Yonder Alonso 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 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 Assistant GM On Trades, Minors, Draft

Bob Miller, the Assistant GM for the Reds, chatted with fans this afternoon on MLB.com. Here are some of the highlights: This year the Reds would consider dealing for a right-handed power bat, but they'll "play it by ear and see if the deal will help" the team. Of the trades he's been a part of, Miller's proudest of dealing Karim Garcia for Luis Gonzalez with the D'Backs. He metioned the Brandon Phillips and Bronson Arroyo deals as the best ones the Reds have made recently. The deal Miller's least proud of? Trading six players for Richie Sexson. Miller believes...   Continue Reading

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Yonder Alonso Contract Details

Dayton Daily News reporter Hal McCoy checks in with some great details about the contract signed by Reds' first round draft choice Yonder Alonso, which is reportedly worth a little more than $4.55 million, with incentives: "For his last three college semesters, the Reds will contribute $78,000 - that’s $60,000 in tuition and $18,000 in books and board." "A trip for his immediate family will be paid for by the Reds for his first major-league game." Alonso "gets $25,000 if he is Rookie of the Year, $100 if he is MVP and $100,000 if he is MVP of the World...   Continue Reading

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Reds Sign Yonder Alonso, Yorman Rodriguez

11:30pm: The Reds also inked Venezuelan outfielder Yorman Rodriguez, according to a press release. 11:09pm: MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan says Alonso signed for $4.5MM. John Manuel adds details: "$2MM bonus, $4.55MM guarantee" on a Major League deal. 10:40pm: Baseball America's Jim Callis says the Reds have signed Alonso, most likely to a big league deal. Terms are not yet known. 6:09pm: According to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Reds GM Walt Jocketty has made his final offer to first-round pick Yonder Alonso. Jocketty says Alonso backed down slightly for the first time today, so there is hope.   Continue Reading

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Draft Pick Signing Update: Posey, Matusz, Alonso

10:51am: Baggarly has the latest on Posey. He says it's a "spitting contest" between Scott Boras and Posey's agency to have the highest-paid draft pick. 7:46am: The latest links involved unsigned first-round draft picks. Sam Mellinger explains the decision Eric Hosmer faces. He might have to go against Scott Boras' advice. Henry Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle denies Andrew Baggarly's Buster Posey report yesterday, calling it "premature Posey-ing." Schulman talked to the Giants' director of player personnel, who said the deal is not done and the number is not $7.5MM. There is no verbal agreement, either. Schulman also heard...   Continue Reading

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Draft Roundup: Dykstra, Smoak, Alonso

Here's a collection of links involving unsigned first rounders. Kevin Towers expects talks to Allan Dykstra to go down to Friday. The Padres nearly had a deal, buy Dykstra's physical revealed a hip problem. Justin Smoak reportedly wants a big league contract from the Rangers. The Reds want to do a minor league deal with Yonder Alonso, which has caused a stalemate. John Fay thinks he wants $7MM. Hal McCoy says the Reds are offering a $2.5MM minor league deal. Fay talked to Alonso, who may join an independent league and move in with Alex Rodriguez if need be.   Continue Reading

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Draft Roundup: Matusz, Alonso, Hosmer

Let's round up some links concerning the unsigned '08 draft picks. The Orioles haven't made much progress with Brian Matusz, but they haven't gone backward either. His agent seems cautiously optimistic. Reds top pick Yonder Alonso told the Miami Herald there's a 50-50 chance he doesn't sign and goes back to college. One of Alonso's "advisors" said the Reds and Alonso were way off on figures. Sam Mellinger says some think Royals top pick Eric Hosmer might be willing to try college. Hosmer is advised by Scott Boras. Mellinger considers fourth round pick/first round talent Tim Melville the Royals' backup...   Continue Reading

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Draft Roundup: Kelly, Scheppers, Inoa

Some draft notes for the morning... The Reds are still negotiating with Yonder Alonso. Boston's first round pick, Casey Kelly, was seen wearing a Red Sox cap and hanging out around the team recently. However, negotiations have yet to begin and Kelly hasn't decided between baseball and football. Baseball America says the Red Sox hope to develop Kelly as a pitcher if he signs, but Kelly appears to lean toward shortstop. Pirates pick Tanner Scheppers will undergo medical exams in Pittsburgh later this month. The results on his shoulder should guide negotiations. Meanwhile, the Bucs are expected to sign 16...   Continue Reading

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Draft Day Roundup

The draft is just four hours away. We'll be live-blogging it here at MLBTR. Here are today's draft links. Baseball America's brand new top 30 projections. According to Keith Law, Mariners doctors gave the thumbs up on Tanner Scheppers and the team could take him at #20. Law says the Nationals seem to be debating between Kyle Skipworth and Aaron Crow at #9. Law adds that first baseman Yonder Alonso has an $8MM rumored asking price, which could cause him to drop. Alonso is roughly the 11th-best player in the draft, combining various expert rankings. Speaking of huge demands, Buster...   Continue Reading

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