Blockbuster deal on the horizon?

[RedEye]

Like most of you, the flurry of smaller WK moves on Monday whetted my appetite for the 'centerpiece deal' of this offseason. It's pretty clear that Wayne is not finished dealing. Unlike DanO, he seems to like teasing the fan base with statements like "Stay tuned" or "We're not done dealing" on a regular basis. So far, he's been true to his word.

My question for you all is this: Assuming the Gonzalez and Stanton are not all of it yet, what kind of MAJOR deal do you think Wayne will make this offseason?

Does he make a big free agent signing? A pitcher? A closer? An outfielder?

Does he make a big trade for one of the above?

Does he continue to make a cluster of smaller moves and ignore the big fish?

For my part, I think his acquisition of Gonzalez points to an impeding trade or free agent signing of a pitcher. Having a good defense up the middle is like buying an insurance policy for a top notch SP who gets ground balls. Frankly, I won't be surprised if we land a Lilly or a Meche, or a Padilla but I also won't be shocked if we are in the running for Zito or Schmidt. Really... I think we are going to be pleasantly surprised (at least until we realize we've overpaid)!

What say you?

[Gallen5862]

I would not be surprized if we don't get a relief Pitcher like Baez and maybe Trot Nixon for the outfield. I then think he will try to trade for starting Pitching.

[mth123]

Baez is the only name I've seen the Reds actually linked to in print or on the web, so I'll go with him. I'll tell you if I like it when I see the $ if it happens.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by Gallen5862

I would not be surprized if we don't get a relief Pitcher like Baez and maybe Trot Nixon for the outfield. I then think he will try to trade for starting Pitching.

Baez




Spending $7-8 mil per on a closer is such a waste if you don't have the horses to get you to the 9th.

[Tigs]

With the Cubs getting Soriano and the Astros about to land Carlos Lee, I think the Reds really need to land a big bat.

[mth123]

Originally Posted by Tigs

With the Cubs getting Soriano and the Astros about to land Carlos Lee, I think the Reds really need to land a big bat.

Me too. I thought the question was what we think they will do, not what we think they should do.

[Falls City Beer]

If you're deciding what bat Krivsky will go after, take all the available hitters and rank them according to fewest strikeouts; I think you'll find Wayne's hunting for #1 on that list. Regardless of his other numbers (particularly after capitulating in picking up defense with Gonzalez--who is a notorious K machine).

[guttle11]

Originally Posted by Tigs

With the Cubs getting Soriano and the Astros about to land Carlos Lee, I think the Reds really need to land a big bat.

There's really no reason to. With the bullpen and 3/5th of the rotation the way they are, Babe Ruth himself would not make this team a title contender.

Why waste the money?

If there's any big moves on the horizon, it better be for pitching. If winning this year is most important to them, make a splash on the free agent market. If they're looking to 08 and 09 (which is best IMO) trade Dunn for a kings ransom of young pitching and OF prospects if it's available and build for when Bailey, Bruce and Co are fully ready.

[edabbs44]

Originally Posted by guttle11

There's really no reason to. With the bullpen and 3/5th of the rotation the way they are, Babe Ruth himself would not make this team a title contender.

Why waste the money?

Exactly. I think WK needed, at the beginning of the offseason, to assess this team and make a determination of whether they can make them into a contender within 1-2 years or to take a step back and build from the ground up. The moves so far signal to me that they think that contention is within reach, but I think there needs to be A LOT more done. And my feeling is that he is not even close.

[corkedbat]

I expect them to TRY to get two starters (one each by FA and trade) a free agent closer candidate and the best bat they can land by FA or trade.

I don't hold out any hope for Schmidt, Zito or Meche and not that much for Lilly or Padillo, but there may be just a sliver of a glimmer. I'm thinking probably along the lines of Armas or Okha. I'd love a deal we can live with for a # three starter along the lines of Westbrook, but don't know what we have (and could spare) that would get it done. I think we land may well land either Baez or Borowski for the pen, but at a very high price.

If we don't and we can't trade for a closer, it wouldn't surprise me to see Lohse join Coffey, Bray and Belisle in a competition for the spot - not very appealing.

I think Nixon or Wilson are candidates if they go for a FA bat, but something tells me WK fashions a trade of some kind to fill this need.

I think the very poor FA crop, the surging market prices and the needs of the larger teams makes this a very dangerous off-season for a team like the Reds who have such glaring needs and so few decent comodities to spare in trade. The temptation to take an uniwise risk is probably pretty high.

[Handofdeath]

Originally Posted by guttle11

There's really no reason to. With the bullpen and 3/5th of the rotation the way they are, Babe Ruth himself would not make this team a title contender.

Why waste the money?

If there's any big moves on the horizon, it better be for pitching. If winning this year is most important to them, make a splash on the free agent market. If they're looking to 08 and 09 (which is best IMO) trade Dunn for a kings ransom of young pitching and OF prospects if it's available and build for when Bailey, Bruce and Co are fully ready.

Maybe I missed something this past season. Didn't the Reds finish 3 and 1/2 games behind the N.L. Central winner the St. Louis Cardinals? Didn't the Cards wind up winning the World Series? How long were the Reds in the playoff race? It was until mid to late September wasn't it? Sounds like a contender to me.

[guttle11]

Originally Posted by Handofdeath

Maybe I missed something this past season. Didn't the Reds finish 3 and 1/2 games behind the N.L. Central winner the St. Louis Cardinals? Didn't the Cards wind up winning the World Series? How long were the Reds in the playoff race? It was until mid to late September wasn't it? Sounds like a contender to me.

Correct.

However, the Cubs and Astros appear to be better, and you know the Cards will be there. The Reds were contenders mostly because the Astros (until Sept.) and Cubs stunk.

[Joseph]

Originally Posted by guttle11

Correct.

However, the Cubs and Astros appear to be better, and you know the Cards will be there. The Reds were contenders mostly because the Astros (until Sept.) and Cubs stunk.

The Astros still need someone to throw the ball. Oswalt and who?

As it stands at 1:30 CST on November 24th 2006, I'd rather have the Reds rotation than the Astros, Cubs, or Cards. That'll change for all teams before Opening Day, but right now anything is possible.

[Highlifeman21]

I feel there's a disappointing blockbuster deal on the horizon that will leave most of us scratching our heads.

Since Krivsky's gone out and cornered the market on relievers no one wants, I have this sick to my stomach feeling that he'll try to reverse the Washington deal by sending a package of our reliever castoffs to some team lacking bullpen help in return for some bat. Mind you, this bat probably won't be a big stick, but will be one of Narron's mold of "knows how to play the game the right way (fill in grotesque Narron-ism here), etc" and like has been said in this thread already, most likely will be low in the strikeout department. If I had to make a guess, it would be some sort of low strikeout punch and judy OF.

The blockbuster I'd love to see would be something involving Griffey for either a better starter, or a different OF bat. It's a shame that dream will never come to pass.

[thatcoolguy_22]

Originally Posted by guttle11

If they're looking to 08 and 09 (which is best IMO) trade Dunn for a kings ransom of young pitching and OF prospects if it's available and build for when Bailey, Bruce and Co are fully ready.

My point exactly. The key being to trade Dunn for a king's ransom. I think this might be a little harder to accomplish than it was to type...

Also it is not always a good idea to solely depend on prospects that are still years away. There are too many variables that could alter their personal development as well as alter the make-up of our team.

For example lets say that we completely disregard our current team and place any and all emphasis onto the 2009 season. In the next 2 years Harang develops shoulder troubles and all of our 35+ aged bullpen arms show their age. However Bailey bruce and votto arrive according to plan. We will have a very similar end result as we did the last few years. The whole dynamic of the team changed with no better result.

At the very most you consider any and all prospects on the back burner. There have been too many can't miss prospects that went astray. My point is that we should still build for this year's title run while not selling our soul for next. It is a tricky an complex balance that we must achieve.