After the Choo deal

[Edd Roush]

Originally Posted by Will M

I agree with folks who would like another late inning reliever.

I am not sure Paul is the best 5th OF. Maybe a CF who plays great defense would be useful to plug in late in games where we have the lead.

I also like the idea of bringing in a great glove for a competition for an outfield spot, but I honestly have Paul on square footing in this fight vs. Heisey. Paul clearly outperformed Heisey at the plate in 96 PAs last year (.314/.379/.465) albeit with a bloated .379 BABIP. Heisey's more reasonable .328 BABIP yielded a .265/.315/.401 line in 375 PAs. Heisey's career line of .259/.315/.438 in 909 PAs certainly beats Paul's .259/.308/.364 in 507 PAs. I just am kind of buying the narrative that Paul was a better ballplayer in 2012 than Heisey was, although that may be a function of a small sample size. Either way, let's bring in a legit defensive CF for a shot at an outfield spot and give Paul a shot to beat out Heisey for the other outfield spot.

[Vottomatic]

I don't know much about these guys, but apparently they haven't been signed, unless baseball-reference.com is simply behind.

Luke Scott
Bill Hall
Austin Kearns
Juan Rivera
Ryan Sweeney
Ben Francisco

[OldRightHander]

Originally Posted by JaxRed

As am I

You're headed to AAA to work as a starter? I missed that one.

[PuffyPig]

Originally Posted by Edd Roush

I also like the idea of bringing in a great glove for a competition for an outfield spot, but I honestly have Paul on square footing in this fight vs. Heisey. Paul clearly outperformed Heisey at the plate in 96 PAs last year (.314/.379/.465) albeit with a bloated .379 BABIP. Heisey's more reasonable .328 BABIP yielded a .265/.315/.401 line in 375 PAs. Heisey's career line of .259/.315/.438 in 909 PAs certainly beats Paul's .259/.308/.364 in 507 PAs. I just am kind of buying the narrative that Paul was a better ballplayer in 2012 than Heisey was, although that may be a function of a small sample size. Either way, let's bring in a legit defensive CF for a shot at an outfield spot and give Paul a shot to beat out Heisey for the other outfield spot.

I doubt Paul has any chance to beat out Heisey for a roster spot. Paul will always have to prove he belongs, and is likely one sustained slump from being permanently banished to the minors. Heisey is, more or less, guaranteed a roster spot. His power and ability to play all OF spots competently ensures that.

[Marc D]

The Dodgers just DFA'd Van Slyke.

I would take a flyer on this kid in a heart beat.

[Tony Cloninger]

Originally Posted by RedsManRick

Sure would be nice to have Jeremy Horst, huh?

You know...I get ripped for bringing that trade up and how....anyone should care about AAA fodder like him and now yes...it would be nice to still have him. He might be just some LOOGY or a replaceable LH out of the pen, but he sure is a lot better than some thought.

[Edd Roush]

Originally Posted by PuffyPig

I doubt Paul has any chance to beat out Heisey for a roster spot. Paul will always have to prove he belongs, and is likely one sustained slump from being permanently banished to the minors. Heisey is, more or less, guaranteed a roster spot. His power and ability to play all OF spots competently ensures that.

I'm not doubting that you are correct. I am just saying that if I was Walt, I wouldn't guarantee Heisey a roster spot. Heisey really does nothing very well, and his versatility doesn't do much for me. I think Paul may have the better bat now and that's what I want out of that bench spot. Either would be the first pinch hitter off the bench (if the other outfielder was the centerfielder defensive specialist) and therefore, if Paul's bat supremacy beats out Heisey's versatility speciality, I would let Paul take Heisey's roster spot.

[corkedbat]

Originally Posted by Marc D

The Dodgers just DFA'd Van Slyke.

I would take a flyer on this kid in a heart beat.

I'd be all for a minor league contract for van Slyke with an invite.

[corkedbat]

Originally Posted by Tony Cloninger

You know...I get ripped for bringing that trade up and how....anyone should care about AAA fodder like him and now yes...it would be nice to still have him. He might be just some LOOGY or a replaceable LH out of the pen, but he sure is a lot better than some thought.

MLBTR says the Phils may deal Horst, Raul Valdes or Antonio Bastardo. Of those three, Horst would be third on my wishlist.

[Patrick Bateman]

Originally Posted by Tony Cloninger

You know...I get ripped for bringing that trade up and how....anyone should care about AAA fodder like him and now yes...it would be nice to still have him. He might be just some LOOGY or a replaceable LH out of the pen, but he sure is a lot better than some thought.

Well, evertime you bring it up you make it seem like the Reds committed a sin. The facts are:

1. He aged out as a minor league free agent with the Reds
2. The Reds managed to sign him to a minor league deal that ANY TEAM COULD HAVE OUTBID THE REDS FOR.
3. The Reds traded him for a bench player that they felt they needed


Horst pitched his best after essentially every team passed up on him. It's difficult to be critical of a move the Reds made that basically every team showed no indication of pursuing. He had a nice season, but we can probably stop acting like this was an obvious move that the Reds performed badly in pursuing.

[Vottomatic]

Originally Posted by Marc D

The Dodgers just DFA'd Van Slyke.

I would take a flyer on this kid in a heart beat.

Seems strange. I know they are paying out huge contracts and have a team full of all-stars. But the kid was hitting .300+ in the PCL last year. Seems like they would have tried to make a trade or something.

I'd take a flyer on him. Good genes.

[Patrick Bateman]

Originally Posted by Vottomatic

Seems strange. I know they are paying out huge contracts and have a team full of all-stars. But the kid was hitting .300+ in the PCL last year. Seems like they would have tried to make a trade or something.

I'd take a flyer on him. Good genes.

They obviously would have tried to trade him. If anybody wanted him a deal would have easily been made.

Position inflexible guys who only hit significantly in the PCL don't go for much.

[Vottomatic]

Originally Posted by Patrick Bateman

They obviously would have tried to trade him. If anybody wanted him a deal would have easily been made.

Position inflexible guys who only hit significantly in the PCL don't go for much.

http://www.milb.com/milb/stats/stats...pbp&pid=475100

I dunno. Van Slyke hit .348 in double AA in 2011. Then he hit .327 in triple A in the PCL in 2012. He combined to hit 38 HR's and 78 doubles over that 2 year period. He turned 26 in July. His slugging and OPS his last 2 years in the minors were really impressive. And he's a big kid.......6'5" - 250 lbs, righthanded.

I'm not saying give him a roster spot. I'm saying stick him at Louisville and see if he continues to hit. Maybe he replaces Heisey at some point? Maybe he slugs 25-30 HR's and replaces Ludwick at some point? Or....maybe he bombs and the Reds release him.

No harm in trying. Nothing to lose. Major league team is set.

[Patrick Bateman]

Right, but the reason he's DFA'd because nobody wants to guarantee a roster spot. There's probably 25 teams willing to give him a AAA spot, so getting him in the fold is easier said than done.

[Vottomatic]

Originally Posted by Patrick Bateman

Right, but the reason he's DFA'd because nobody wants to guarantee a roster spot. There's probably 25 teams willing to give him a AAA spot, so getting him in the fold is easier said than done.

Oh. I'm in agreement on that one. The Astros, Pirates, Cubs........all the rebuilding teams and bottomdwellars will be after him.