Joey Votto Rumors

Reds Notes: Taveras, Owings, Gomes

MLB.com's Mark Sheldon cleaned out his inbox and answered a few questions from Reds fans today. Here are some of the more pertinent details... The team would like to move Willy Taveras if they could, but there are very few takers for a player who posted a .240/.275/.285 line in 2009 and is due to make $4MM next season. Given his limited abilities and how Shelton feels that Taveras wouldn't be happy on the bench, the Reds have to consider cutting their losses with Taveras and releasing him. Micah Owings will likely not be used as trade bait, given that...   Continue Reading

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Reds Talk: Votto, Budget, Olivo

John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer has the latest on the Reds, after talking with GM Walt Jocketty. Asked about trading Joey Votto, Jocketty replied, "Oh God, no." The Reds are restricted by their payroll, but Jocketty said, "not yet" as far as trading players to make the budget. Check out our Reds Offseason Outlook for details on their commitments. If the Reds can't negotiate a new deal with Ramon Hernandez, Fay feels that they might consider free agent catcher Miguel Olivo.   Continue Reading

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Reds To Cut Payroll, Big Names Could Be Dealt

Add the Reds to the list of teams that are slashing, rather than spending, this off-season. Fanhouse's Ed Price and Jeff Fletcher are reporting that Cincinnati is looking to cut their payroll from $71MM in 2009 to between the $65-$70MM range next season. While it may not sound like much of a reduction, Cot's Baseball Contracts lists the Reds as owing just under $66MM to just ten players for next season, leaving little room to fill out the rest of the roster. Lagging attendance figures are to blame for the Reds' financial cutbacks. Price and Fletcher noted that attendance at...   Continue Reading

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Reds Report: Volquez, Bruce, Gomes

To put it mildly, this has been a rough year for Reds fans. Edinson Volquez had the Cincinnati faithful buzzing after posting a 3.21 ERA with 9.5 K/9 in his first full season in 2008. After logging just nine starts in the 2009 campaign, Volquez needed surgery to repair damage in his right elbow. The Reds faded fast as their depleted staff wasn't getting much of a lift from their sagging offense. Injuries to Joey Votto and Edwin Encarnacion (prior to being dealt to Toronto) certainly didn't do them any favors. However, if the team's recent performance is any indication...   Continue Reading

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Odds & Ends: Brewers, Votto, Manny, Montero

A handful of Odds and Ends from around the bigs: The Brewers declined to offer a contract to any of the former players that attended their tryout camp last Tuesday in Phoenix, says Tom Haudricourt. Among the auditioning were Mark Bellhorn, Randall Simon, and Robert Fick. Mariners new GM Jack Zduriencik may find his patience will pay off as bargains begin to emerge in the free agent market, says Larry LaRue of the Tacoma News Tribune. Bill Madden of the NY Daily News breaks down the Manny Ramirez market, team by team, including notes on the Dodgers, Mets, Giants, Angels,...   Continue Reading

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Reds Predictions From John Fay

John Fay has taken a unique approach to generating some more offseason predictions for this weekend. Rather than offer up ideas on what the Reds might do, Fay thinks he's more likely to be correct if he takes a few guesses at what they won't do. The Reds will not acquire a veteran shortstop; Alex Gonzalez and Jeff Keppinger should be up to the task. If healthy, Gonzalez should start over Keppinger, says Fay. Joey Votto will not be traded this offseason. Fay quotes Jocketty on this one; says the GM, "No chance." Micah Owings will not play the outfield....   Continue Reading

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Reds Still Looking At Baldelli, Hairston Jr.

The Cincinnati Reds remain interested in free agents Rocco Baldelli and Jerry Hairston Jr., MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports. Reds general manager Walt Jocketty told Sheldon that he has talked with their agent, Casey Close, during the weekend. Jocketty said that he expects something to happen this week with regard to Hairston Jr. The Reds have had no talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Andruw Jones and appear not to be interested, Sheldon notes. The Cincinnati Enquirer's John Fay also spoke with Jocketty. In addition to the Reds' stance on Baldelli, Hairston Jr. and Jones, Fay notes that the Reds...   Continue Reading

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More Jocketty Talk On The Reds

C. Trent Rosecrans of TheLotD.com also talked with Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty today. Here are some conversation highlights: - The Reds are still talking to Jerry Hairston Jr. to play left field. "We’re still trying to get Hairston," Jocketty told Rosecrans. "We’ll have a different look on our club, but we still have guys like (Joey) Votto, (Jay) Bruce, (Brandon) Phillips, (Edwin) Encarnacion and even (Ramon) Hernandez with power." - Jocketty hasn't spoken with Pat Burrell in awhile. They are holding back on that one right now. - Health remains a serious issue with Rocco Baldelli, Jocketty said....   Continue Reading

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How Will The Angels Spend Their Money?

12:02pm: Boras gave a prepared statement regarding the Angels and Tex, saying that the player's interest has been sincere. Boras left the door open for the Angels, but why wouldn't he? 11:28am: So the Angels are out of the running for Mark Teixeira. Now what? They've re-signed Juan Rivera, making Manny Ramirez a "reach" according to Jerry Crasnick's source. Mike DiGiovanna has suggestions: The Angels...could also look to bolster their offense by pursuing a free-agent outfielder such as Bobby Abreu, Pat Burrell, Adam Dunn, or, possibly, Manny. Or, they could look to trade for a hitter such as Jermaine Dye,...   Continue Reading

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Gammons' Latest: Teixeira, Cameron, Montero

The latest blog post from ESPN's Peter Gammons is up. Gammons talked to a source close to Mark Teixeira who says Tex and the Red Sox are not that far apart. The Yankees backed off on the Mike Cameron trade because Melky Cabrera is showing improved plate discipline in winter ball (his walk rate is up, though it's only 15 games). Additionally, Brett Gardner has believers in the organization. The Diamondbacks were unwilling to trade catcher Miguel Montero to the Red Sox for Daniel Bard, while the Sox wouldn't part with Michael Bowden. Gammons says it hasn't been seriously discussed...   Continue Reading

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