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Week in Review: 9/14 - 9/20

By Steve Adams [September 21, 2008 at 5:32pm CST]

Another week down here at MLBTR, here's your review!

The Brewers fired manager Ned Yost on Monday. Yost has taken a lot of criticism, and while I personally don't feel like it's a bad move, it seems like an odd time to disrupt the clubhouse, given that the Brewers are right in the wild card race. Perhaps this was intended to spark the Brewers and act as a wakeup call, but they have just two wins since the move.
In an attempt to cut payroll, the Tigers may have to move Magglio Ordonez this offseason. Ordonez will make $18MM next year and has options for 2010 and 2011. Anyone else think the Reds should make a serious run at Maggs? A lineup filled with Jay Bruce, Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto, Edwin Encarnacion, and Ordonez could be extremely potent, to go along with a rotation anchored by Edinson Volquez, Aaron Harang, and Johnny Cueto.
Despite their bullpen woes, the Mets are not likely to make a run at either Francisco Rodriguez, or Brian Fuentes either. The Mets' internal options have been bad, but K-Rod is in for a record-setting deal, and aside from the sheer number of saves, I don't feel that his numbers stand out to the point where the team that lands him is going to get the full value of that contract. Personally, I think passing is a good decision.
Are the Royals currently interested in making a move for Braves' right fielder Jeff Francoeur? The Royals have very few guys with solid OBPs, and adding Francoeur to the everyday lineup doesn't seem like the route to go. Still, he has a long-standing relationship with Royals GM Dayton Moore, so it could be a valid possibility. The Royals have said they are willing to part with anyone aside from Zack Greinke, Gil Meche, and Joakim Soria.
The Red Sox and Theo Epstein have agreed to a contract extension.
Things to think about for in the offseason: Kevin Gregg expects to be traded, Matt Cain wants to stay in San Francisco, Milton Bradley wants a long-term deal and feels he has a 50-50 chance at returning to the Rangers. In the meantime, likely non-tender candidates include both Josh Bard and Erik Bedard.
Tim updated the Offseason Outlook series with entries for the Athletics, Braves, and Tigers. He also took a look at the Third Base Market, led by Casey Blake.
And for anyone curious about Manny Ramirez's end in Boston, here's Curt Schilling's take on the situation.

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Comments

As long as we dont give up any of our major leaguers...Bailey can go...or Masset if they want him. We must hold onto Todd Fraizer though, and other then that I would gladly send a big haul over for Maggs. Heck, maybe the Reds would be willing to risk it and welcome Dontrelle back into the NL we dont have a Lefty....?

Posted by: GmblngPtchr20 | September 21, 2008 at 05:46 PM

I would be all for Maggs. I don't wouldn't give a whole lot up for him. There are enough guys on free agency that we could give 18 mill to...he isn't worth a huge hull. I saw someone said before something about Cordero, A Gon, and Bailey/Thompson...which i think would be too much...no reason to give up Cordero if they want to put a winning team out in 09...need the bullpen stability. A Gon can go, bailey is fine, Thompson is off limits...if the price is too high go to FA...or try to get Fielder if the tigers want a big haul it had might as well be for Prince

Posted by: coltholt | September 21, 2008 at 05:54 PM

I posted the above move. Here are the reasons it makes sense.

One, while I do not feel like Cordero is a top notch closer, he is a proven former all star who knows how to close games, something the Tigers desperately need. The reason the Reds can give him up is Burton, Affeldt, Weathers, Bray, Massett, Herrera, Roenicke, and Majewski give you 8 solid pen arms. Plus, they still have a little payroll room to work with if they think they need another arm.

Two, in order for the Tigers to make a move that does not eliminate any payroll, they are going to want something good in return. That means Thompson or Bailey, a young almost ready starting pitcher. Jocketty just made a move to get Owings, who I think is next years number 5. With Maloney, Ramon Ramirez, and the pitcher who doesn't get moved in AAA, that gives a little depth in case of an injury.

Three, the Tigers need a shortstop. Admittedly, Agon is probably not the answer. But, he is a solid glove man at ss who doesn't kill you at the plate. If they decide to go with their own young guy at ss for this year, can't remember his name, then Valaika makes sense as a future ss they can grrom. Either way, the reds can afford to dump either one as they currently have Keppinger, and Frazier is waiting in the minors.

Add to that it works out salary wise and you have what I think is a good fit. Both teams get something they need to contend in the immediate future, while not completely mortgaging the future.

Posted by: carolina03 | September 21, 2008 at 08:29 PM

The Reds don't need to spend 18 million on Mags. They need a CF, C, and a 1B (once they move Votto to LF). Spend 18 million on Texiera if everyone is so adament to get a big bat. Us Reds fans, however, should have learned that it takes pitching and defense to win. Having Griff and Dunn in Cinci didn't get us to the playoffs and I don't see Maggs hauling us there on his back either.

Posted by: ricker26 | September 21, 2008 at 08:49 PM

ricker is right, there isn't a huge need for a big bat outfielder right now. beyond that, the reds have two phenoms in the minors to fill in the OF, along with Bruce, working their way through the minors. Neither are power bats, but we will have some solid power from the IF (Encarnation...he proved he is a legit prospect this year...Votto, and Phillips...gap at SS). If the Reds have an OF of Jay Bruce, Chris Heisey, and Drew Stubbs they would have a defense that sure beats what the have had on the field in years! Heisey and Stubbs don't have the power of Maggs, but they combined for 16 hrs, 70 doubles, and 65 steals...the kind of players that the reds have been missing who can manufacture runs when the ball isn't flying.

Anyways, if Bailey gets moved it needs to be for Salty or a solid SS to fill in a more needed hole at positions that are hard to fill in FA.

And Carolina, i can't believe you just swapped A Gon out for Valaika, that is a completely different pic. A Gon they are unloading salary on a guy who never did anything for them versus one of their top prospects...not quite a level pic there...

Posted by: coltholt | September 21, 2008 at 10:22 PM

The Reds lost this season not because of pitching, but because of hitting.

Griffeys number were terrible, Dunn hit well but his production can be produced elsewhere. We never hit with RISP and had no pop from the right side. EE is a right but the bat is very very streaky.

Reds dont REALLY need another starter, although a lefty would be nice...maybe Maloney...and Livingston...or a trade for a #4 or #5 lefty...

Harang
Volquez
Arroyo
Cueto
Masset/Livingston/Ramierez/Malony/Bailey/FA signing/trade candidate

The Reds can compete because Harang can bounce back, arroyo was solid once again, Volquez was good, Cuetos season was not horrible for a 21 year old...and maybe Walt has something up his sleeve...

Posted by: GmblngPtchr20 | September 22, 2008 at 12:01 AM

If the reds could get Dontrelle, Mags, and $20 million they should go for it. It would really stabilize the team and be well worth 10 million a piece. A rotation of Harang, Volquez, Arroyo, Cueto and Willis, would be one of the 4 best in the NL. They could trade Owings/Belisle for a caatcher and or turn them into relievers.

Posted by: DocBot | September 22, 2008 at 06:44 AM

A trade for Dontrelle would really be a terrible idea. As has been mentioned all over the place, we have about 8 guys competing for the 5th spot and i don't think that willis is better than many of them.

The fact that they traded for micah owings shows that they want him to be the number 5. They will also be a little more open to him because having him in the rotation automatically gives them the best pinch hitter on their team. The problem with owings as a reliever is that he would be in the bullpen at the end of the game and not the dugout...unable to be used as a pinch hitter. The only way that a trade makes any sense for a pitcher is for a lefty that can be about a 3rd starter in any organization. it doesn't make sense to go after a five because they already have options there.

If the reds trade a young pitcher for a catcher i don't see it being anyone other than bailey. Not that the reds wouldn't give anyone else, but because GMs will be asking for him. Two years ago nobody could have dreamed of getting him for a catcher so they want him at a discount. The only other names that might come up are thompson, ramirez, and owings, who should be considered untouchable unless we are talking for mccann or mauer...who are also untouchables

Posted by: coltholt | September 22, 2008 at 11:55 AM

I agree that adding Willis to the deal makes no sense for the Reds. Best case scenario he's about as likely to be a solid #5 starter as Owings, and worst case he's $22M down the drain. It just simply makes no sense to take on that contract in the position the Reds are in.

Offer the Tigers a package of Francisco Cordero and Jeff Keppinger for him and see if they accept. It'd fill two holes for the Tigers so they'd have to consider it.

Posted by: scribbletone | September 22, 2008 at 12:38 PM

My thoughts when I suggested Ordonez to the Reds were as follows (and keep in mind I'm not personally a Reds fan, so I don't have an in and out knowledge of their farm system, admittedly):

Ordonez is a strong right-handed bat, something that the Reds don't have much of. Phillips is nice, and Encarnacion is having a solid season, but I don't think either equals out to Maggs hitting .323 and getting on base at a .382 clip.

Great American is obviously a tremendous hitters ballpark, and Ordonez has power to all fields, he would thrive in a more hitter-friendly environment.

Currently, the Reds have a few question marks in the outfield. Bruce is unquestionably entrenched there for years to come, and Dickerson has been impressive so far, but for a team that's looking to contend in 2009, a veteran presence and established offensive threat like Ordonez is a better option in right field than a prospect who has never seen the Majors before.

The Reds don't have an overwhelmingly large payroll. They started the season at $74MM, but have since unloaded both Griffey and Dunn.

Griffey and Dunn may never have carried the Reds, as Ricker pointed out, but they also never had the surrounding cast that Magglio would have if he was to join the club for 2009. Cueto, Volquez, Bruce, and Votto will all have experience under their belts. If Harang can rebound and Phillips puts up another 20/20 or comes close to 30/30 again... that team could be very scary.

The idea of including Cordero is interesting, but again, with the Tigers' ultimate goal of cutting payroll, I don't know if that would happen. However, it's a possibility, since their other goal has to be to find bullpen help and someone who can close out games. Still, I think Detroit would be better served to try to trade for someone like a Kevin Gregg, and then hope Zumaya can finally stay healthy and take the job in late 2009 or in 2010.

Adding Dontrelle into the deal would be a disaster for the Reds. I can agree with everyone on that, for sure.

Posted by: Steve Adams | September 22, 2008 at 02:11 PM

As a Reds fan, I would MUCH rather see them trade for Josh Willingham than Maglio.

Willingham would be less expensive in both what it would take to get him and in salary costs. However, if Ca$htellini continues like he has in the past, then he will want some "name" player (for PR reasons) and Maglio is a bigger name, as far as star power goes, than Willingham is.

So, based on all of that, if the Reds were to go after Maglio, then I would offer, Bailey, A Gon and Freel for him.

Bailey is still young, inexpensive and has an upside.

Alex Gonzalez has one year and something like $5.5 million left on his contract and would give the Tigers a stop gap starting Short Stop in a year when the Short Stop Free Agent list is thin.

Ryan Freel could be a super sub utility guy.

So, the Tigers would get three useful players for one and STILL save about $6 million dollars for 2009.

Posted by: ctownboy | September 22, 2008 at 03:28 PM

ctownboy

as much as i would love to see that, it won't happen. if the tigers offered that, jocketty had better accept it without second thought. Freel is a solid utility guy with great defense just about anywhere, but he doesn't come on the cheap and hasn't had a healthy season in a while along with A Gon who also has health issues and a heavy contract. I think that if it were to happen bailey would be a key piece, but we wouldn't be lucky enough to throw in freel and A Gon.

Posted by: coltholt | September 22, 2008 at 03:56 PM

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Week in Review: 9/14 - 9/20

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