Headlines

  • Astros Promote Brice Matthews
  • Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow
  • Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers
  • Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help
  • Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays
  • Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu
  • Previous
  • Next
Register
Login
  • Hoops Rumors
  • Pro Football Rumors
  • Pro Hockey Rumors

MLB Trade Rumors

Remove Ads
  • Home
  • Teams
    • AL East
      • Baltimore Orioles
      • Boston Red Sox
      • New York Yankees
      • Tampa Bay Rays
      • Toronto Blue Jays
    • AL Central
      • Chicago White Sox
      • Cleveland Guardians
      • Detroit Tigers
      • Kansas City Royals
      • Minnesota Twins
    • AL West
      • Houston Astros
      • Los Angeles Angels
      • Oakland Athletics
      • Seattle Mariners
      • Texas Rangers
    • NL East
      • Atlanta Braves
      • Miami Marlins
      • New York Mets
      • Philadelphia Phillies
      • Washington Nationals
    • NL Central
      • Chicago Cubs
      • Cincinnati Reds
      • Milwaukee Brewers
      • Pittsburgh Pirates
      • St. Louis Cardinals
    • NL West
      • Arizona Diamondbacks
      • Colorado Rockies
      • Los Angeles Dodgers
      • San Diego Padres
      • San Francisco Giants
  • About
    • MLB Trade Rumors
    • Tim Dierkes
    • Writing team
    • Advertise
    • Archives
  • Contact
  • Tools
    • 2025 Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Agency Database
  • NBA/NFL/NHL
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors
  • App
  • Chats
Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Jocketty: Reds Free Agent List Includes Morse, Aoki

By Jeff Todd | November 7, 2014 at 8:34pm CDT

The Reds have outfielders Michael Morse and Nori Aoki on their list of free agent targets, GM Walt Jocketty tells John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer (Twitter link). Jocketty said that he would prefer to find the outfield bat that the team needs on the open market rather than via trade.

Left field was a problem area for the Reds last year, as Ryan Ludwick performed at a below-replacement-level clip. The team did not pick up his option, preferring to pay a steep $4.5MM buyout rather than exercising it at $9MM.

Cincinnati does not figure to have a ton of payroll space to use in pursuing a replacement. After opening last year with a club record $114MM payroll, only to miss the postseason, the Reds currently have about $80.5MM in guaranteed money on the books for 2015 with upwards of $40MM in potential arbitration payouts yet to come.

Morse, 32, swings an impressive stick but has one of the league’s worst gloves on the outfield grass and comes with a reasonably concerning medical sheet. I recently predicted that he would ultimately land a two-year, $22MM deal this offseason, while noting that he probably makes more sense as a first baseman/DH playing in the American League. The 32-year-old Aoki, meanwhile, is more of an on-base specialist whose selling point is his all-around solid play. He could be somewhat cheaper than Morse, though he should receive wide interest.

Share 15 Retweet 36 Send via email7

Cincinnati Reds Newsstand Michael Morse Norichika Aoki

Angels Sign Jeremy McBryde, Designate Roger Kieschnick
Main
Free Agent Prediction Contest Deadline Tonight
View Comments (16)
Post a Comment

16 Comments

  1. bB

    11 years ago

    Walt, we dont want another Adam Dunn in the outfield. Yes, we desperately need a player who knows how to hit a baseball on this team. I would much rather have a solid ballplayer like Aoki who knows how to make consistent contact and who plays solid defense, than another swing-and-miss defensive goon

    Reply
  2. bobbybaseball

    11 years ago

    Isn’t that tampering since he made the comments before the official time when teams can sign other team’s free agents?

    Reply
    • Hunter 2

      11 years ago

      No, free agents were able to sign as of November 4, and it’s also not tampering because he only said he was interested, without giving a price range.

      Reply
      • bobbybaseball

        11 years ago

        So I’m confused. If FAs were able to sign with other teams on 12/4 then how come teams have until 12/7 to make a QO? How can you make a QO after a player has been signed. This doesn’t make sense to me.

        Reply
        • Hunter 2

          11 years ago

          QO’s have to be in before free agency starts. I don’t know exactly when the teams had to submit them though.
          Players have till after FA starts to accept of decline the QO. (I think Monday, but don’t quote me on that.)

          Reply
  3. Daniel Morairity

    11 years ago

    Na reds are fine they need to trade Brandon Phillips first before they sign anybody and if they trade Brandon Phillips they can sign rickie weeks and then they sign Morse or aoki

    Reply
    • Larry Cassagne

      11 years ago

      Phillips is a 10-5 player. He has to approve of any trades.

      Reply
      • Daniel Morairity

        11 years ago

        So basically the reds will trade Phillips is what your trying to say we)l then its settle

        Reply
  4. The Oregonian

    11 years ago

    The Reds need to rebuild. Cueto and Latos are free agents after the season, and we know they won’t be able to retain them, so might as well trade them while they can still get value back in return. Add Phillips to one of those deals to be rid of his contract.

    Reply
    • Draven Moss

      11 years ago

      I think they should rebuild too. Their likelihood of competing next year is slim IMO. Like you said, if I were them, I’d start by trading Cueto and Phillips. I’m not sure about Latos however. I think they should keep him untill the trade deadline, to prove to that he is healthy and the consistent pitcher he has been the past few years. Of course, doing so could backfire but, if successful, could net some better prospects because as of now, it seems as though his value is at a lower value, probably only netting you a couple B-prospects. Also, another question, do you think they’d possibly trade Joey Votto and his albatross contract? I don’t think so but, it’d certainly allow them to have payroll flexibility, which they desperately need.

      Reply
      • The Oregonian

        11 years ago

        You might have the right idea about hanging on to Latos for a bit longer. I don’t think Votto is going anywhere though, that contract is pretty unmovable, plus who really needs a first baseman right now? Even LaRoche doesn’t seem to have much of a market.

        Reply
        • Draven Moss

          11 years ago

          Well, I think the Padres could be in on LaRoche, not sure about any other teams, though. Maybe the Marlins? Their 1st basemen weren’t that good last year I don’t think. Plus, I think a scatter team would be interested in Votto despite his contract, but the Reds would be smart to keep him for next year to re-establish his value after a injury-plagued season. One team could be my Red Sox, Napoli is gone after next season (and could be a good trade piece), and a lefty bat would be nice. Not sure the Red Sox would want his contract though and have to give up prospects. It’d be more of a salary dump on the Reds part, not sure they’d want to do that to their current face of the franchise.

          Reply
  5. Cory Trenkamp

    11 years ago

    Something fishy going on here. Walt never tips his hand

    Reply
  6. Anthony Joseph Ziegler

    11 years ago

    Go after and sign Aoki and call it a day. Give Cozart the first month to hit. If he doesn’t put Negron there and be done with it. Sign Cueto and Latos to deals and find a trade partner for Leake. If you are in contention you keep Phillips. If not then hope a contender wants him and that Phillips doesn’t exercise his trade rights.

    No, no, no to Morse. To produce runs you need guys to get on base ahead of your 3, 4, 5, and 6 hole hitters. The Reds don’t need another power bat more than they need guys who get on-base. Look at the pathetic OBP’s of just about everyone on the team last year. They were embarrassing.

    Reply
    • Draven Moss

      11 years ago

      The Reds can’t afford to extend Cueto and Latos. Cueto is going to command atleast 20 million, and Latos probably 15 million. The Reds just don’t have the budget to do that.

      Reply
    • reds2010

      11 years ago

      I like the way you think. However, I would really like to see them send Bruce packing and go after the likes of Nick Markakis or Nelson Cruz. Move Aoki to Left and Hamilton in Center.

      If they could somehow manage to unload BP’s fat contract, they could go after someone like Bonafacio, they could have Negron at 2B and Bonafacio at SS. Imagine a lineup with Hamilton and Bonafacio batting 1-2.

      This looks awfully tasty to me:

      1. Hamilton CF

      2. Bonafacio SS

      3. Votto 1B

      4. Cruz RF

      5. Frazier 3B

      6. Mesoracco C

      7. Negron 2B

      8. Aoki LF

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Please login to leave a reply.

Log in Register

    Top Stories

    Astros Promote Brice Matthews

    Red Sox Likely To Activate Alex Bregman Tomorrow

    Phillies Reportedly Targeting Controllable Relievers

    Yankees Prioritizing Pitching, Also Searching For Infield Help

    Orioles Trade Bryan Baker To Rays

    Yankees Release DJ LeMahieu

    Trevor Williams To Undergo UCL Surgery

    Nationals Fire PBO Mike Rizzo, Manager Dave Martinez

    Brewers Activate Brandon Woodruff

    Clarke Schmidt Expected To Undergo Tommy John Surgery

    Bobby Jenks Passes Away

    Braves Release Alex Verdugo

    Top 40 Trade Candidates For The 2025 Deadline

    Rays Reinstate Ha-Seong Kim

    Yankees Have Shown Interest In Ryan McMahon

    Royals Interested In Bryan Reynolds

    Rangers Option Josh Jung

    Kevin Pillar Announces Retirement

    Braves Place Spencer Schwellenbach On IL With Elbow Fracture

    Giants Exercise 2026 Option On Manager Bob Melvin

    Recent

    Trade Deadline Outlook: New York Mets

    Rays Release Eloy Jimenez

    Fantasy Baseball: Closers, Call-Ups, and a Player to Watch

    Geoff Hartlieb Elects Free Agency

    Angels Option Jack Kochanowicz

    Sergio Alcántara Elects Free Agency

    Blue Jays Select Tommy Nance

    Tyler Callihan Likely Done For The Year

    Pirates Select Yohan Ramírez, Designate Matt Gorski For Assignment

    Astros Promote Brice Matthews

    MLBTR Newsletter - Hot stove highlights in your inbox, five days a week

    Latest Rumors & News

    Latest Rumors & News

    • Sandy Alcantara Rumors
    • Luis Robert Rumors
    • Alex Bregman Rumors

     

    Trade Rumors App for iOS and Android App Store Google Play

    MLBTR Features

    MLBTR Features

    • Remove Ads, Support Our Writers
    • Front Office Originals
    • Front Office Fantasy Baseball
    • MLBTR Podcast
    • Trade Deadline Outlook Series
    • 2025-26 MLB Free Agent List
    • Contract Tracker
    • Transaction Tracker
    • Extension Tracker
    • Agency Database
    • MLBTR On Twitter
    • MLBTR On Facebook
    • Team Facebook Pages
    • How To Set Up Notifications For Breaking News
    • Hoops Rumors
    • Pro Football Rumors
    • Pro Hockey Rumors

    Rumors By Team

    • Angels Rumors
    • Astros Rumors
    • Athletics Rumors
    • Blue Jays Rumors
    • Braves Rumors
    • Brewers Rumors
    • Cardinals Rumors
    • Cubs Rumors
    • Diamondbacks Rumors
    • Dodgers Rumors
    • Giants Rumors
    • Guardians Rumors
    • Mariners Rumors
    • Marlins Rumors
    • Mets Rumors
    • Nationals Rumors
    • Orioles Rumors
    • Padres Rumors
    • Phillies Rumors
    • Pirates Rumors
    • Rangers Rumors
    • Rays Rumors
    • Red Sox Rumors
    • Reds Rumors
    • Rockies Rumors
    • Royals Rumors
    • Tigers Rumors
    • Twins Rumors
    • White Sox Rumors
    • Yankees Rumors

    Navigation

    • Sitemap
    • Archives
    • RSS/Twitter Feeds By Team

    MLBTR INFO

    • Advertise
    • About
    • Commenting Policy
    • Privacy Policy

    Connect

    • Contact Us
    • Twitter
    • Facebook
    • RSS Feed

    MLB Trade Rumors is not affiliated with Major League Baseball, MLB or MLB.com

    Do not Sell or Share My Personal Information

    hide arrows scroll to top

    Register

    Desktop Version | Switch To Mobile Version