by Redmachine2003

I predict Loaiza will be the next for DanO to sign.

Hey! That was my guess a couple weeks ago.

[Raisor]

Originally Posted by redsfan30

How can you guys complain about this signing? You can't get a lefty with those numbers for nothing and you know it. If you want quality, you've got to pay.

Like someone in an earlier thread said, "Padilla is Spanish for pile of crap."

We get one of the better lefty relievers in the game and you complain about it?

Why?

I just think there are better things to spend money on.

He's averaged right around 50 IP and 225 batters faced per season the last three years. That's roughly 3% of the total innings the Reds will play this year.

[REDREAD]

Originally Posted by westofyou

Money Guesses?

IIRC Redread was willing to go 4 million to Kent a week ago.

I say 2.3

For 2 years, just to clarify
Not 4 million for 1 year.

That said, I'm pleasantly surprised that DanO was able to pull this off.
I know that some will say that he's not worth the money on a rebuilding club (assuming he makes over 1 million), but this is a great signing, IMO. It will make the club much more bearable to watch.

Good work DanO You've had a pretty good offseason so far. Maybe not optimal, but a huge improvement from last year when you ignored all the clubs' problems. Nice to see him actually making an attempt to do something this year.

[Krusty]

But if you have the money, why not go for Mercker.

It is obvious now the Reds will spend some dollars. They have to be careful who they take.

But if they could lure a lefty like Odalis Perez or Eric Milton here, that would even bolster the rotation more and give the young arms competition for a couple of spots.

[Falls City Beer]

In the Reds world of babystep improvements all I can say is: at least it's pitching!!!

[flyer85]

AT least the Reds now have some veteran pitchers with a real track record of success in Mercker and Weathers. They are certainly a step up from Van Poppel, Norton, Jones, etc. I don't think you can have a bullpen of all young guys and this will give Wagner, Valentine, Coffey, etc a chance to mature at their own pace.

[redsfan30]

Originally Posted by Raisor

I just think there are better things to spend money on.

Like what?

I'd say the bullpen was a major problem for this team last year and this move definetly improves it. The pen cost us many a game last year and they are taking steps in the right direction to improve it.

Sure, go spend your money elsewhere. But it won't matter if the bullpen keeps blowing games.