Reds Tidbits (2009 season)

[schwab]

Jocketty following Rays' lead to rebuild | reds.com: News

Strong nucleus of young talent could turn Reds into contender

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
10/24/08 1:19 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- One year after having 96 losses, the Tampa Bay Rays notched 97 wins this season in a stunning turnaround that carried them all the way to an American League championship and the World Series.

And they did it with an under $44 million payroll -- budget baseball by today's standards. Reds fans are desperate for a winner again after suffering through eight straight losing seasons and no postseason berths since 1995. That, by the way, was three years before the Rays became an expansion team. One might wonder if a similar franchise resurrection can happen in Cincinnati and then ponder how long would it take.

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Reds GM Walt Jocketty (left) hopes hot young players such as Brandon Phillips can bring the Reds back to the postseason in 2009. (Al Behrman/AP)

[schwab]

Talks begin with potential free agents | reds.com: News

Reds target bringing back Hairston, Weathers, Affeldt

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
10/21/08 4:31 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- The Reds are working to bring back some of their own free agents before they hit the open market, but have yet to make any significant progress.

Reds general manager Walt Jocketty has already opened negotiations with the agents for reliever David Weathers and utility player Jerry Hairston Jr.
"We've talked to them, and the ball is in their court right now," Jocketty said Tuesday morning from Arizona, where he is scouting the Fall League. "I haven't heard back from them in about a week."
Weathers was 4-6 with a 3.25 ERA in 72 relief appearances this season. Two of his 15 inherited runners scored. Hairston batted .326 with six home runs, 36 RBIs and 15 stolen bases over 80 games. Efforts could also be made to retain reliever Jeremy Affeldt.

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[schwab]

Stubbs swiping more than slugging | reds.com: News

A look at Reds' prospects in the Arizona Fall League

By Lisa Winston / MLB.com
10/22/08 9:30 AM ET

PEORIA, Ariz. -- There are certain debates that may rage through the ages.

Certs: Candy mint or breath mint?
Miller Lite: Tastes great or less filling?
Cincinnati Reds center field prospect Drew Stubbs: power prospect with wheels, or speed whiz who will hit for big power? The jury may still be out on that one for the club's first-round pick from 2006, but Stubbs, currently playing for the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League, has his own thoughts on the matter.

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Drew Stubbs led all Reds prospects with 33 stolen bases across three levels this season. (Michael O'Day)

[schwab]

Mailbag: Can Bailey crack rotation? | reds.com: News

Reds beat reporter Mark Sheldon answers fans' questions

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
10/27/08 1:59 PM ET

Is pitcher Homer Bailey still a contender for a spot in the rotation?
-- Greg J., Maineville, Ohio
As of now, his name is in the mix for the fifth starter spot. Bailey, a former top prospect, should have been a fixture in the rotation by now. It's a sign of how much things have changed that he is only one of several candidates for the last spot. Often resistant to mix in offspeed pitches, Bailey found out how hittable his low-to-mid-90s fastball was in the Majors.

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Jay Bruce is virtually guaranteed a starting job for the Reds in 2009. (Jonathan Daniel/Getty)

[schwab]

Frazier heating up in winter ball | reds.com: News

Reds prospect continues ascent with stellar stats in Hawaiian League

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
10/28/08 2:57 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- Todd Frazier is likely a couple of seasons from reaching the Major Leagues with the Reds. However, while not yet on final approach, the shortstop has definitely reached the big league radar screen.

Frazier, 22, completed his 2008 season in high Class A Sarasota after starting the year in Class A Dayton. At both stops, he hit well with some power -- batting .291 with 19 home runs, 74 RBIs and a .368 on-base percentage.
"He's very impressive," said Reds general manager Walt Jocketty, who got a chance to see Frazier play at Sarasota this summer. "He's a guy that has a chance to move up quickly. He's a very competent hitter, confident, too." The hitting hasn't stopped in the Hawaii Winter Baseball League, where Frazier is playing for Waikiki and batting .312 (24-for-77) with two homers and 18 RBIs in 21 games. The four-team league is comprised mostly of touted prospects from the Class A ranks, and it also has international players from Asia. Cincinnati's 2008 first-round pick and first baseman Yonder Alonso also plays for Waikiki.

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Todd Frazier was on the Toms River, N.J., team that won the Little League World Series in 1998. (MiLB.com)

[crazybuckfan40]

Frazier should be up sometime next season...Not sure there is a position for him...

LF could be open early in the season, but we are going to have to find someone to man the spot and don't think that Frazier is ready yet...

Then I believe that by the time he could be ready to take over full time, first of 2010 then Alonso is ready to go as well at 1B which probably means you look to move Votto to LF and you still have EE at SS...We could obviosly move one of them guys, but you still have a guy like Soto that could be ready by 2010 as well, and he could end up being a better hitter than Frazier...

It will be interesting to see it work out, especially if we are to land a big time LF in the off season...Then what do you do???

Nice to see us have depth in the minor leagues tho...Need to find some catchers and SS and we will be really good...

[schwab]

Cot's Baseball Contracts

The pay's the thing


This site tracks Major League baseball contracts, signing bonuses, service time and franchise values. The information is unofficial and has been collected from various published reports.

Additions, comments, questions?

Contact Jeff at CotContracts@aol.com.

I stumbled across this site earlier. I was going to link it to the Reds info, but you're only 2 clicks away

[DaytonBuck]

I have very little hope of a winning season next year

[schwab]

Originally Posted by DaytonBuck

I have very little hope of a winning season next year

Step 1 to a winning season... do not employ Corey Patterson.

So far so good

[schwab]

Jocketty ready to start building | reds.com: News

As GM Meetings approach, Reds eye righty bats; Mulder a topic

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
10/30/08 2:06 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- Let the Hot Stove season begin. With Wednesday's conclusion of the World Series, the intrigue about potential offseason maneuvers, trades and free-agent signings really takes off.
The General Managers Meetings start on Monday in Dana Point, Calif., and provide the first opportunity for face-to-face trade talks among club executives. Reds GM Walt Jocketty, who spent 13 years in the same post with the Cardinals, often likes talking deals with his counterparts at the GM Meetings.

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"A number of trades I've made were first discussed at the GM Meetings and made during the Winter Meetings," said GM Walt Jocketty. (Al Behrman/AP)

[schwab]

Affeldt, Lincoln file for free agency | reds.com: News

Seven other Reds yet to declare intent to test market

By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com
10/30/08 7:55 PM ET

CINCINNATI -- Relievers Jeremy Affeldt and Mike Lincoln became the first two Reds free agents when they filed Thursday on the first day of the filing period.
Affeldt, who signed a one-year, $3 million contract on Jan. 23 as a free agent, was 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA over a team-leading 74 appearances. The 29-year-old left-hander, who originally signed to compete for a rotation spot, was a key part of the pitching staff in the late innings.

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[DaytonBuck]

Originally Posted by schwab

Step 1 to a winning season... do not employ Corey Patterson.

So far so good

[BuckeyeMike80]

Originally Posted by DaytonBuck

I have very little hope of a winning season next year

The first step should be to get to 80 wins using some sort of combination of the younger players already on the team, a veteran or three who can actually teach those younger players how to get through the season (ala Carlos Pena on the Rays) and some low-priced but quality FAs who can fill the gaps.

80 wins should be the goal, especially in a mostly horrible division. The Brewers are going to go down, the Cards and the Astros will be about .500 or so and the Cubs are likely going to fall back a bit. (**DISCLAIMER** this is just as of right now)

80 wins should be attainable this year. Don't even worry about the playoffs unless you land CC and another big righty bat (Texiera) or someone like that and the Reds won't even be in the bidding for those two.

[CookyPuss]

If you look at last year's stats, one thing really stands out: Aaron Harang. 6-17. Flip that record to 17-6, which he is capable of producing or even 14-9. The team is then 85-77 or 82-80. Build it up the middle by improving the defense at C, SS, and CF and that should by you 6-10 more wins. That should allow you to compete in the division or at least for the wild card.

[schwab]

Hot Stove Blog

Reds and Khalil Greene?

-- Mark Sheldon

A report in the San Diego Union Tribune has the Reds among three teams interested in trading for Padres shortstop Khalil Greene, who has been at odds with his club and coming off a miserable season where he batted .213. Supposing that the Reds are truly interested, that means they are not convinced shortstop Alex Gonzalez will be ready after he missed all of the 2008 season with microfracture surgery on his knee.

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