Nick Krall: Shortstop, Pitching Are Reds' Priorities

[Ron Madden]

MLB's offseason is unique amid a pandemic. The General Managers Meetings, usually held in person, were conducted virtually this week. That will be the case next month during the annual Winter Meetings.

But business presses on as usual. The Reds have needs on their roster that GM Nick Krall is trying to address.

The biggest need for Cincinnati, according to Krall, is a new shortstop to replace departed free agent Freddy Galvis. That doesn’t mean that the club has lost faith in prospect José Garcia, who will remain in the picture.

The Reds could also need a starting pitcher to replace the innings of free agents Trevor Bauer and Anthony DeSclafani. Internal options include Michael Lorenzen, Tyler Mahle and Tejay Antone. But the door is not closed on bringing back Bauer, who won the National League Cy Young Award on Wednesday.

https://www.mlb.com/reds/news/nick-k...2020-offseason

[Bourgeois Zee]

A SS, a SP, and some cheap reliever depth.

That'll work.

[*BaseClogger*]

A SS, a SP, and some cheap reliever depth.

That'll work.

I think I'd rather they spend a moderate amount on a LH reliever than bargain bin multiple relief arms, but beggars can't be choosers. The shortstop is the primary need...

[Bourgeois Zee]

I think I'd rather they spend a moderate amount on a LH reliever than bargain bin multiple relief arms, but beggars can't be choosers. The shortstop is the primary need...

He talked about it more in The Athletic article with C. Trent. Basically, the Reds lost Brooks Raley, a serviceable LH relief arm, (and Nate Jones) because they had no one with options. Krall wants pitchers with options so they have the flexibility to move up and down. (Antone, I would assume, is one such arm, but he was nails last year. Why send him down?)

[RedTeamGo!]

Marcus Semian, Trevor Bauer, and Brad Hand.

Let’s go!

[*BaseClogger*]

He talked about it more in The Athletic article with C. Trent. Basically, the Reds lost Brooks Raley, a serviceable LH relief arm, (and Nate Jones) because they had no one with options. Krall wants pitchers with options so they have the flexibility to move up and down. (Antone, I would assume, is one such arm, but he was nails last year. Why send him down?)

Those are usually guys from within your system or B/C prospects picked up recently in trades, but there haven't been many transactions over the last nine months. Tony Santillan might be somebody who is ready for that kind of role in 2021...

[Ron Madden]

For what it's worth

Lance McAlister @LanceMcAlister

Per @betonline_ag

Where will Trevor Bauer sign?
Angels 3/1
Padres 4/1
Mets 5/1
Giants 5/1
Dodgers 6/1
Yankees 6/1
Phillies 7/1
White Sox 8/1
Red Sox 9/1
*******
#Reds not on the board


Where will Didi Gregorius sign next?
#Reds 3/1
White Sox 4/1
Nationals 4/1
Angels 13/4
Mets 15/4
Yankees 15/4


Which team will Trevor Story be traded to:
Angels 5/2
#Reds 3/1
Phillies 3/1
Yankees 7/2
White Sox 6/1

[Ron Madden]

Krall is operating as if the DH is not going to used because the Reds' outfield depth can allow them to quickly adapt if it used.

"You've got (Shogo) Akiyama, (Jesse) Winker, (Nick) Senzel, (Nick) Castellanos and (Aristides) Aquino that all can play pretty much all over the outfield," Krall said. "If you have a DH, you can put a guy in. If you don't, you can cycle a guy through and put him in a better matchup. I think we're just looking at it as, 'hey, look we're taking this one day at a time. Right now, we don't have a DH, so we're not planning on having a DH.'"

https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/mlb...an/ar-BB1aZGXs

[Bourgeois Zee]

Those are usually guys from within your system or B/C prospects picked up recently in trades, but there haven't been many transactions over the last nine months. Tony Santillan might be somebody who is ready for that kind of role in 2021...

Sure.

Last season, due to various reasons, the Red 'pen didn't have anyone (aside from Antone, who was dealing all season) who had options. Krall is looking for guys with whom he can play the option game.

Right now, I've got Iglesias, Bradley, Sims, Stephenson, Antone, Lorenzen, and Garrett as pretty sure bets either in the bullpen or in the rotation. That's six or seven spots.

That leaves one or two spots for Romano and DeLeon-- who have no options-- RJ Alaniz, Ryan Hendrix, and whomever they get on the free agent market.

[*BaseClogger*]

Sure.

Last season, due to various reasons, the Red 'pen didn't have anyone (aside from Antone, who was dealing all season) who had options. Krall is looking for guys with whom he can play the option game.

Right now, I've got Iglesias, Bradley, Sims, Stephenson, Antone, Lorenzen, and Garrett as pretty sure bets either in the bullpen or in the rotation. That's six or seven spots.

That leaves one or two spots for Romano and DeLeon-- who have no options-- RJ Alaniz, Ryan Hendrix, and whomever they get on the free agent market.

Based on Krall's comments about wanting guys with options you've got to figure Romano and DeLeon's days are numbered. It's that eighth spot in the bullpen that needs to be occupied by pitchers with options. Antone may be in the AAA or MLB rotation, which would open the spot for the lefty I covet...

[RedsBrick]

Angels
Mets
Phillies
White Sox

I can't imagine any of those teams if I'm Bauer.

Angels - They're simply boring. They have the best player on the planet and they're still boring. If I'm going SoCal, I'm going Padres.

Mets - I mean, they're the Mets.

Phillies - Of the four, I could see this one the most

White Sox - LaRussa? Really?

Also, Bauer just doesn't seem like a Yankees guy.

[M2]

Which team will Trevor Story be traded to:
Angels 5/2
#Reds 3/1
Phillies 3/1
Yankees 7/2
White Sox 6/1

The "hell yeah" you hear circling the earth in the event the Reds trade for Trevor Story will be from me.

[757690]

The "hell yeah" you hear circling the earth in the event the Reds trade for Trevor Story will be from me.

Story is a free agent after next season, but that could work to the Reds advantage by lowering his cost prospect wise. Also, when was the last time the Rockies made a smart trade? I hope this is the first avenue the Reds go down in their search for a SS>.

[Bourgeois Zee]

Based on Krall's comments about wanting guys with options you've got to figure Romano and DeLeon's days are numbered. It's that eighth spot in the bullpen that needs to be occupied by pitchers with options. Antone may be in the AAA or MLB rotation, which would open the spot for the lefty I covet...

Antone pitched to a 2.80 ERA with 5.1 H/9. 11.5 K/9.

You want him in AAA?

[Edd Roush]

For what it's worth

Lance McAlister @LanceMcAlister

Per @betonline_ag

Where will Trevor Bauer sign?
Angels 3/1
Padres 4/1
Mets 5/1
Giants 5/1
Dodgers 6/1
Yankees 6/1
Phillies 7/1
White Sox 8/1
Red Sox 9/1
*******
#Reds not on the board

1

I know Homer Bailey never had a 11 start streak as good as what Bauer put together in 2020, but the memory of the Bailey contract will make it much more palatable to me if Bauer signs a $100+M contract elsewhere.