Reds Trade And Free Agent Rumours 2023-24 Offseason

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Originally Posted by Bourgeois Zee

It's the old Branch Rickey school of thought-- finishing in 2nd place perpetually will keep fans interested, and they won't have to pay the players as much.

It's too bad that some of us are fine with that.

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Just finished Ken Burns baseball documentary for the 100th time, and I'm like 95% sure that wasn't Branch Rickey that said that, and it's going to bother me until I remember who actually did. Going down a wiki rabbit hole, if I'm not back in a month send help.


Edit: It was Connie Mack!

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Mack saw baseball as a business, and recognized that economic necessity drove the game. He explained to his cousin, Art Dempsey, that "The best thing for a team financially is to be in the running and finish second. If you win, the players all expect raises."

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That was going to bother me for the next week.

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Originally Posted by Bourgeois Zee

It's the old Branch Rickey school of thought-- finishing in 2nd place perpetually will keep fans interested, and they won't have to pay the players as much.

It's too bad that some of us are fine with that.

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Branch Rickey died 58 years ago. The game he was talking about died decades ago. Finishing first mattered when only first place teams made the playoffs. Now almost half the teams make the playoffs.

The game has changed, and I think it’s important that we adjust along with it. Complaining about not winning the World Series these days is like complaining that starting pitchers don’t pitch past the 5th inning anymore. I liked the game better the way it was when I was younger, but it’s not played that way, so I need to adjust to it.

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Originally Posted by 757690

Branch Rickey died 58 years ago. The game he was talking about died decades ago. Finishing first mattered when only first place teams made the playoffs. Now almost half the teams make the playoffs.

The game has changed, and I think it’s important that we adjust along with it. Complaining about not winning the World Series these days is like complaining that starting pitchers don’t pitch past the 5th inning anymore. I liked the game better the way it was when I was younger, but it’s not played that way, so I need to adjust to it.

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I disagree with the thesis that says “because there are more rounds in the postseason, all the Reds should do is shoot for an 84 win team and cross their fingers.”

From twitter:

The Guardians are designating Cal Quantrill for assignment.

He was projected to earn $6.6M next season and had two years of team control remaining. His 2023 was marred by injury/ineffectiveness, though he did have a strong September.

https://x.com/zackmeisel/status/1724...-k2A2dZC0KKa9Q

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Originally Posted by 757690

From twitter:

The Guardians are designating Cal Quantrill for assignment.

He was projected to earn $6.6M next season and had two years of team control remaining. His 2023 was marred by injury/ineffectiveness, though he did have a strong September.

https://x.com/zackmeisel/status/1724...-k2A2dZC0KKa9Q

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Could make for a solid BOR/swingman option depending on the cos.

I also saw the Mariners DFAed Mike Ford. I don't really see any obvious fit for him on the Reds but he had a good 2023 and I'm generally in favor of simply adding talent when it's available.

I'd sign Quantrill ASAP and plug him into the Ben Lively role. Quality arm for nothing but cash.

Would also like to see India + in a trade for Alek Manoah.

Sign Candelerio as Switch hitting corner bat and another reliever.

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Originally Posted by LeatherPants

Edit: It was Connie Mack!

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Thanks for that, LP. I got my legends mixed for sure.

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Originally Posted by 757690

Branch Rickey died 58 years ago. The game he was talking about died decades ago. Finishing first mattered when only first place teams made the playoffs. Now almost half the teams make the playoffs.

The game has changed, and I think it’s important that we adjust along with it. Complaining about not winning the World Series these days is like complaining that starting pitchers don’t pitch past the 5th inning anymore. I liked the game better the way it was when I was younger, but it’s not played that way, so I need to adjust to it.

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What's the point of the game, 75?

It's not to finish with the most money in the hands of owners.
It's not to finish .500.
It's not to be nebulously "successful."
It's not to get to the playoffs.
It's not a Wild Card or even a pennant.

It's winning the World Series.

Lose sight of that if you want.

Pop quiz: only one team cut payroll, didn’t make trades, and had a massive increase in attendance in 2023. Which team was it?

If you guessed the Dodgers or Rangers or Brewers or Astros or Phillies or Diamondbacks or Braves or Rays, you’d be wrong.

It was actually the Reds.

The team that you love to criticize and hate was the most successful team in baseball last year and you just admitted to it when I gave you those accomplishments and you guessed it was an actually good team. You said it. I tricked you into saying it and you had no idea I was tricking you. But it’s too late cause you said it and now you have to admit it is true. The Reds are the best team and smartest and I am also very clever and you are wrong and sad. Your words. Not mine.

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Originally Posted by Bourgeois Zee

Thanks for that, LP. I got my legends mixed for sure.

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What's the point of the game, 75?

It's not to finish with the most money in the hands of owners.
It's not to finish .500.
It's not to be nebulously "successful."
It's not to get to the playoffs.
It's not a Wild Card or even a pennant.

It's winning the World Series.

Lose sight of that if you want.

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I will just repeat.

Considering the state of MLB today, fans who demand a World Series title from their teams are only setting themselves up for pain and misery.

It used to be the case when I was a kid that it was reasonable to expect your team to win the World Series, most teams had a reasonable chance if they tried. Now it is not reasonable to expect your team to win the World Series, even if they try. Even the Dodgers were unsuccessful at that from 1988 to 2020, despite being a dominant team during most of that.

There are many reasons for this, primarily the advantage that big markets have, and the expanded playoffs, but this is the reality.

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Originally Posted by 757690

I will just repeat.

Considering the state of MLB today, fans who demand a World Series title from their teams are only setting themselves up for pain and misery.

It used to be the case when I was a kid that it was reasonable to expect your team to win the World Series, most teams had a reasonable chance if they tried. Now it is not reasonable to expect your team to win the World Series, even if they try. Even the Dodgers were unsuccessful at that from 1988 to 2020, despite being a dominant team during most of that.

There are many reasons for this, primarily the advantage that big markets have, and the expanded playoffs, but this is the reality.

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The likelihood of a WS victory has not appreciably changed. You’re making stuff up.

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Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

The likelihood of a WS victory has not appreciably changed. You’re making stuff up.

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If you aim for the WS, it will be a painful fan experience. Be thankful we aren’t going down that dark road.

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Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

The likelihood of a WS victory has not appreciably changed. You’re making stuff up.

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Debates have changed since we were kids. Making stuff up used to be bad but now it’s expected. So, you’re actually the wrong one.

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Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

The likelihood of a WS victory has not appreciably changed. You’re making stuff up.

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From 1969-94, teams that made the postseason had to beat two teams in two series to win a World Series title.

Now they have to beat 11 other teams, and win 4 series.

It absolutely has changed significantly.

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Originally Posted by 757690

From 1969-94, teams that made the postseason had to beat two teams in two series to win a World Series title.

Now they have to beat 11 other teams, and win 4 series.

It absolutely has changed significantly.

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No it hasn’t changed. Every team faces the same gauntlet.

If anything, with the increase in parity in the sport, the Reds’ odds have improved.

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Originally Posted by Falls City Beer

No it hasn’t changed. Every team faces the same gauntlet.

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The gauntlet has changed. It’s incredibly tougher to breach now. Odds of a division winner becoming World Series Champions have been drastically reduced.