Following a hip surgery and successful rehab, Reds left-hander Amir Garrett feels optimistic about the 2018 season, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. The sophomore is ready to put a nightmarish 2017 behind him. “I will re-establish myself again and basically start over from the beginning in spring,” says Garret. “It’s a clean slate, 2018. 2017 is behind me. I have a book and that page isn’t even in there.” Garrett added that he feels stronger and has even shed ten pounds. While the 25-year-old southpaw got off to a hot start last year, his 7.39 ERA and 5.09 BB/9 at season’s end look disastrous. Garrett claims he’s happy that he had a rough year, as he had “never really had any struggles and adversity” prior to that.
More news out of Cincinnati…
- In light of a slow free agent market, the Reds are looking to add a player, says GM Dick Williams (hat tip to Sheldon). That player is likely to be a reliever, however, which seemingly closes the door on any notion that a rebuilding Cincinnati ballclub might be in on the market’s remaining position players and rotation candidates. Thus far, the only contract the Reds have given out this offseason is a two-year, $4.5MM guarantee to right-handed reliever Jared Hughes. According to our 2017-2018 free agent list, over 40 MLB relievers remain available on the free agent market.
- Although Cincinnati obviously isn’t expected to compete for a playoff spot, the 2018 season will prove a crucial one for the franchise’s rebuild, says Zach Buchanan of the Cincinnati Enquirer. Reds fans have watched the rival Brewers undergo a notoriously short rebuild while they’ve had to endure four consecutive losing seasons already. “We’ve struggled to be competitive since the second half of 2014,” manager Bryan Price told reporters at the Reds Caravan on Thursday. “That’s a fair amount of time to ask our fan base to wait. I think they’re going to see a lot of improvement as far as wins and losses. They need to see that.” Buchanan does cite some reasons for optimism, including a much healthier pitching staff that could take a step forward, the rising stardom of Eugenio Suarez and the potential for top prospect Nick Senzel to make the big league roster at some point this season. Interestingly, he also notes that the Reds were apparently in on Christian Yelich early on, but backed off quickly when they learned that they’d need to part with either Senzel or Hunter Greene “just to start”.
The reds should sign holland to a one year deal and trade him at the deadline. At least for holland he knows he would be traded to a contending team
That’s actually not the worst idea I’ve heard.
It actually is the worse idea you have heard as it takes two and Holland would never sign a one year deal with the Reds who stink.
Don’t think Holland is thinking the same thing….
Time is running out and pitchers and catchers report in 2 weeks. The closers market will be thin next off season if I’m not mistaken so he could potentially have it to himself
Kimbrel. Besides, I’m sure the cardinals are just waiting for the price to bottom out. They can’t be done…. please don’t be done…
Oh wow I forgot he will hit the market next off season (unless the Sox extend him). I’ve been thinking the cards too and they should make him one offer with a deadline. This would be effective as there hasn’t been much action on Holland’s market and he could potentially cave in
Thin?? Kimbrel, Andrew Miller, Britton, Cody Allen, Herrera, and Robertson will all be free agents next year. You could also roll the dice on Madson, Phelps, Joe Kelly, Ramos, Justin Wilson or Rosenthal (who will be returning from TJS).. Familia is going to try to get reinstated as well (doubtful but maybe).. If anything the closer market will be robust next year….
YankeePatriot the closer market next year is Stacked and many more high end relievers then this year. So the thought that Holland would benefit is as crazy as you saying he would sign with the Reds for one year after the Reds explain its a good deal so they will sign trad him a few months later to whomever they please
We have a closer , a darn good one. This team will go as far as the starting pitching takes them. They can hit with anyone or at least enough to compete.
The offense is potent, but hard to see how they could get over .500 with that pitching staff. I could sympathize with the fans had they shown up prior to the four year slide, but they didn’t.
2010 – 2017 The Reds beat out 12 other teams in attendance, and that includes their 4 year slide. You also need to look at market size. If you look at this link showing attendance figures vs market size you’ll see you mistake. amp.businessinsider.com/chart-mlb-per-capita-atten…
Holland has a qualifying offer attached to him, not sure that is a good idea for the Reds who need to stock picks.
Their top picks would be protected wouldn’t they ?
Remember it’s just a 2nd pick they’d have to forfeit I think
If they do lose a high 2nd judging by the market for top RP’s at the deadline the last couple of years, I would bet they could far surpass the value of a 2nd round pick by trading him to a team missing that last piece..
Derek Holland maybe
If Holland would take a one year deal then why would he not sign with a contender now and he would know he would not get traded and be their the whole year.
Why on earth would Holland sign a one year deal with the Reds? A team that stinks? That will not have many save chances and would just trade him in a few months?
You act like if the Reds call and offer him a one year deal Holland and Boras would be like Whew thanks for the call. Of course we will do that with your team that stinks. No chance.
Lol, why would the Reds want to spend the money to sign Holland? They have a top closer. They need to spend their money on a quality FA starter. However it looks as if that’s not going to happen.
Why would the Reds do that? The need is Starters not closer. Reds closer Iglesias was 28 saves out of 30 save opportunities, Holland was 41 out of 45. Iggy had a 2.49 era with a 1.11 whip, Holland had a 3.61 era and a 1.15 whip. Iggy is also signed through 2020.
With Winker ready I am interested in hearing what would the Braves need to give up for Duvall
not much
Probably a big league reliever and low level lottery prospect
He’s a flawed player, but Reds aren’t going to give away 30 HRs at league minimum salary for nothing
The Reds don’t need to trade Duvall, they would then be replacing his right-handed bat for Winker’s lefty. It’ll be Schebler that moves to the outfield=utility position, giving the other three guys a day off based on pitching matchups.. If Winker did replace Duvall, the lineup would have Winker, Schebler, Votto, Gennett. with Suarez and Peraza as the only righties (plus the catcher and Hamilton, a switch hitter).
Right, Duvall also led the MLB in Outfielder assists in 17, and a gold glove finalist the last 2 years. Add that with 31 HR’s and 99 RBI’s in 17, and 33 HR’s and 103 RBI’s in 16, and I think they’ll hold onto him. Or at least ask for more than a reliever, and a low level prospect.
I think the Mlb needs another set of expansion teams
I wouldn’t mind, Nashville needs one imo.
MLB has two teams (Marlins and Rays) who are barely scraping by to say the least. The last thing they need is to add more teams other then move one or both of these teams to new markets. Then there’s teams like the A’s who are stuck in a perpetual rebuild with a much needed new stadium not close to fruition.
The Marlins are actually in a great market. For example, I don’t think the Heat consider Miami as a small market. It’s entirely the fault of the Marlins ownership.
“It’s entirely the fault of the Marlins ownership” They build a new stadium and a decent product on the field..people don’t come. They win WS..people don’t come. They sign FA and Cuban stars..people don’t come. Miami is one of the worst markets for a sports franchise. The Heat have some of the worst attendance and interest in all the NBA..even the Dolphins have struggled compared to other markets.
Miami is a great market in the winter for basketball and football.. Half the town heads north for the summer months though.. They need to move the Marlins to Portland (move them to the NL West, bump Colorado to the Central and Pittsburgh to the East) and the Rays to Montreal (where they could stay in the AL East)..
The Heat were great at drawing fans when Lebron James took his talent to South Beach for four years. Fans show up late and leave early(even leaving early even before Ray Allen’s three-pointer that tied game 6 of the 2013 NBA finals) The Heat are ranked by numerous publications as the 29th to worse fan base in the NBA…they are currently 9th in the East in attendance and have finished in the bottom three the years since Lebron left.
The Dolphins finished 16th in attendance this season and averaged to come in at 18th the last ten years..this of course with having a new stadium and great weather.
How bout Lucas Sims & Akeel Morris ?
FOR WHO? Duvall? lol
Over 40 relievers still on the market? Jeez!
I would like to see them sign Sergio Romo.
I feel for Reds fans. They have some decent players and Votto is amazing, but they seem to be stuck in neutral in a very strong division. I actually thought last year that DeSclafani would step up and become an Cy Young contender, then he goes down for the year.
Where have you gone, Chris Sabo?
When they first started their rebuild and traded their solid starters it seemed like their returns were a bit lackluster for what they gave up.. They should have cleaned up at the 2015 deadline by trading, Cuetro, Leake, and Chapman.. But they got taken in the Cueto and Leake trades and held onto Chapman when his value was sky high.. Why they didn’t hold onto Chapman for half a year instead of trading him when his value couldn’t possibly get any lower baffles me.. Imo they lost the Frazier trade as well.. The only trades they seem to have done well in were the Latos and Straily trades.. I would argue that their return was a bit light on both of those as well.. DeSclafani was only ranked #6 in the Marlins system and was seem only as a potential #4 solid innings eater at the time.. That isn’t much to give up for a starting lefty seen as a weak #2 or a very strong #3 at the time.. Castillo might be something special but he wasn’t viewed like that at the time.. Also, what other team in MLB would have given Homer Bailey a $100+ million dollar contract? He is a #3 pitcher at best..
Thought it then, think it more now. Reds should have had a complete and total fire sale in the 14-15 offseason. In addition to Latos and Simon, Cueto, Leake, Chapman and Cozart all should have been traded. They couldn’t have possibly handled Chapman and Cozart worse than they did and with Cueto and Leake they likely would have gotten better returns if the acquiring team got full seasons of them as opposed to just two months and retained the right to QO them.
The assumption you’re making is that there were teams willing to part with top talent all at the same time. I don’t think that’s likely to have been the case. That said, your point stands — the tear down should have happened sooner.
The biggest problem IMO is that the Reds have been unable to develop pitching prospects. They’ve identified hitting talent and developed hitters just fine, but they have very few pitching successes to point to. It’s a weakness in their talent evaluation and their player development efforts. It runs deep in the org.
I think Holland should take an offer anywhere and stop playing the waiting game because the spots will not be available as money gets tied. The Reds could actually have a winning season by fixing the bullpen and promoting again.
I’m excited to see this team. I think if they are healthy they could play .500 ball. The offense has been great. Pitching has been horrible mostly due to injuries and rushing young guys to the bigs. This year they can see which players they will want to keep and which players may be bust. I’m curious to see what they do with Senzel and Dickson Herrera
Dilson Herrera is looking like a total bust. I expect him to be released in the next year. We sadly got nothing in return for Jay Bruce, who’s a first class hitter and RF.
Herrera was damaged goods, he’s been injured since we got him. He’s also out of options, so if he doesn’t make the 25 man out of spring training, he’s gone.
The offense is potent, but hard to see how they could get over .500 with that pitching staff. I could sympathize with the fans had they shown up prior to the four year slide, but they didn’t.
Where’s the evidence that fans didn’t show up prior to the rebuild?
There is no evidence, people just pull junk out of nowhere and act like it’s factual.
Sign David Hernandez
Agree. Exactly the type of guy the Reds could use.