Reds sign Mercker to minor league deal - RedsZone.com - Cincinnati Reds Fans' Home for Baseball Discussion

HalMorrisRules · 02-08-2008, 01:50 PM

According to Trent:

The Reds signed LHP Kent Mercker to a minor league contract with a spring training invite.

Mercker sat out last season after elbow surgery. Mercker, a native of Dublin, Ohio, appeared in 37 games for the Reds in 2006.

Mercker was also mentioned in the Mitchell Report. In the report, former Mets employee Kirk Radomski told investigators that he sold one kit of human growth hormone to Mercker for $1,600. A copy of a check or $1,600 from Mercker to Radomski was included in the report.

Fellow left-handed reliever Mike Stanton was also named in the Mitchell Report.

Degenerate39 · 02-08-2008, 01:55 PM

I can't see Mercker having any success in baseball what so ever right now. He's 37 years old and he just came off elbow surgery. Unless he's going to be player/coach of sorts then this is a bad investment on the Reds side. It also doesn't help that Mercker was on the Mitchell Report. I hope they didn't pay much over the minimum.

Natty Redlocks · 02-08-2008, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Degenerate39

I can't see Mercker having any success in baseball what so ever right now. He's 37 years old and he just came off elbow surgery. Unless he's going to be player/coach of sorts then this is a bad investment on the Reds side. It also doesn't help that Mercker was on the Mitchell Report. I hope they didn't pay much over the minimum.

Actually, he's 40.

What the hell, the more the scarier.

FreelFanatic · 02-08-2008, 02:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Degenerate39

I can't see Mercker having any success in baseball what so ever right now. He's 37 years old and he just came off elbow surgery. Unless he's going to be player/coach of sorts then this is a bad investment on the Reds side. It also doesn't help that Mercker was on the Mitchell Report. I hope they didn't pay much over the minimum.

I don't think it's much of an "investment" when it's a minor league deal. Low risk, high reward...just another arm for ST games. And he's a heck of a guy, from what I hear. Why not give him a shot, regardless of his age?

Degenerate39 · 02-08-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreelFanatic

I don't think it's much of an "investment" when it's a minor league deal. Low risk, high reward...just another arm for ST games. And he's a heck of a guy, from what I hear. Why not give him a shot, regardless of his age?

His arm will probably go out at any minute. If he can mentor some of the younger pitchers then I'm all for it but other than that I just see it as a waste of money.

redlegs7089 · 02-08-2008, 02:37 PM

merker > stanton thats the way i see it

OesterPoster · 02-08-2008, 02:40 PM

He no longer has the arm of a 40 year old though, unless he's been throwing baseballs with the ligaments which went into his new elbow.

I like it. If he bombs, big deal. If he makes the team, then he's earned it.

FreelFanatic · 02-08-2008, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Degenerate39

His arm will probably go out at any minute. If he can mentor some of the younger pitchers then I'm all for it but other than that I just see it as a waste of money.

I think we're all arguing the same pointless argument here. They're giving a respected veteran (Mitchell report notwithstanding) a Spring Training cup of coffee. He's not going to push anyone out of their spot. If miraculously he's a live enough arm to make the roster, it's obviously in place of someone that had to earn their spot and didn't do it. No blood, no foul.

Reverend Doo-Rag · 02-08-2008, 02:50 PM

Lets give Gabe White another go-around too.

GoReds33 · 02-08-2008, 02:51 PM

I like it. If it means less innings for Stanton, I'm all for it. He's got the smarts. It's not like he had a great pitch anyway. He didn't lose his mind while he was off too.

durl · 02-08-2008, 03:20 PM

I'm fine with it. Give the guy a shot and see what he does. Prior to his 2006 problems (4.13 ERA), he finished with ERAs of 3.65, 2.55, 2.35, and 1.06.

I don't care if he's 74. If he can post an ERA under 5, he'd be an improvement over last year's bullpen.

Handofdeath · 02-08-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Reverend Doo-Rag

Lets give Gabe White another go-around too.

No way he leaves his present job. He's the only one there who can fit into the Chuck E. Cheese costume.

captainmorgan07 · 02-08-2008, 03:50 PM

notting wrong with this move. If it works atta boy for wayne if it don't no big deal. Kent doesn't have what he used to and i don't expect him to put up much of a fight in spring training.

Handofdeath · 02-08-2008, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Degenerate39

He's 37 years old and he just came off elbow surgery.

According to Baseball-Reference.com, Mr Mercker turned 40 a week ago.

mlbfan30 · 02-08-2008, 05:13 PM

Or how about giving Pellend a chance. I'd rather have him getting an invite over Merker. I know its a risk to trust youngish relief pitchers. I know having a veteran bullpen automatically means a good one. Describing a player as and only as "veteran" automatically means he's a bad player

02-08-2008, 01:50 PM	#1
HalMorrisRules He sure could hit Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Dayton Posts: 701	Reds sign Mercker to minor league deal According to Trent: The Reds signed LHP Kent Mercker to a minor league contract with a spring training invite. Mercker sat out last season after elbow surgery. Mercker, a native of Dublin, Ohio, appeared in 37 games for the Reds in 2006. Mercker was also mentioned in the Mitchell Report. In the report, former Mets employee Kirk Radomski told investigators that he sold one kit of human growth hormone to Mercker for $1,600. A copy of a check or $1,600 from Mercker to Radomski was included in the report. Fellow left-handed reliever Mike Stanton was also named in the Mitchell Report.

02-08-2008, 01:55 PM	#2
Degenerate39 Senor Votto Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 7,847	Re: Reds sign Mercker to minor league deal I can't see Mercker having any success in baseball what so ever right now. He's 37 years old and he just came off elbow surgery. Unless he's going to be player/coach of sorts then this is a bad investment on the Reds side. It also doesn't help that Mercker was on the Mitchell Report. I hope they didn't pay much over the minimum. __________________ Most Vottomatic Player

02-08-2008, 02:37 PM	#6
redlegs7089 Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Troy, OH Posts: 253	Re: Reds sign Mercker to minor league deal merker > stanton thats the way i see it __________________ Barry Larkin = Future Hall Of Famer

02-08-2008, 02:40 PM	#7
OesterPoster Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: West-central Ohio Posts: 1,911	Re: Reds sign Mercker to minor league deal He no longer has the arm of a 40 year old though, unless he's been throwing baseballs with the ligaments which went into his new elbow. I like it. If he bombs, big deal. If he makes the team, then he's earned it.

02-08-2008, 02:50 PM	#9
Reverend Doo-Rag Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: Findlay & Western Posts: 222	Re: Reds sign Mercker to minor league deal Lets give Gabe White another go-around too.

02-08-2008, 03:20 PM	#11
durl Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nashvull Posts: 1,743	Re: Reds sign Mercker to minor league deal I'm fine with it. Give the guy a shot and see what he does. Prior to his 2006 problems (4.13 ERA), he finished with ERAs of 3.65, 2.55, 2.35, and 1.06. I don't care if he's 74. If he can post an ERA under 5, he'd be an improvement over last year's bullpen.

02-08-2008, 03:50 PM	#13
captainmorgan07 got alil captain in u? Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Bridgeport Ohio Posts: 4,839	Re: Reds sign Mercker to minor league deal notting wrong with this move. If it works atta boy for wayne if it don't no big deal. Kent doesn't have what he used to and i don't expect him to put up much of a fight in spring training.

02-08-2008, 05:13 PM	#15
mlbfan30 Member Join Date: May 2006 Posts: 544	Re: Reds sign Mercker to minor league deal Or how about giving Pellend a chance. I'd rather have him getting an invite over Merker. I know its a risk to trust youngish relief pitchers. I know having a veteran bullpen automatically means a good one. Describing a player as and only as "veteran" automatically means he's a bad player

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