Scouting The Reds

The chatter regarding Reds' left fielder Adam Dunn is picking up, and it's only June 13th.  It's looking more and more like we can add Dunn to our 2008 MLB free agents list, as his 2008 option becomes void with a trade.  Ken Griffey Jr. and various other Reds may be in play too.

Five articles referenced Dunn this morning.  The Newark Star-Ledger contains just one sentence:

"The Cincinnati Reds, who could be in position to trade reliever David Weathers and slugger Adam Dunn, had a scout at the [Yankees-Diamondbacks] game."

One imagines the Yankees may like a number of additional Reds, including Griffey and Mike Stanton.  But the Weathers/Dunn speculation is the most reasonable.  The Reds, by the way, have yet to approach Junior about any possible trades.  While we know Griffey would probably approve a trade to Atlanta, some real creativity would be required with his contract.  And he'd have to be open to playing left field.  Buster Olney noted today that the White Sox have at least had internal discussions about acquiring Griffey.

The Dayton Daily News has the scoop on scouts from many teams in attendance at the Reds-Angels game last night: the Braves, Astros, Dodgers, White Sox, Tigers, and more.  Actually the article references "Los Angeles" so that could be the Angels too.  Any of these clubs could conceivably make room for Dunn.  I imagine young pitching is the name of the game for Wayne Krivsky.

Besides the previously named players, Eddie Guardado, Scott Hatteberg, and Kyle Lohse could be on the market.  The Reds have a $3MM option for '08 on Guardado and a $1.85MM club option for '08 on Hatteberg.  Lohse, a Scott Boras client, reaches free agency after this season.

Comments

[jfish26101]

I keep hearing the Braves are buyers but none of that really makes sense to me. They need a reliable starter which could be Lohse but he is a little to inconsistent for me. I just think there are better options. Besides, if the deal did happen I doubt the Braves and Boras see eye to eye on what Lohse contract should be at seasons end.

The posters on the Braves MLB board keep saying Griffey is coming to Atlanta but that hardly seems like a good idea.

[yanksfan]

Why would the Yankees want Stanton? They decided he was washed up years ago. They only took him back after that because the Mets were willing to take a pitcher they liked even less in exchange. That stint didn't even last until the All Star break before he was released.

[RotoAuthority]

Just seems like the Yankees always trade for Stanton.

[bravesbeast]

The Braves should have no interest in any of the reds pitchers, unless we could get them without giving up anything of future vaule. Now when it comes to dunn or griffey, I mean I would not mind either one of them in left, but the simple fact is the braves are not going to give up a top prospect for either, whether it be because we just cannot (Davies and James are the only healthy pitchers we have, and Harrison and Reyes may have to come up at any moment) or because our prospect is a better option (Salty can provide a middle of the the order type bat for the next five years at 10 million less than dunn or griffey.) My preference would be griffey over dunn in a heartbeat, as we could have him for at least 2 more years ( I think, dont know his contract), and he would be the better hitter, and probably cost us less. I do agree with jfish that our top priorty should be pitching, but having griffy in the lineup would be a consistient left handed power threat, but I would much rather go with what we have than give up too much for dunn or griffey.

[INWarner413]

I could see a Lidge for Dunn deal. Perhaps the 'Stros would throw in one or two lower level prospects (NOT Troy Patton).

Thoughts?

[bravesbeast]

Very interesting thought, but I think that the Reds would want prospects for dunn, not a rocky reliever.

[jfish26101]

Yeah I pretty much agree. None of the names the Reds have out there make sense to me for the Braves. Lohse makes the most sense but he is a 2-3 month rental who will most likely walk because of his agent. I don't think any of the position players make sense. Harris/Diaz have been pretty good. If Salty gets more playing time at 1B, Thorman is an option in LF. They have Blanco and Jones in the minors. They need pitching and SP preferably.

I personally wish the Astros would fall out of the race and deal us Jason Jennings fairly cheaply for the rest of the season. Throw him behind Smoltz and Hudson with James and Davies following him and that is a pretty good rotation. If Chipper and McCann finally get healthy and Salty is comfortable at 1B, this team could be a force down the stretch as is with that one move.

[dan1to]

im hearing Dunn for Kuo (Dodger starter) and lower prospects at other sites. That could do it!?

[J.L.]

better Kuo than Billingsley. I suggested, Ethier, Kuo, and a couple throw ins on another blurb.

[jfish26101]

If I were the Dodgers, I'd want Broxton and ___. They have a nice core future in the OF with Bruce and Hamilton if he can keep it up. Stubbs is nice to but I guess there is room for Ethier there. I think the Reds have been doing a very good job the past few years. With that nice ball park, things are really looking up for the Red fans.

[boomshwa12]

i agree. if they could secure a broxton or a billingsley for dunn then they would really be in business

[Blue]

I'll again point out that Griffey is a bargain at $6.5 million/year if the Reds pick up the deferred money, which they should.

[hotsaucenchickin]

There is no way that the Reds are trading Griffey unless they get someone like Salty for him. It seems to me that the Reds are not going to give him or Dunn up cheap. People on other things I have been reading say that Dunn is barely worth Eithier. Dunn is worth a top notch prospect like Broxton or Billingsly. Who ever is trading for Dunn also has a two day window to work out a longterm deal with Dunn or they can send him back.

[statnut]

I wonder if the Mets would have interest in Dunn? With Alou out, they do have a hole in lf, and when Alou comes back, they could just platoon him and Green. I would think Milledge and Humber would be a decent package. Plus, with Delgado getting older, Dunn could slide over to 1B when he retires, and Martinez and Gomez are ready.