You are the GM

[Rdirtypirates]

There has been a lot of negativity and thinking the Reds wont do much this winter including myself. You are the gm and get to make moves you think will help the Reds. Leatherpants did a poll of what redszone expected the payroll to be and it was 76-100 million overwhelmingly. I will stick with 85 million personally, but please stay in that range. Free agent signings need to be reasonable price wise. I will use mlb traderumors estimates for my template. You can be as descriptive or as generic as you want.
1. Sign Sonny gray to a three year 60million dollar contract
2. Sign Cody Bellinger for 8 yrs 200million
3. Trade Will Benson for bullpen help no one impaticular in mind
4. Sign a few bullpen arms for approximately 10million
5. I would look for another trade for a starting pitcher. No one specific someone like Brady Singer. I would trade prospects and Arroyo would be the headliner.

Starting rotation
1. Hunter Green
2. Sonny Gray
3. Graham Ashcraft
4. Andrew Abbott
5. Pitcher traded for
6. Brandon Williamson
7. Connor Phillips
8. Lyon Richardson

Bullpen
1. Alexis Diaz
2. Sam Moll
3. Nick Lodolo- I think he would be a dominant lefty out of the pen and at this point I don’t see him staying healthy starting.
4. Tejay Antone
5. Lucas Sims
6. Fernando Cruz
7. Ian Gibault
8. Whoever will Benson is traded for.
9. Free agents signed

Starting 9
1B CES
2nd McLain
SS Marte
3rd Elly
DH India
C Tyler Stephenson
RF Fraley/ Steer
Cf Bellinger
Lf Friedl

I would use Steer as a super sub and give everyone adequate days off. I would be happy with this pipe dream. Payroll would only be 85 million which is doable and only lose Will Benson off the current roster.

[Falls City Beer]

I’d look to move Stephenson. I know everyone wants India out the door, but Stephenson looks like a continued diminishing returns candidate. I’d try to package Stephenson with a B+ prospect for a reliever or two.

I’d sign an OF. Probably not Bellinger, but a strong RH power bat that can play RF or LF.

I’d trade a top tier prospect or two for a starter that’s almost certain to throw 150 innings at 3.50-4.00 ERA. A fairly high K guy but not necessarily an ace.

Side bar: It’s kind of insane that Tejay Antone is even getting penciled in anywhere. The guy’s thrown like one inning in 36 months.

[WrongVerb]

If I'm the GM, I'm doing the following:

1. Move EDLC to center field (Friedl to left)
2. Trade prospects for Max Kepler to play RF
3. Sign RHP Nick Gonzalez to handle bulk innings
4. Sign or trade for at least two high leverage relievers
5. Sign a distressed starter like Erik Fedde
6. Sign or trade for a switch hitting infielder (Escobar would have been perfect)


Players:

1b CES
2b India
SS McLain
3b Marte
LF Friedl
CF EDLC
RF Kepler
CA Stephenson
DH Benson

OF/DH Fraley
IF/DH Steer
IF (new person)
CA Maile

RH Greene
LH Abbott
RH Ashcraft
RH (new starter)
LH Williamson

LH Lodolo (bulk)
RH Gonzales (bulk)
LH Young (low-mid leverage)
RH Cruz (low-mid leverage)
LH Moll (mid-high leverage)
RH (high leverage acquisition #1)
RH (high leverage acquisition #2)
RH Diaz (high leverage/closer)

[Old school 1983]

Reds have money out the wazoo if they want to spend it.

Hader
Chapman
Candelario
Gray

[Krusty]

I do the deal Jim Bowden mentioned in the Athletic:

Trade proposal: I like Dylan Cease going to the Reds. What minor-league package plus Jonathan India would it take to acquire him? — Tim O.

You like it, I love it — a Cease trade to the Reds makes a lot of sense. How about India and right-hander Ty Floyd for him? The White Sox have to make that trade. Floyd, 22, was a first-round pick (No. 38) in this year’s MLB Draft after dominating at LSU. The White Sox control Cease for only two more years. They’d get their long-term solution at second base with India and a starter with similar upside to Cease but many more years of team control. Maybe the Reds would have to throw in a kicker too, but there is a deal to be made here.

[JCM11]

If India and Floyd could land Cease the Reds have to make that deal. I suspect the White Sox will get better offers though.

[Rdirtypirates]

I’d look to move Stephenson. I know everyone wants India out the door, but Stephenson looks like a continued diminishing returns candidate. I’d try to package Stephenson with a B+ prospect for a reliever or two.

I’d sign an OF. Probably not Bellinger, but a strong RH power bat that can play RF or LF.

I’d trade a top tier prospect or two for a starter that’s almost certain to throw 150 innings at 3.50-4.00 ERA. A fairly high K guy but not necessarily an ace.

Side bar: It’s kind of insane that Tejay Antone is even getting penciled in anywhere. The guy’s thrown like one inning in 36 months.

Yeah, you are right about Antone but I love the guy. I am hoping this is the year he stays healthy because he is a weapon when healthy even after being out for a prolonged period of time, but I see your point.

[Rdirtypirates]

Reds have money out the wazoo if they want to spend it.

Hader
Chapman
Candelario
Gray

I would love Hader and Gray, what Chapman are you talking about?

[mth123]

I do the deal Jim Bowden mentioned in the Athletic:

Trade proposal: I like Dylan Cease going to the Reds. What minor-league package plus Jonathan India would it take to acquire him? — Tim O.

You like it, I love it — a Cease trade to the Reds makes a lot of sense. How about India and right-hander Ty Floyd for him? The White Sox have to make that trade. Floyd, 22, was a first-round pick (No. 38) in this year’s MLB Draft after dominating at LSU. The White Sox control Cease for only two more years. They’d get their long-term solution at second base with India and a starter with similar upside to Cease but many more years of team control. Maybe the Reds would have to throw in a kicker too, but there is a deal to be made here.

I think to get Cease, it would require Phillips and Arroyo along with India. I don’t understand people wanting to do that when the Reds have plenty of money to sign the pitcher they need.

[Rdirtypirates]

I do the deal Jim Bowden mentioned in the Athletic:

Trade proposal: I like Dylan Cease going to the Reds. What minor-league package plus Jonathan India would it take to acquire him? — Tim O.

You like it, I love it — a Cease trade to the Reds makes a lot of sense. How about India and right-hander Ty Floyd for him? The White Sox have to make that trade. Floyd, 22, was a first-round pick (No. 38) in this year’s MLB Draft after dominating at LSU. The White Sox control Cease for only two more years. They’d get their long-term solution at second base with India and a starter with similar upside to Cease but many more years of team control. Maybe the Reds would have to throw in a kicker too, but there is a deal to be made here.

One of the moves I considered while making the post. My
I just personally have always liked India and think they will want a lot more. Not a bad move if made though.

[Dave C]

I'd call myself incompetent and the majority owner a cheapskate thieving SOB and wait for spring training....

That would make 80% of the posters in the post season threads right... and happy.

[mth123]

3years $72 Million for Sonny Gray. 20 Million per year, 5 million signing bonus, option for year 4 at $25 Million or a $7 million buyout.

[Kc61]

3years $72 Million for Sonny Gray. 20 Million per year, 5 million signing bonus, option for year 4 at $25 Million or a $7 million buyout.

I’m surprised you think Reds could sign Sonny for that deal. He’s almost sure to demand 4 full years, if not 5, and somebody will give it to him. No?

[Old school 1983]

I would love Hader and Gray, what Chapman are you talking about?

Aroldis. Make the back of the pen Nasty Boys 2.0. Diaz needs help. He was so gassed at the end of last year I was afraid he’d hurt himself every outing. Better pen makes it easier on the rotation too. Plus if a guy like Antone can come back, it’s gravy rather than a necessity.

[Rdirtypirates]

I’m surprised you think Reds could sign Sonny for that deal. He’s almost sure to demand 4 full years, if not 5, and somebody will give it to him. No?

Mlbtraderumors has him projected at four years 90 million. He has taken less to come here before but if it took this I would personally do it.