After the Latos deal, what's next?

[Kc61]

Conventional wisdom is that the Reds will add a closer and a left fielder. Maybe a smaller trade for Seth Smith of the Rockies, who should be on the market. Maybe Coco gets re-signed now at a much lower salary. Maybe even Madson. Somehow, I think Beltran will cost too much money and presents a potential injury problem, but he still is a heck of a good ballplayer.

Didn't somebody say today that Walt still isn't finished with the pitching staff? I wonder if this means that the Reds will go after still another starter. How about a trade for Gio Gonzalez including Homer Bailey. Reds still have guys like Billy Hamilton, Naftali Soto, Dan Corcino, and Yorman Rodriguez who might interest a club like the A's. Also Heisey and Sappelt could be valuable chips.

The beauty of the Latos deal IMO is that the Reds acquired an excellent starting pitcher without taking on major salary, for this year and the next couple of years. This should enable Walt to keep dealing.

For the first time in a long while, I'll be seriously watching the "trade rumors" sites to see what the Reds are up to. They could be quite active during the next weeks.

[Vottomatic]

My gut tells me they won't do anything else except bolster the bullpen a bit, especially with Boxberger gone and Chapman becoming a starter.

What I wish would happen is.....
1. Sign the switch hitting Beltran to play LF, who OPS'ed .910, hit .300, and had an OBP of .385 last year, to bat cleanup and protect Votto. If he has a few stretches where he has some minor injures, we still have Heisey and Sappelt. It's a long season.
2. Sign either Kuroda or Oswalt.
3. Wish we could trade Arroyo.
4. Bolster the bullpen. Maybe even by trade.

[Kc61]

Just listened to Walt's press conference today. He came pretty close to saying that the Reds are seeking a LFer. He said that a few free agents have approached Reds anxious to hit at GABP

So I do think an outfielder will be added, just don't know if it will be a starter or a depth guy.

[Cedric]

Originally Posted by Kc61

Just listened to Walt's press conference today. He came pretty close to saying that the Reds are seeking a LFer. He said that a few free agents have approached Reds anxious to hit at GABP

So I do think an outfielder will be added, just don't know if it will be a starter or a depth guy.

Hopefully it's Seth Smith.

[cinreds21]

Damn, I came on here to post a thread titled "so what's next?" Crazy haha. So anyway, if the Reds add a pitcher (which could be a bullpen arm instead of starter) who gets bumped from the rotation? My question more so is what should they do with Homer or Leake. Trade one? Move one to the bullpen? I just wanna see what people think.

[Kc61]

Originally Posted by cinreds21

Damn, I came on here to post a thread titled "so what's next?" Crazy haha. So anyway, if the Reds add a pitcher (which could be a bullpen arm instead of starter) who gets bumped from the rotation? My question more so is what should they do with Homer or Leake. Trade one? Move one to the bullpen? I just wanna see what people think.

After the season Leake just had, why is there any doubt that he is in the rotation next year?

[cinreds21]

Originally Posted by Kc61

After the season Leake just had, why is there any doubt that he is in the rotation next year?

I guess then what do they do with Bailey? Do they move him to the bullpen or just hope some team covets him and deal him off?

[Kc61]

Originally Posted by cinreds21

I guess then what do they do with Bailey? Do they move him to the bullpen or just hope some team covets him and deal him off?

My own view, which is just a guess, is that there are two likely scenarios.

First scenario is that Bailey starts and Chapman begins the year in relief getting stretched out.

Second scenario is that somebody is traded, I'd guess Homer.

Reds organization, even after the deal, has a lot of depth. Still have Latos, Cueto, Bailey, Chapman, Leake, Arroyo, Wood. Seven guys who can start. They are actually still in great position to make productive trades if they want to.

I'm hoping they go "all in" and go after still another good starting pitcher.

[AtomicDumpling]

1. Aroldis Chapman for Logan Morrison of the Marlins plus a prospect. Fixes left field and saves the Reds a ton of money to help extend Votto. (I can dream.)

The Latos trade and the rumored asking prices for pitchers like Shields, Danks, Niese and Gio Gonzalez prove just how valuable good young pitchers are on the trade market these days. Since we have a couple extra starting pitchers now, maybe we should be exploring the market for guys like Homer Bailey, Mike Leake, Aroldis Chapman or Travis Wood. We would not get a Latos-like haul but we could fill LF and help replenish the prospect-wagon with a low-level grade A prospect or two. The Blue Jays got Colby Rasmus for Edwin Jackson so there is a recent precedent for this type of deal.

[corkedbat]

Originally Posted by Vottomatic

My gut tells me they won't do anything else except bolster the bullpen a bit, especially with Boxberger gone and Chapman becoming a starter.

What I wish would happen is.....
1. Sign the switch hitting Beltran to play LF, who OPS'ed .910, hit .300, and had an OBP of .385 last year, to bat cleanup and protect Votto. If he has a few stretches where he has some minor injures, we still have Heisey and Sappelt. It's a long season.
2. Sign either Kuroda or Oswalt.
3. Wish we could trade Arroyo.
4. Bolster the bullpen. Maybe even by trade.

If you've got the money to sign Kuroda or Oswalt, sign Beltran instead. Heisey and Sappelt are just bodies you put in LF - neither is a corner OF - this team needs a meat of the order bat. I add a LH OF/PH even if I sign Beltran. If I'm gonna chase another starter, I'd go younger/less expensive (Pineda maybe?).

[757690]

I'm guessing big money goes to Madsen. The rest goes to a 4th outfielder type. Not my choice, just what I think will happen.

[AmarilloRed]

Not a lot of teams looking for closers-we can probably wait and prices for closers will come down a bit.

[corkedbat]

Originally Posted by 757690

I'm guessing big money goes to Madsen. The rest goes to a 4th outfielder type. Not my choice, just what I think will happen.

All things being equal, I'd rather have Madsen from among the remaining closer type FAs. i wouldn't pay him $10M+ for four or five years though. Not thanks on a 4th OF type for LF - this org is filty with them.

Not really an idea I like either, but I can see Walt adding Ryan Ludwick to a two or three year deal and believing that he acquired a legitmate middle of the order corner OF bat.

[Ron Madden]

I hope Walt stays away from Ludwick and Theriot.

[reds44]

Does anybody have a list of free agents left, specifically outfielders?

Also, I'll be very surpised if Theriot doesn't end up here. Not saying I like it, but he can backup at both middle infield spots.