Some notes from the Buckeye State's two teams…
- Catching prospect Devin Mesoraco, the Reds' first-round pick in the 2007 draft, is impressing the club during Spring Training with both his bat and his defense, reports MLB.com's Mark Sheldon.
- The Reds didn't make major offseason acquisitions and Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports argues that it was the right way for GM Walt Jocketty to approach the offseason.
- Here are a few details on Nick Johnson's minor league contract from MLB.com's Jordan Bastian and Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. According to Hoynes, Johnson can opt out of his contract and become a free agent if he's not on the Indians' Major League roster by July 1. Cleveland's $2.75MM team option on Johnson for 2012 will cease to be if Johnson isn't called up to the majors some point this season, tweets Bastian. Of course, if Johnson isn't playing well enough to even earn a call-up, Cleveland wouldn't have been likely to pick up that option for next year anyway.
- Right-hander Jason Davis, who pitched for the Indians from 2002-07, is on a tryout with the Tribe's minor league camp, reports Paul Hoynes (Twitter link). Davis, who last pitched in the majors with Pittsburgh in 2008, has a 4.82 ERA in 144 Major League games, 56 of them starts.
MLBTR's Ben Nicholson-Smith also contributed to this post
I would be interested in knowing if Mesoraco was one of the players offered by Jocketty for Cliff Lee last summer. If so, Mes is going to have those M’s kicking themselves for taking Soak and the Rangers guys instead.
Now if the Reds could just do something about Left Field…
I don’t think the Reds need to worry about LF that much. Heisey is close to being able to field an everyday position and even if he doesn’t turn it up Dave Sappelt has impressed a LOT in spring after a strong showing in the minor league system last year and could find his way with the big league club mid-season.
For now Gomes, Lewis and/or Hermida (whom I think will be a surprise for the Reds this year) are capable of combining to being a very competent LF tandem. I thought we needed to make a deal for a big LF bat this offseason but after looking at our team internally I think people should be coming to us for trades not the other way around. We have some future studs in the making there.