The Reds extended GM Walt Jocketty through 2014 earlier this week, and now the GM is focused on getting some of his big name players under contract beyond this season. Let's round up the latest…
- Jocketty met with the Levinson Brothers today, representatives for second baseman Brandon Phillips. MLB.com's Mark Sheldon says talks were preliminary in nature. "It went fine," said the GM. "We had talked a little bit in the past. It was more a kind of guidelines of what we're trying to do. Once the season is over, we'll talk again."
- Jocketty added that if they can't find a middle ground, they will exercise Phillips' $12MM option for next season and then "keep working on it."
- John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports (on Twitter) that Jocketty said he's optimistic about getting something done with closer Francisco Cordero in the near future. An extension will "probably" be a two-year deal. Like Phillips, the Reds hold a $12MM for Cordero's services in 2012.
I don’t know what it is, but I have a bad feeling about the Phillips contract. I think this will go south and he will not be a Red in 2012.
Well they have already said they will pick up the option at the worst case for 2012. So we at least get him another year. I hope we extend him though. Its going to cost money but seriously reds have nobody they could replace him with.
I was thinking that if the right offer came, they would be very willing to trade him in the meetings.
Sounds like he is getting ready to sign a new 2 year deal at a lower cost to the reds with maybe an option year.
I don’t know. He wants Uggla money sounds like to me. I am split on this. BP is one of those guys you don’t miss till he is gone. You don’t realize what he did untill itts too late. But on the other hand its going to take 40mil over 3 or there about. Thats alot of money and handicaps our prosuit of LFer. BP is a hell of a player but maybe the Reds put Hiesy there and get a legit LF. I don’t know i think 12 million a year could be spent on something that could help us some more than at 2nd.
If David Weathers could close…..and bring the same type of tightrope walking almost every night like Cordero does….then they can find someone else to close as well…for less money.