Find a Right-Handed bat in June/July if the REDS are in contention?

[Kingspoint]

This was the first post of a thread in Old Red Guard: Just thought it was interesting for a topic, though it's been topicked to death over the last 10 months.

Find the RH bat

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We talk about this in other threads, so I thought I'd create a specific thread for it. If the Reds are in the race in June/July, we all expect them to be on the hunt for one thing: A big RH bat for the middle of the lineup. Let's throw out some names.

The obvious one is Matt Holliday. I think this is tough because Billy Beane isn't going to give him up for anything less than a king's ransom, even though Holliday has struggled. He is one of the few GMs who will let Holliday walk and consider the draft picks adequate compensation. So that's a tough deal to make, although Holliday would be a great fit.

Other names suggested:

Jermaine Dye
Miguel Tejada
Andruw Jones
Jayson Werth

Let's try to get creative, but not too creative. For example, this player probably will be either a corner outfielder or a third baseman. So let's avoid scenarios where we add this guy and move Votto to LF or add that guy and move Phillips to SS. Those things aren't going to happen mid-season. Also, let's stick to RH bats. No debates about the LH-RH thing. Regardless of your personal opinion on this subject, it's pretty clear the Reds favor the RH bat unless there are no realistic options (hence the late pursuit of Abreu).

If they're picking up a butcher in the field, the bat better be exceptional. It's clear they are placing a premium on defense, and it's working.

So what do we think? Any names out there we haven't considered?

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My personal opinion about it, is that we don't need a RH bat. We have Edwin and Phillips, who have both proved over the years very capable of producing against Left-handed pitching, which is the reason one wants to obtain a Right-handed bat. We have Owings off of the bench, and Nix is proving to be valuable, too. Let's see though what the state of the team is at the end of June, and how well Edwin is playing at the time. I expect that he'll be playing well, and we'll forget all about this idea.

[aubashbrother]

id at least see what it would take to get werth

[Ghosts of 1990]

Philly won't give up werth. They consider themselves in the race and they'll need him themself. I think he's not far from them extending him (if they haven't already I need to check).

I really do think if ownership will open their pockets a little bit Holliday is a great possibility, not to beat a dead horse.

Some lesser possibilities:

Melvin Mora
Billy Hall (if only Brewers would fall out of this race like I think they might)
Scott Hairston
Elijah Dukes
Ben Francisco
Mark DeRosa
Jhonny Peralta
Jose Guillen for a second tour of duty in Cincy

[spartcock77]

I know he is not a righty, but he does hit lefties about as well as he does righties...Brad Hawpe of the Rockies. It does not look like they are going to be in the race. But I also like the flexibility of DeRosa as well.

[lidspinner]

Philly won't give up werth. They consider themselves in the race and they'll need him themself. I think he's not far from them extending him (if they haven't already I need to check).

I really do think if ownership will open their pockets a little bit Holliday is a great possibility, not to beat a dead horse.

Some lesser possibilities:

Melvin Mora
Billy Hall (if only Brewers would fall out of this race like I think they might)
Scott Hairston
Elijah Dukes
Ben Francisco
Mark DeRosa
Jhonny Peralta
Jose Guillen for a second tour of duty in Cincy


with the way this clubhouse is meshing and playing together as a unit, I would not take Dukes or Guillen for free. We are missing a few pieces to the puzzle but we got something the Yankees would give a billion dollars for, we got chemistry....there are about 12 teams in MLB that have more talent than us and should beat us 7-10 times, but we are better because of they way we play as a team. Management will consider that before they go bringing in a bad seed to this clubhouse.
With that said, I like the Scott Hairston idea, good guy, team 1st mentallity. And it couldnt hurt having Jerry here. We all are looking for the next big bat, but I would "consider" looking at Drew Stubbs....bring him up and see if he can help. I know we are looking for a proven person, but Stubbs wouldnt make me mad if he was given a shot.

[BLEEDS]

with the way this clubhouse is meshing and playing together as a unit, I would not take Dukes or Guillen for free. We are missing a few pieces to the puzzle but we got something the Yankees would give a billion dollars for, we got chemistry....there are about 12 teams in MLB that have more talent than us and should beat us 7-10 times, but we are better because of they way we play as a team. Management will consider that before they go bringing in a bad seed to this clubhouse.
With that said, I like the Scott Hairston idea, good guy, team 1st mentallity. And it couldnt hurt having Jerry here. We all are looking for the next big bat, but I would "consider" looking at Drew Stubbs....bring him up and see if he can help. I know we are looking for a proven person, but Stubbs wouldnt make me mad if he was given a shot.

The terms "Big Bat" and "Drew Stubbs" should not be used in the same sentence.
So who would Stubbs replace? He's not an upgrade anywhere at this point, and definitely not in LF. He's a future CF-er IFF he can keep up his MiLB OBP and OPS stats. He's actually starting to shed that bust label, let's not push him to the bigs quite yet.

PEACE

-BLEEDS

[OesterPoster]

Some lesser possibilities:

Melvin Mora [he's now 37 years old, and IDK that his defense is better than EE, is it?]
Billy Hall (if only Brewers would fall out of this race like I think they might)
Scott Hairston [Good option, just don't see the Pads getting rid of him though.]
Elijah Dukes [bad history of being a slacker...not sure he meshes with this team]
Ben Francisco
Mark DeRosa [Another decent option, if they don't want too much for him.]
Jhonny Peralta
Jose Guillen for a second tour of duty in Cincy [no way...there's a reason he has played for so many teams and burned so many bridges.]

[Brian]

I think we'll have to get closer to the deadline to see where teams are. At this point though, I think the only viable option is a power 3B, which there aren't exactly an abundance of. Unless Enc can come back from this "injury" with a renewed sense of hitting anything other than a fastball, I think it's time to try something different there on a more permanent basis. As to LF, I don't think many, if any, of those guys listed are an upgrade over how Nix/Gomes/Hariston are playing *right now*.

[lidspinner]

The terms "Big Bat" and "Drew Stubbs" should not be used in the same sentence.
So who would Stubbs replace? He's not an upgrade anywhere at this point, and definitely not in LF. He's a future CF-er IFF he can keep up his MiLB OBP and OPS stats. He's actually starting to shed that bust label, let's not push him to the bigs quite yet.

PEACE

-BLEEDS

I dont disagree with anything you say, I just think that Stubbs is a great player and could help this team....wouldnt it be nice to have a guy like him when WillyT is playing below average ball? I dont care if we have a platoon at every position in the diamond, if it works and the chemistry is working, then lets do it. I see your points, at the same time I dont see any names out there thats worth what the player is gonna want.....I would not settle for a type C player when Stubbs is down there and could start getting his experience in waves right now. Just my opinion.

[Ghosts of 1990]

Here's a name no one is mentioning..... Brian Roberts. He's a poor man's Robby Alomar. He's a good second baseman. A switch hitter, a veteran. A pro's pro. Baltimore would give him up for a package of Bailey and 2 other decent minor leaguers........ we should look to make this move and slide Phillips to short.

[RedLakerFan24]

Here's a name no one is mentioning..... Brian Roberts. He's a poor man's Robby Alomar. He's a good second baseman. A switch hitter, a veteran. A pro's pro. Baltimore would give him up for a package of Bailey and 2 other decent minor leaguers........ we should look to make this move and slide Phillips to short.

i been thinking about his too, Baltimore is Rebuilding right now so there is no use for Roberts, Bailey + Francisco for Roberts?

[Hobo Hal]

Baltimore just signed Roberts to an extension. They could've traded him or let him go for draft picks. They also brought up Wieters, so I don't think they view it as him having no use. He is probably the most popular player on the team and the owner is notorious for asking for a treasure in trades. I'd say conversation for roberts would start with Cueto or Volquez.

[Ghosts of 1990]

Baltimore just signed Roberts to an extension. They could've traded him or let him go for draft picks. They also brought up Wieters, so I don't think they view it as him having no use. He is probably the most popular player on the team and the owner is notorious for asking for a treasure in trades. I'd say conversation for roberts would start with Cueto or Volquez.

I don't think the asking price would be that steep.

They're rebuilding with young talent in Baltimore. Roberts is over 30 and his best years are probably behind him (or he may have 2 more at most in him after this year). Markakis' team, with Wieters and Adam Jones close behind. Guys like Aubrey Huff (we dont need him) and Roberts (at a little steeper price) then Huff can be had.

[Hondo]

Philly won't give up werth. They consider themselves in the race and they'll need him themself. I think he's not far from them extending him (if they haven't already I need to check).

I really do think if ownership will open their pockets a little bit Holliday is a great possibility, not to beat a dead horse.

Some lesser possibilities:

Melvin Mora
Billy Hall (if only Brewers would fall out of this race like I think they might)
Scott Hairston
Elijah Dukes
Ben Francisco
Mark DeRosa
Jhonny Peralta
Jose Guillen for a second tour of duty in Cincy

No offense but this team would be better off staying pat than adding any of those players... Not anyone is What the Team needs... The ORG list is laughable as well...

Like a Grady Sizemore to play left and Bat 4th I would go for... Young, tremendous Power Potential...

That is the type of Player this team needs... Something to make a difference... An Elite Hitter. Why even make a Trade for theose mentioned beforehand... Like Austin Kearns? Felipe Lopez? Jeff Francouer? No way!

Add a Big Bat like Sizemore, and Not a Bat like Holiday, who will only parish as a hitter outside of Coors Field... This team should have gotton Scott Rolen years ago when Philadelphia Traded him to St.Louis... THis team could have been competetive for a few years when that went down!

[Dude Rock]

Yeah, the more I read these trade options, there aren't many that I like.

Plus, I really think management intends to ride the current roster out and see how they finish, and make adjustments in the offseason, while seeing if player salaries continue to drop somewhat.

I did kinda like the idea of trading for Bedard and Beltre. Both are in the last year of their contracts and might not cost that much since they'd basically be rent-a-players. Depends on how cheap you could get them.

[steig]

Before we trade for a right handed bat we need to get Votto healthy. I don't think this team can go anywhere this season without Votto. If Votto can come back healthy then look at trading for a bat, otherwise don't part with the prospects that would be required in a trade.

[Dude Rock]

Before we trade for a right handed bat we need to get Votto healthy. I don't think this team can go anywhere this season without Votto. If Votto can come back healthy then look at trading for a bat, otherwise don't part with the prospects that would be required in a trade.

What prospects? All our best ones are tearing it up at Double AA and our goofy management is slow to move them up another level. And Alonso should be in Double AA by now. Geez, it's like everyone has become Dusty Baker and moves at the pace of a turtle.

[Dude Rock]

Holiday is up to .270 but has only 6 HR's. It will be interesting to see what some team gives up for him as a rent-a-player.

[Hondo]

Holiday is up to .270 but has only 6 HR's. It will be interesting to see what some team gives up for him as a rent-a-player.

He needs COORS Field...

[BluegrassRedleg]

I think we'll have to get closer to the deadline to see where teams are. At this point though, I think the only viable option is a power 3B, which there aren't exactly an abundance of. Unless Enc can come back from this "injury" with a renewed sense of hitting anything other than a fastball, I think it's time to try something different there on a more permanent basis. As to LF, I don't think many, if any, of those guys listed are an upgrade over how Nix/Gomes/Hariston are playing *right now*.

I don't necessarily disagree with that, but by then it might be too late. Without Votto, this team stands to drop a lot of ground, and it may not be able to dig out of the hole in time.