Max wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Max wrote:

How many teams thought Randy Winn had any value last year when he was batting .213 .300 .295 . . . as an outfielder?!?

We didn't trade for Randy Winn.

That's true, but I am not saying that I expect we trade for Wilson so much as he gets tossed into the deal, if we make one with the Mariners.

What is Winn doing now days?  We might be able to sign him and trade him to the Mariners.  He has got to be better then someone on there roster.

Last edited by APRTW (7/19/2011 6:57 pm)

APRTW wrote:

Max wrote:

forsberg_us wrote:

Seattle has a difficult time attracting power hitters (much like SF) because the ballpark is death valley.  They've had to overpay all of the recent free agent players they've signed.

Then Rasmus is a beautiful fit, because as Artie observed, when he connects the ball travels a long, long way.  And having Ichiro defend right-center for the next year or two will make Colby a better looking center fielder than he is.

And it hardly needs mentioning, but Rasmus's .241 BA would put him third on the team, behind Ichiro and Brendan Ryan.

I dont think Rasmus would like the rainy weather or being that far away from the south.  I am being serious.

Then if history says anything about where guys in La Russa's debtor's prison go, he's off to Seattle.  But fwiw, I am not allowed to say this in public, but the climate is guhd.  And on top of that, we have a whole army of crazy redneck white separatists up here.

APRTW wrote:

I like you you automaticly link the south to "crazy redneck white separatists "

yeah, talk about out of the blue, where the hell did i make that link???

Well Lohse could have done that.  Let's hope that we can find a lefty for the pen.

"•Yesterday the Mets provided Beltran with a short list of teams to consider, and the Phillies are believed to be on it, report Tim Brown and Jeff Passan of Yahoo.  The writers add that the Mets have indicated a willingness to pay much or all of the $6MM owed to Beltran depending on the return.  They list the Red Sox, Giants, and Yankees as other suitors, and wonder if the East Coast teams have an edge since Beltran lives in New York.  Brown and Passan named the Brewers as a dark horse, but they don't have much in the way of top prospects."

"The Reds are targeting Rays righty James Shields, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney, which might be why Tampa Bay scouts have been evaluating Reds minor leaguers this week.  Baseball Prospectus' John Perrotto says the Rays have "quietly let it be known that right-hander Shields is available for the right price.""

"Danny Knobler of CBS Sports has three new names on the Reds' radar: Astros lefty Wandy Rodriguez, Mariners third baseman Chone Figgins, and Athletics center fielder Coco Crisp.

The Reds have strong interest in Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez, says Knobler, and have looked into Rodriguez.  Wandy would be much easier to acquire in general, though there is the wrinkle of trading with a division rival and a GM who might fear losing his job in Ed Wade.

Figgins and Crisp would fit the Reds as leadoff types, though neither is getting on base much this year.  The Mariners would likely pick up much of the $19.9MM that will be owed to Figgins through 2013.  Figgins or Crisp would presumably play left field for the Reds."

Last edited by APRTW (7/20/2011 8:31 am)

Reds fan (think Danny) would go bat shit if the Reds trade legitimate prospects for someone like Crisp or Figgins.  Heisey and Stubbs are better players and cheaper.

Then again, maybe the Reds have a bunch of day games coming up.

forsberg_us wrote:

Reds fan (think Danny) would go bat shit if the Reds trade legitimate prospects for someone like Crisp or Figgins.  Heisey and Stubbs are better players and cheaper.

Then again, maybe the Reds have a bunch of day games coming up.

At some point they're going to have to decide what to do with Alonso. He'd probably fetch a decent haul in a trade, or if they think he's as good as advertised they could move Votto in what would be a blockbuster deal. But I wouldn't think they'd trade Votto this season.
Either way, the Reds' primary need right now is consistent starting pitching. Except for Cueto, all their starters have been erratic.

Allow me to be pessimistic:

Given that three-fifths of the rotation is faltering, they have no answer on the left side of the bullpen, they have no middle infield, Rasmus can't find his way and Molina hasn't hit in almost two months...is it time to admit that this team is done? Even as good as Pujols, Holliday and Berkman are, with flashes of Freese, they've been lifeless since Pujols returned.

I'm just starting to wonder if it's not their year. There are too many holes and injuries took their toll.

They're a game and a half out of first place, guys. Let's at least wait until they play the Pirates and the Brewers before we shovel dirt on the 2011 season.
Then trade Pujols to the Giants for Cain, Bumgarner and Belt.

artie_fufkin wrote:

They're a game and a half out of first place, guys. Let's at least wait until they play the Pirates and the Brewers before we shovel dirt on the 2011 season.
Then trade Pujols to the Giants for Cain, Bumgarner and Belt.

I agree that we wait a week or so, Artie, but I don't like what I am seeing.  And frankly, I think that our much vaunted clubhouse chemistry will come apart like it always does if we start losing.  In any organization anywhere, the giddy effects of winning are often mistaken for chemistry.  And the thing is that it's a real shame, because earlier in the season I thought we were looking at a playoff bound team that had a chance to go deep into October.

Last edited by Max (7/20/2011 12:18 pm)

Max wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

The Reds have a lot of chips to play with so they will acquire a player or two.

You sound like you know more than I do regarding the what the Reds have to offer.  If we are unable to match what the Brewers and Reds do in the coming 11 days, in terms of midseason upgrade, then my pessimism for the team's chances deepen greatly.

The Brewers have gutted their farm system, particularly with the Sabathia trade. The Reds have a lot to offer - specifically a first baseman named Yonder Alonso who is blocked by Votto and a couple of highly-regarded catching prospects, at least one of whom will probably be in the majors next year. They also have a couple of young major league ready pitchers like Wood and Leake they could package into a deal for just about anyone.
The problem is they're now five games out in fourth place behind three teams, and they close out the month with the Braves and the Giants in between a 4-gamer with the Mets, so they could end up being sellers just as easily as buyers.

artie_fufkin wrote:

Max wrote:

tkihshbt wrote:

The Reds have a lot of chips to play with so they will acquire a player or two.

You sound like you know more than I do regarding the what the Reds have to offer.  If we are unable to match what the Brewers and Reds do in the coming 11 days, in terms of midseason upgrade, then my pessimism for the team's chances deepen greatly.

The Brewers have gutted their farm system, particularly with the Sabathia trade. The Reds have a lot to offer - specifically a first baseman named Yonder Alonso who is blocked by Votto and a couple of highly-regarded catching prospects, at least one of whom will probably be in the majors next year. They also have a couple of young major league ready pitchers like Wood and Leake they could package into a deal for just about anyone.
The problem is they're now five games out in fourth place behind three teams, and they close out the month with the Braves and the Giants in between a 4-gamer with the Mets, so they could end up being sellers just as easily as buyers.

Don't forget about offering Volquez.

I think they could wind up snagging Shields.