Reds sign Russ Springer

[REDSEER]

Per Sun Deck

(http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/2...SPORTS/7150309)

41 year old right-handed reliever will head to Louisville for a week or two to test out his arm.

Springer accepted a pro-rated contract offer for $850,000, which means he'll receive less than half of that based on the amount of time he spends with the Reds this season.

Springer was scheduled to fly out today for Louisville, where he must test his arm for 10 days to two weeks at the Triple-A level.

"They've got a young bullpen," Springer said of the Reds, "and they said they needed a guy who has been there before to help in key situations. During my career, I've been in most of them."

Springer posted a 4.11 ERA in 74 appearances for the A's and Rays last year. I like the move; Springer has been a solid reliever for the last five years or so.

[Scrap Irony]

No harm in signing him. If he comes up, will he be a middle reliever or long guy? Wither the extra starters? Smith? Ondrusek?

Interesting, to say the least.

[lollipopcurve]

Cool story. He had several other offers, some more lucrative, but chose the Reds because he was a Big Red Machine fan as a kid (plus, the team's in 1st).

Solid move.

[Ghosts of 1990]

He was in video games (Tony LaRussa and RBI baseball) when I was a kid.

.....this is not good

[reds1869]

He was in video games (Tony LaRussa and RBI baseball) when I was a kid.

.....this is not good

So was Arthur Rhodes. That seems to be working out well enough.

[edabbs44]

He was in video games (Tony LaRussa and RBI baseball) when I was a kid.

.....this is not good

Springer was a beast on The Show a few years ago.

[OesterPoster]

Springer was a beast on The Show a few years ago.

Plus he gets bonus points from me for his fastballs which seemed to be aimed at Barry Bonds' oversized melon.

[Strikes Out Looking]

I don't know why I think it's important, but the fact that he wants to play for the Reds is a big deal to me. With Votto and Rolen and some of the other guys, it seems they are starting to build a group that cares about what they are doing as a team, not just individuals. (And this is not meant to be a negative post about any of the players who have been here in the past).

[NDRed]

I wonder why they wouldn't sign David Weathers instead. Money, availability, or performance???

[RedsManRick]

He's put up decent numbers, but the guy is a flyball machine. He's got a career GB:FB ratio of 0.52!

[OesterPoster]

He's put up decent numbers, but the guy is a flyball machine. He's got a career GB:FB ratio of 0.52!

Well, then...Dusty can use him every day on the big August west coast trip, burn him up, and be done with him.

[PuffyPig]

I wonder why they wouldn't sign David Weathers instead. Money, availability, or performance???

Weathers gad few K's last year, and tons of walks and HR's.

[camisadelgolf]

He's put up decent numbers, but the guy is a flyball machine. He's got a career GB:FB ratio of 0.52!

I noticed the same thing. His numbers have been solid since hitting his 30s, but he's always had a penchant for giving up the homerun. I hope he doesn't see much time in Cincinnati outside of a September call-up because it seems like a Milton-esque recipe for disaster.

[_Sir_Charles_]

Weathers gad few K's last year, and tons of welks and HR's.

A ton of welks? Good lord, no! Pass! :O)

[11larkin11]

Weathers gad few K's last year, and tons of welks and HR's.

Posted from your phone? hahaha