A glance at the NL Central..
- Reds GM Walt Jocketty told reporters that there was a lot of interest in Aroldis Chapman and Jay Bruce, but the Reds were more focused on the free-agents-to-be, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer tweets.
- Adam McCalvy of MLB.com (on Twitter) hears that the Brewers and Cardinals were never close on Adam Lind. It would have taken a big haul for Milwaukee to trade Lind within the division since he also has a 2016 option.
- Jocketty referred to what the Reds are doing as a “reboot,” but not a full rebuild, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com tweets.
- Jocketty told reporters, including Fay (on Twitter), that the Reds will try infielder Adam Duvall in leftfield at Triple-A Louisville.
I like what Jockety did. he realized that he still has a very talented roster but also one hampered by two big contracts and two impending contracts (Votto/Bailey and Chapman/Frazier). Two Bullpen arms, the young pitchers progressing as expected and a healthy mesoraco and this team can contend again soon.
how did marlon byrd not get traded?
Byrd could get traded after the deadline.
That is a mistake, or he didn’t feel he could get any value. The only other thing to consider is if they have had discussions with him coming back on a team friendly short term deal. It would make sense for the Reds, Winker is not close and they really don’t have anyone to play out there next season. Byrd has been what you would expect and likely a bit better defensively
Since he didn’t trade Chapman he better resign him cause he won’t get as much next year for him like he did for cueto. Talented roster but they need to rebuild unless they plan on making a splash in free agency ….
they don’t need a total rebuild, just help. KC showed with a great bullpen a mediocre rotation can take you far. They need 2 arms in the pen, and the miscast pieces can go to middle relief where they belong. I am a big advocate of signing Edwin Jackson to pitch in the 8th. He still throws in the upper 90’s with a nasty slider. he can put it together for an inning at a time. I have said for years he should be a closer, he has closer stuff.
I don’t understand the reasoning behind not trading Chapman and Bruce. The only reason would be if Walk believes he can get a better return in the off season. That may be true for Chapman, but I don’t believe it for Bruce.
The Reds are rebooting? What pitching are we going to have next year? an injury prone, overpriced Homer Bailey, and unproven SP or the 2-5 slots.
Where is the money coming from to replenish the lineup and pitching? The contracts the Reds saved by trading Cueto and Leake (I agreed with both trades) don’t add up to much as they were decent contracts.
We are going to have the same lineup and even worse rotation compared to opening day 2015. Why not completely overhaul the system and start over?
There are to many “ifs” for 2016. Who knows if Homer Bailey, Zack Cozart and Devin Mesoraco will return to what they use to be. Who catches if Devin can’t? Do we re-sign Pena? Who’s in right? Will Billy become the leadoff hitter we hope he will be?
To many questions for my liking.
All that keeping Chapman means is that Jocketty will get less for him when he’s eventually moved in 2016. The ‘core’ of this team is going to get expensive and old awfully quickly, and I think trying to patch holes in the roster going forward will be exactly as effective as it has been these past two seasons.
Come 2017, the Reds are looking at a roster that includes:
Votto 33yrs $22 million
Bailey 31yrs $19 million
Phillips 36yrs $14 million
Bruce 30yrs $13 million
Frazier 31yrs Last arb-eligible season, probably around $12 million
That’s $80 million going to five players, all of whom are on the wrong side of 30 and likely have their best seasons behind them. The Dodgers and Yankees can pick up enough FA contracts to pick up the slack, but I don’t see any way the Reds are going to be able to do that.
I want to say Votto is the Reds version of Ryan Howard except he hasn’t even had as good a season as Howard had for the Phils. These teams, headed by smart businessmen keep making long term financial decisions that defy logic. (Hamilton, Choo, Howard, Utley, Pujols, Cabrera, Tulowitsk, ARod, Crawford, Stanton, Sabathia). Yet, watch what happens with Price, Grienke this off season.
Who is more important for the Reds Offensively? Votto or Frazier? In my opinion, it is Frazier. So when it is time for Frazier to get his first big contract, how are the Reds going to be able to pay him with Votto & Bailey already signed to albatross contracts? Let’s just say they do. They sign him for 5yrs/21mm per. Where is the money for the other 22 players going to come from? Will the FO decide they can get by on strictly pre arb youngsters & aging stars like the Byrds of the game? The’ll have to very lucky and smart on their development of pitchers. Both for the rotation and pen. I think Walt missed a very good opportunity to reload for a rebuild by hanging on to Bruce and Chapman.