Post by Fuck Mike Brown on Nov 15, 2007 22:51:38 GMT -5
OK, so maybe I'm being a little misleading with the title "Some Rumors" and told you I had some. These are speculation, but more realistic. You'll know what I mean after you read them.
- The Reds are possibly interested in 38 year old relief pitcher Troy Percival. I do not get ESPN Insider, but people are saying that that is listed as a rumor. Percival had pretty good stats with the Cardinals last year after joining them midseason, and looked to be effective. I think that it would be a very good move for the Reds to sign him. Not too expensive, and generally reliable when pitching. I emphasize the when pitching part because Percival is very injury prone. He is up there in age, and has not pitched a full season in a while. As to where he might go in the bullpen, there are many possibilities. The Reds could give him a try at closer, put him as a setup man, or even put him in middle relief. That is what is great about him. He could probably be used to any of these roles, and with some relief pitchers that are questionable for the Reds, this is just what they need.
- Here is part of Ken Rosenthal's column from today:
Relief market ready to erupt
The Phillies' signing of left-hander J.C. Romero to a three-year, $12 million contract was only the beginning. One general manager seeking bullpen help says those terms likely will be the minimum for a number of free-agent relievers.
Closer Francisco Cordero already has received a four-year offer from an unidentified team, the G.M. says, and set-up types such as right-handers Scott Linebrink, LaTroy Hawkins and David Riske as well as lefties Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt figure to strike it rich.
Linebrink regressed in the final three months of last season, but it's easy to envision him reuniting with former Padres manager Bruce Bochy in San Francisco and becoming the Giants' closer.
Hawkins and another Rockies free-agent reliever, righty Matt Herges, also carry risk; neither is a high-strikeout pitcher, and the Rockies' defense was historically good last season by virtually every standard and sabermetric measure.
Affeldt, a left-hander, will draw interest regardless. Brian Fuentes, a Rockies reliever who is not a free agent, will be attractive to teams searching for left-handed relief help in a trade.
The biggest question for the Reds is whether to trade a young position player such as first baseman/outfielder Joey Votto for pitching when the contracts of outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn expire after this season. The Reds almost certainly will not move their top position prospect, outfielder Jay Bruce, but they could be open-minded on Josh Hamilton. Some executives believe that Hamilton's past substance abuse left his body more susceptible to injury and illness...
msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7445434?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49
The biggest thing that comes out of that first part is that former Brewers relief pitcher Francisco Cordero was offered a four year deal by a mystery team. Although I do not think that the Reds will spend the money needed to sign him, it is definetely possible that they are that team. Likely, no. I would love to add Cordero. Gives the Reds an elite closer while pushing back Weathers into an eighth inning role while putting Burton into a seventh inning role, instantly making the bullpen better. We'll see who this mystery team is soon. Maybe he'll sign with them.
Also from this story is Rosenthal believing that the Reds will have to decide whether they trade Josh Hamilton or Joey Votto for pitching. This is a stumper for me. Hamilton has all the talent in the world, but he is still very injury prone and not that young at twenty seven. Votto looked great at the plate in September, but the Reds have another option at first in Scott Hatteberg. And another thing to consider is that Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, and Hatteberg's contracts all expire at the end of next season. My opinion is that I would only trade Votto if it gets the Reds an elite pitcher. I'm more open to trading Hamilton because of his injuries, unreliability, and the fact that the Reds are very deep at the outfield position.
- Interesting column by John Fay in the Cincinnati Enquirer. As you know, Fay believes the Reds should trade for starting pitching and target relief pitching. He gives some names in here for the Reds to consider in the bullpen.
Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky has been working the phones.
"We've had lots of conversations with a lot of agents," Krivsky said. "But I'm not going to get into specifics."
Krivsky not only wouldn't name names, he wouldn't say what positions the Reds are targeting in free agency.
But it's safe to say whatever the Reds spend on free agents, the vast majority of it will go to pitchers. The club finished second to last in the 16-team National League in pitching with a 4.94 ERA. The Reds were dead last in the NL in relief pitching with a 5.13 ERA.
There seems to be more depth in relievers than starters on the free-agent market.
"There's always good players," Krivsky said. "It's up to us to find a match."
The big question is: Will the Reds try to fill their closer role through free agency?
Francisco Cordero, who finished second in the NL in saves for Milwaukee, is a free agent and is likely to demand big bucks. Krivsky would not talk even in general terms about whether the Reds would bid on someone like Cordero.
Cordero, a 32-year-old right-hander, had a 2.98 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 631/3 innings last season.
He instantly would make the Reds' bullpen better. But his price is going to be extremely high, and to sign him, the Reds probably would have to increase their team payroll considerably from the $68.9 million it was last season.
But there are other relievers who would upgrade the Reds' bullpen. Among them:
Octavio Dotel, 33: He's had injuries, but he struck out 41 in 302/3 innings last season.
Scott Linebrink, 31: He's not the guy he was a few years ago. But a 3.71 ERA would look pretty good to the Reds.
LaTroy Hawkins, 34: He had a 3.42 ERA despite pitching half his games at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Kerry Wood, 30: He had a 3.33 ERA and struck out 24 in 241/3 innings.
The Reds acted quickly in free agency last year, signing Alex Gonzalez Nov. 20.
"We had targeted him at our organizational meetings," Krivsky said. "He moved quickly. That helps from a planning standpoint."
So have the Reds targeted anyone this offseason - not naming names, of course?
"I'm not going to say," Krivsky said. "We'll see."
Bargain-bin bullpen possibilities
If the Reds are priced out of the market for the top free-agent relievers, here are some others who could fit in terms of talent and price:
Jeremy Affeldt, LH, 28 - Has closed and started; has regressed in career but is still young.
Armando Benitez, RH, 35 - Closer days over, but still can strike hitters out in lesser role.
Eddie Guardado, LH, 37 - Effective when healthy; if velocity is back, should be a top target.
Troy Percival, RH, 38 - Can be lured with prospect of closing; injury risk with high upside.
David Riske, RH, 31 - Solid as they come in middle relief, but he might be too pricey to sign in money and years.
• Take a flyer on: Chin-Hu Tsao; Keith Foulke, who retired before last season but might try a comeback.
news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071115/SPT04/711150354/1062/SPT
I think all of those names with the exception of Benitez would be good for the Reds. The bargains especially being cheap. Take a look at that list. It's very good.
- So maybe tomorrow will be the day the Reds or any other team sign a free agent. Would be nice.
cincinnatiredsbaseball.blogspot.com/2007/11/some-rumors.html
- The Reds are possibly interested in 38 year old relief pitcher Troy Percival. I do not get ESPN Insider, but people are saying that that is listed as a rumor. Percival had pretty good stats with the Cardinals last year after joining them midseason, and looked to be effective. I think that it would be a very good move for the Reds to sign him. Not too expensive, and generally reliable when pitching. I emphasize the when pitching part because Percival is very injury prone. He is up there in age, and has not pitched a full season in a while. As to where he might go in the bullpen, there are many possibilities. The Reds could give him a try at closer, put him as a setup man, or even put him in middle relief. That is what is great about him. He could probably be used to any of these roles, and with some relief pitchers that are questionable for the Reds, this is just what they need.
- Here is part of Ken Rosenthal's column from today:
Relief market ready to erupt
The Phillies' signing of left-hander J.C. Romero to a three-year, $12 million contract was only the beginning. One general manager seeking bullpen help says those terms likely will be the minimum for a number of free-agent relievers.
Closer Francisco Cordero already has received a four-year offer from an unidentified team, the G.M. says, and set-up types such as right-handers Scott Linebrink, LaTroy Hawkins and David Riske as well as lefties Ron Mahay and Jeremy Affeldt figure to strike it rich.
Linebrink regressed in the final three months of last season, but it's easy to envision him reuniting with former Padres manager Bruce Bochy in San Francisco and becoming the Giants' closer.
Hawkins and another Rockies free-agent reliever, righty Matt Herges, also carry risk; neither is a high-strikeout pitcher, and the Rockies' defense was historically good last season by virtually every standard and sabermetric measure.
Affeldt, a left-hander, will draw interest regardless. Brian Fuentes, a Rockies reliever who is not a free agent, will be attractive to teams searching for left-handed relief help in a trade.
The biggest question for the Reds is whether to trade a young position player such as first baseman/outfielder Joey Votto for pitching when the contracts of outfielders Ken Griffey Jr. and Adam Dunn expire after this season. The Reds almost certainly will not move their top position prospect, outfielder Jay Bruce, but they could be open-minded on Josh Hamilton. Some executives believe that Hamilton's past substance abuse left his body more susceptible to injury and illness...
msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/7445434?CMP=OTC-K9B140813162&ATT=49
The biggest thing that comes out of that first part is that former Brewers relief pitcher Francisco Cordero was offered a four year deal by a mystery team. Although I do not think that the Reds will spend the money needed to sign him, it is definetely possible that they are that team. Likely, no. I would love to add Cordero. Gives the Reds an elite closer while pushing back Weathers into an eighth inning role while putting Burton into a seventh inning role, instantly making the bullpen better. We'll see who this mystery team is soon. Maybe he'll sign with them.
Also from this story is Rosenthal believing that the Reds will have to decide whether they trade Josh Hamilton or Joey Votto for pitching. This is a stumper for me. Hamilton has all the talent in the world, but he is still very injury prone and not that young at twenty seven. Votto looked great at the plate in September, but the Reds have another option at first in Scott Hatteberg. And another thing to consider is that Ken Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, and Hatteberg's contracts all expire at the end of next season. My opinion is that I would only trade Votto if it gets the Reds an elite pitcher. I'm more open to trading Hamilton because of his injuries, unreliability, and the fact that the Reds are very deep at the outfield position.
- Interesting column by John Fay in the Cincinnati Enquirer. As you know, Fay believes the Reds should trade for starting pitching and target relief pitching. He gives some names in here for the Reds to consider in the bullpen.
Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky has been working the phones.
"We've had lots of conversations with a lot of agents," Krivsky said. "But I'm not going to get into specifics."
Krivsky not only wouldn't name names, he wouldn't say what positions the Reds are targeting in free agency.
But it's safe to say whatever the Reds spend on free agents, the vast majority of it will go to pitchers. The club finished second to last in the 16-team National League in pitching with a 4.94 ERA. The Reds were dead last in the NL in relief pitching with a 5.13 ERA.
There seems to be more depth in relievers than starters on the free-agent market.
"There's always good players," Krivsky said. "It's up to us to find a match."
The big question is: Will the Reds try to fill their closer role through free agency?
Francisco Cordero, who finished second in the NL in saves for Milwaukee, is a free agent and is likely to demand big bucks. Krivsky would not talk even in general terms about whether the Reds would bid on someone like Cordero.
Cordero, a 32-year-old right-hander, had a 2.98 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 631/3 innings last season.
He instantly would make the Reds' bullpen better. But his price is going to be extremely high, and to sign him, the Reds probably would have to increase their team payroll considerably from the $68.9 million it was last season.
But there are other relievers who would upgrade the Reds' bullpen. Among them:
Octavio Dotel, 33: He's had injuries, but he struck out 41 in 302/3 innings last season.
Scott Linebrink, 31: He's not the guy he was a few years ago. But a 3.71 ERA would look pretty good to the Reds.
LaTroy Hawkins, 34: He had a 3.42 ERA despite pitching half his games at hitter-friendly Coors Field.
Kerry Wood, 30: He had a 3.33 ERA and struck out 24 in 241/3 innings.
The Reds acted quickly in free agency last year, signing Alex Gonzalez Nov. 20.
"We had targeted him at our organizational meetings," Krivsky said. "He moved quickly. That helps from a planning standpoint."
So have the Reds targeted anyone this offseason - not naming names, of course?
"I'm not going to say," Krivsky said. "We'll see."
Bargain-bin bullpen possibilities
If the Reds are priced out of the market for the top free-agent relievers, here are some others who could fit in terms of talent and price:
Jeremy Affeldt, LH, 28 - Has closed and started; has regressed in career but is still young.
Armando Benitez, RH, 35 - Closer days over, but still can strike hitters out in lesser role.
Eddie Guardado, LH, 37 - Effective when healthy; if velocity is back, should be a top target.
Troy Percival, RH, 38 - Can be lured with prospect of closing; injury risk with high upside.
David Riske, RH, 31 - Solid as they come in middle relief, but he might be too pricey to sign in money and years.
• Take a flyer on: Chin-Hu Tsao; Keith Foulke, who retired before last season but might try a comeback.
news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071115/SPT04/711150354/1062/SPT
I think all of those names with the exception of Benitez would be good for the Reds. The bargains especially being cheap. Take a look at that list. It's very good.
- So maybe tomorrow will be the day the Reds or any other team sign a free agent. Would be nice.
cincinnatiredsbaseball.blogspot.com/2007/11/some-rumors.html