The first-place Reds are looking to add a right-handed reliever, according to ESPN.com's Buster Olney (via Twitter). Cincinnati leads the NL Central, but their bullpen (4.45 ERA) could use help. Francisco Cordero, Nick Masset, Logan Ondrusek, Micah Owings and Jordan Smith currently make up the right-handed half of the team's 'pen. As a group they have been solid, but not dominant.
Kerry Wood, Jason Frasor, Kevin Gregg, Octavio Dotel, Joakim Soria, David Aardsma, Matt Capps and Leo Nunez are among the intriguing right-handed relievers who could be available before July 31st. Upgrading from Smith or Ondrusek to one of those arms could help the Reds fend the Cardinals off in the second half, but the relievers listed above wouldn't be easy to acquire.
The Reds just signed free agent reliever Russ Springer.
If the Reds are going to rely on a 41-year old, who also hasn’t pitched at all this year, then they really are screwed up in management.
Soria? Really? I find that hard to believe. It’d take a beastly package to nab him.
Seriously screwed. Springer hasn’t been pitching anywhere this year and don’t they know he doesn’t do so well against lefties and he is a fly ball pitcher? Fly ball pitchers go to GAB to die. Jocketty, do better than that, please.
I know a 40 year old pitcher that has been lights out for the Reds this year…. There is no hurt in trying especially when they are paying him half the major league minimum for a prorated amount this year. Plus he has said if he does not do well in the minors the Reds have not really lost much here.
I love how some just think cause they made this move they don’t intend on doing anything else …
I love how some just think cause they made this move they don’t intend on doing anything elseI love how you assume that’s what I’m thinking. The fact of the matter is the team is in a playoff race and instead of pushing hard for a top reliever [MLBTR has reported nothing so far] they sign a 41-year old who hasn’t even picked up a ball in 2010. It just shows that management is being passive and cheap, probably hoping that this guy pans out so they won’t need to make a splash.
Sorry mate was not really saying I though you where thinking this. I was saying some people. Sorry if I worded that poorly.
which of these guys would you consider a “top reliever”? outside of Soria, who everyone agrees is either not available, or would take a massive offer to land, I don’t see anybody whose an upgrade over what the Reds already have. I, for one, am glad mgmt isn’t throwing out prospects for subpar relievers just because they need bullpen help.
On what planet is Joakim Soria available? It would take a blow-me-away offer to get him away from the Royals.
I agree….having him on this list is a pipe dream…now Farnsworth — that is a prime candidate.
Ben, where are your sources saying Soria is available?
Wouldn’t be easy to acquire. Kerry Wood wouldn’t be easy to acquire. ?????????????????????????????????????
The Indians would trade him and pick up the contract for probably a couple Hi A guys the Reds wouldn’t even have to give up anybody close to the majors.
Wouldn’t be easy to acquire. LOL
And the Reds I know have already talked with the Indians just no names were exchanged at the time about a month ago.
did you mean kyle farnsworth instead of soria?
Homer Bailey could be helpful from the pen when he gets off the DL …
Bailey to the pen won’t fix our problem of a 7th/8th inning guy we can rely on … we need an established M/L reliever
What would Reds fans prefer? Frasor or Gregg? Or neither?
Neither.
Same story could be written about the Mets, and really it’s an eighth inning guy — don’t care if he’s right or left-handed, just effective — who is needed so badly.
Ben, I love this site but why do guys keep throwing Soria’s name out there when there have been no signs whatsoever that a) the Royals would trade him and b) that anyone has even inquired about him? Did I miss something?
You guys did have Putz, hopefully the Sox can work out an extension for him.
Kevin — The inept Mets front office and medical staff (there’s an oxymoron) didn’t discover Putz’s injury before the three-way trade with Seattle and Cleveland. On paper it looked as if the bullpen problem had been fixed, but Putz pulled up lame along with Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Santana, etc., and it was a lost season.
I’ve been a Met fan all my life, bullpen has always sucked except for a couple of years with Randy Myers. Putz is now healthier and, while I don’t follow the Sox that closely, I’m sure he has contributed to the surge back to first place.
Please someone take Aardsma
I agree come and get him people!
Soria would be almost impossible to get. Farnsworth on the other hand could be had fairly cheaply. He has actually been pitching pretty well of late also. He might really help the Reds.
I agree with everyone else, no way Soria is available without a blow-me-away type of offer. He’s under contract for 4 more years I believe, and at a reasonable price too. I’ll give you Farnsworth for a high-A player with some upside though.
Soria is signed through 2014, but he starts to get really expensive after 2011 (’11-$4M, ’12-$6M cl op, 13-$8M cl op, 14-$8.75M cl op). While the Royals would like to keep him, he is more valuable to them now as trade bait. He wont be cheap, but he’s not by any means untouchable.
OK, just for kicks and giggles. I’m Omar Minaya and I’m calling you about Soria. I’ll trade you K-Rod and pay half his salary for starters. Who else would you realistically want to get the deal done?
the moon.
LOL. See, it never hurts to ask.
I’m glad I’m not the only one that was puzzled by Soria’s inclusion. Anybody could be had for the right price, but the right price for Soria would be way too much right now for the Reds to pay, especially when they can get other relievers far cheaper. Just because the Royals aren’t particularly good this year doesn’t mean the team has to trade everybody they get that’s good.
The whole point of the Reds looking for a right-handed reliever is to UPGRADE what they already have. No one on this list outside of Soria is better than what they have already , especially with Burton tearing up the minors. Soria is a name I mentioned a month ago, he could be had. What value does a good closer have to a last place team? Nothing except for the kind of prospects he could bring in return.
If Burton is tearing it up in the minors 1. how come we have not heard about it as Reds fans and 2. why is he still in the minors??? Can you give me some stats that you consider as tearing it up in the minors please.
I wouldn’t say he is tearing it up, but Burton is pitching well. A 1-2 record in 21 games with a 3.13 ERA, 20 strikeouts and 12 walks. Opponents are batting .209 against him. I wouldn’t say tearing it up, but I’d like to see him back in Cincinnati soon.
If we want to just go by ERA in the minors Burton has a better ERA than both Ondrusek and Jordan Smith, but they got the call up. Now I know ERA isn’t everything but it’s a pretty important stat to look at to get an idea of how good a pitcher is pitching.
Like I said, he isn’t tearing it up. But I think he is pitching well enough to get a call up shortly.
Good I always liked Burton in the past. I would not mind if they gave him a shot in the majors.
It would be great to see Soria leave Kansas City and go to an organization that is at least trying to win.
Clearly, you don’t have a clue about what is going on in the Royals farm system.
I know they are leaving two 26 year old guys sporting 1.000+ OPS in AAA. Is that trying to win?
Oh, I forgot. Alex Gordon rubbed somebody the wrong way somewhere somehow and Kila’s swing “just won’t translate to the bigs”.
The Reds braintrust said the same thing about Joey Votto. He finally moved over Scott Hatteberg. If Soria is available, the Reds have the minor league prospect talent to get him. I just hate spending talented prospects for a reliever. Walt could do it though.
Kerry Wood – Pass … 6.30 ERA & 1.60 WHIP … our rookies can provide that Jason Frasor – Pass .. 38 hits & 18 walks in 34 innings = not a good reliever Kevin Gregg – Maybe – decent WHIP … but would he be willing to not close? Octavio Dotel – Meh … decent WHIP but ERA scares meJoakim Soria – If KC is dumb enough to trade him … make the dealDavid Aardsma – Pass … When fans are willing to pay you to take a player = not interestedMatt Capps – Interested. Having great year. Another guy that would need to be willing to give up closing games.Leo Nunez – Like this guy. Still young and great WHIP.
These guys if we pick up someone that is used to being a closer we could have a somewhat not the same though thing as when the Reds had the Nasty boys. they all kinda had chances to get saves. Myers Charlton and Dibble.
For me I would be happy with Capps, Nunez, Gregg, and yes Soria even though he would probably cost us the most.
Ahhh the good old days when the Reds starters only had to pitch 6 innings of solid baseball to get a win … and those three monsters at the end always seemed to deliver … how I miss those days
Ahhh the good old days when the Reds starters only had to pitch 6 innings of solid baseball to get a win … and those three monsters at the end always seemed to deliver … how I miss those days
I’d look at Del Rosario again, as well…I love his GB/FB ratio.
Yes it seems team friendly, but how often have we seen Relievers/Closer drop in value instantly, Sherrill and the paradox that is Lidge come to mind… It would be a huge PR hit but if the Royals finally decide for an all in rebuild around Grienke, Soria would easily net them the biggest package of all. I for one would like to see them keep him and build around Soria, Grienke, Butler and Kila and Gordon…But I could understand why they would