Post by Fuck Mike Brown on Oct 30, 2007 21:15:35 GMT -5
- Starting pitcher Tom Shearn and catcher Alvin Colina cleared waivers and were outrighted to Louisville. Shearn, the thirty year old rookie, was fairly impressive in his end of the years starts, but stumbled as many expected him to do at the end. Colina was acquired from the Rockies during last season, and barely played. This means that catcher Ryan Hannigan beat Colina out for the third catcher spot of the Red's forty man roster.
- Also announced today was that the club options on four players would be decided by Sunday. The four players that have club options are left fielder Adam Dunn, first basemen Scott Hatteberg, catcher Javier Valentin , and relief pitcher Eddie Guardado. Here are the details are the options and what I think the Reds should do with them.
Adam Dunn- LF($13 million option with $500,000 buyout): This is a no-brainer in my opinion. Ya, Dunn strikes out a lot, and play horrid defense in left field. But, he is one of the few players on the Reds that can produce 40+ homeruns a year with 100+ RBI's. The Reds have to keep them to provide more pop and create an intimidating middle of the order threat. The argument that if someone like Norris Hopper who is good at fielding is put in left field in place of Dunn will make up for the lost production with the good fielding is stupid. Left field will just have to be a position that the Reds aren't strong at in the field. I really hope that the Reds try to sign Dunn to a long-term extension to keep him in Cincinnati past this upcoming season. If not, it might be time to finally trade him. Pick Up
Scott Hatteberg- 1B($1.85 million with $150,000 buyout): Scott Hatteberg is getting up there in age. But, he still can hit very well, is a solid fielder, and is a veteran leader in the clubhouse. Therefore, with his contract being very cheap, I would pick up his option. He can help young first basemen Joey Votto develop into a goo fielder and provide insurance for him if he fails during the season. Also, if the Reds feel comfortable enough with Votto to not have any back-up plan, the Reds could look to trade Hatteberg. Sure, they would not find a #3 starter, but they could definetely find a solid bullpen arm for middle relief, which I feel is the part of the bullpen that needs the most work. Pick Up
Javier Valentin - C($1.3 million with $75,000 buyout): Javier Valentin is a very good pinch-hitter of the bench. He also will compete with the awful hitting David Ross for the starting catching position. Even if he does not win, the Reds will try this season to get him into the starting lineup more. The big problem with him is his defense. He calls a questionable game, and has been awful at throwing runners out. Still, he is a very valuable player that the Reds should and will pickup. Pick Up
Eddie Guardado- RP($3 million option with no buyout): Coming back from Tommy John's Surgery, Guardado was clearly not the pitcher he used to be. He wasn't hitting his spots, either leaving them way high up in the zone or not throwing strikes. At the end of the season, however, Guardado looked a lot better, getting some hopes up that he was coming back. Even considering this end of the season run, 3 million is way to high to pay for Guardado. Therefore, I decline the option, and work to sign him to a cheaper 1 year deal. Don't Pick Up
-Eric Milton has filed for free agency, meaning that he most likely will not be returning to the Reds for next season. Milton's time in Cincinnati was a disaster, making a valuable lesson for the Reds. That lesson is to never bring a flyball pitcher into Great American Ballpark, and if you do, don't give him a lot of money. Milton's season was cut short last season in May when he had shoulder surgery. Good bye Eric Milton, we hope to never see you in a Reds uniform again.
- Dusty Baker today said that he has not talked to any players not on the Reds about coming to Cincinnati. This is after there were rumors that Baker talked to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior about coming to the Reds. Baker says that he has talked to more than forty players, but not about baseball.
Kerry Wood has filed for free agency, but the Cubs have an option on Mark Prior. I would gladly accept both into Cincinnati, but at reasonable prices. I think that the Reds could get Wood and experiment him at closer. If that does not work out, he could be a setup man in the eighth or the seventh inning guy. As for Mark Prior, I doubt that the Cubs don't pick up his option. This might be the year he comes around and stays healthy. If they don't, I would sign Prior, see if he was healthy, and make him compete for a spot in the rotation.
- It is now official- Chris Speier has been named infield coach. Juan Lopez has been announced as bullpen coach. This completes the staff for the Reds. I will have more on this later.
cincinnatiredsbaseball.blogspot.com/2007/10/2-demoted-and-option-dates-annonced.html
I know you guys could care less about the reds, but please read this to evaluate my writing skills and such.
- Also announced today was that the club options on four players would be decided by Sunday. The four players that have club options are left fielder Adam Dunn, first basemen Scott Hatteberg, catcher Javier Valentin , and relief pitcher Eddie Guardado. Here are the details are the options and what I think the Reds should do with them.
Adam Dunn- LF($13 million option with $500,000 buyout): This is a no-brainer in my opinion. Ya, Dunn strikes out a lot, and play horrid defense in left field. But, he is one of the few players on the Reds that can produce 40+ homeruns a year with 100+ RBI's. The Reds have to keep them to provide more pop and create an intimidating middle of the order threat. The argument that if someone like Norris Hopper who is good at fielding is put in left field in place of Dunn will make up for the lost production with the good fielding is stupid. Left field will just have to be a position that the Reds aren't strong at in the field. I really hope that the Reds try to sign Dunn to a long-term extension to keep him in Cincinnati past this upcoming season. If not, it might be time to finally trade him. Pick Up
Scott Hatteberg- 1B($1.85 million with $150,000 buyout): Scott Hatteberg is getting up there in age. But, he still can hit very well, is a solid fielder, and is a veteran leader in the clubhouse. Therefore, with his contract being very cheap, I would pick up his option. He can help young first basemen Joey Votto develop into a goo fielder and provide insurance for him if he fails during the season. Also, if the Reds feel comfortable enough with Votto to not have any back-up plan, the Reds could look to trade Hatteberg. Sure, they would not find a #3 starter, but they could definetely find a solid bullpen arm for middle relief, which I feel is the part of the bullpen that needs the most work. Pick Up
Javier Valentin - C($1.3 million with $75,000 buyout): Javier Valentin is a very good pinch-hitter of the bench. He also will compete with the awful hitting David Ross for the starting catching position. Even if he does not win, the Reds will try this season to get him into the starting lineup more. The big problem with him is his defense. He calls a questionable game, and has been awful at throwing runners out. Still, he is a very valuable player that the Reds should and will pickup. Pick Up
Eddie Guardado- RP($3 million option with no buyout): Coming back from Tommy John's Surgery, Guardado was clearly not the pitcher he used to be. He wasn't hitting his spots, either leaving them way high up in the zone or not throwing strikes. At the end of the season, however, Guardado looked a lot better, getting some hopes up that he was coming back. Even considering this end of the season run, 3 million is way to high to pay for Guardado. Therefore, I decline the option, and work to sign him to a cheaper 1 year deal. Don't Pick Up
-Eric Milton has filed for free agency, meaning that he most likely will not be returning to the Reds for next season. Milton's time in Cincinnati was a disaster, making a valuable lesson for the Reds. That lesson is to never bring a flyball pitcher into Great American Ballpark, and if you do, don't give him a lot of money. Milton's season was cut short last season in May when he had shoulder surgery. Good bye Eric Milton, we hope to never see you in a Reds uniform again.
- Dusty Baker today said that he has not talked to any players not on the Reds about coming to Cincinnati. This is after there were rumors that Baker talked to Kerry Wood and Mark Prior about coming to the Reds. Baker says that he has talked to more than forty players, but not about baseball.
Kerry Wood has filed for free agency, but the Cubs have an option on Mark Prior. I would gladly accept both into Cincinnati, but at reasonable prices. I think that the Reds could get Wood and experiment him at closer. If that does not work out, he could be a setup man in the eighth or the seventh inning guy. As for Mark Prior, I doubt that the Cubs don't pick up his option. This might be the year he comes around and stays healthy. If they don't, I would sign Prior, see if he was healthy, and make him compete for a spot in the rotation.
- It is now official- Chris Speier has been named infield coach. Juan Lopez has been announced as bullpen coach. This completes the staff for the Reds. I will have more on this later.
cincinnatiredsbaseball.blogspot.com/2007/10/2-demoted-and-option-dates-annonced.html
I know you guys could care less about the reds, but please read this to evaluate my writing skills and such.
