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Reds Chat With Assistant GM Bob Miller

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Reds assistant GM Bob Miller chatted with fans today for MLB.com.  A few hot stove highlights:

  • Miller expects all four of the Reds' infielders to return for 2010.  Presumably he is referring to Paul Janish as the shortstop, along with Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, and Scott Rolen.  The fan from the chat had a point – that is a stellar defensive infield.  Miller shot down a fan's idea of pursuing Orlando Hudson.
  • Miller hopes the Reds can come to an agreement with Jonny Gomes for next year.  Shouldn't be too hard, since Gomes is under control as an arbitration-eligible player.
  • Miller's philosophy on trades seems to be that everyone is available at the right price.  Hard to argue with that.
  • Expect the player-to-be-named from the David Weathers trade to be finalized around mid-October.
  • Miller admitted that the offense is a weakness that needs to be addressed.  A healthy, effective Jay Bruce and less Willy Taveras might be sufficient upgrades, in my opinion.  What do you think about a Mike Cameron reunion?

Odds & Ends: Soriano, Reds, Diamondbacks

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A couple more links for tonight…

  • Derrick Goold of The St. Louis Post Dispatch tweets that the Cardinals and Braves discussed closer Rafael Soriano earlier this year. We heard some rumblings of a Joe Mather for Soriano deal over the summer. 
  • MLB.com's Mark Sheldon wonders who should start in center field for the Reds next year – Chris Dickerson, Drew Stubbs, or Willy Taveras. Taveras is under contract for $4MM next year, plus Dusty loves his veterans, so he might get the job by default.
  • Steve Gilbert of MLB.com notes that the Diamondbacks and manager A.J. Hinch will wait until after the season to make any decisions about the coaching staff.

Odds & Ends: Brewers, Sizemore, Gomes

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Curious about how untouchable Grady Sizemore is? I had to create a category for him just for this post. In the entire history of MLBTR, no one ever bothered to write any rumors about him…

  • ESPN's Keith Law writes that the Brewers "are closer to noncontention than contention, and trying to prop the playoff window open for another year or two could lead to a miserable bottoming-out not far down the road." He suggests they trade megastar Prince Fielder to help fill other holes, and build the team around Ryan Braun and Yovani Gallardo.
  • Jim Ingraham of The News Herald believes that the recent trades of Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez have effectively shortened the Indians' window to win with Grady Sizemore. Sizemore's contract runs through 2011 with a dirt cheap option for 2012, but Ingraham says there's "no reason to believe when Sizemore becomes a free agent after the 2012 season he won't leave whatever team he is with and sign a monstrous contract with one of the big-market teams."
  • Jonny Gomes is open to returning to the Reds next season, but says he'll "go where I can get the most at-bats," according to Hal McCoy of The Dayton Daily News. Gomes is making $600K this season and is arbitration eligible next year, so he can expect a hefty raise thanks to his .281/.355/.555 batting line.

Odds & Ends: Mets, Reds, Byrd

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We link, you decide…

  • Jon Heyman of SI.com tweets that the Mets might try to trade the incumbent Luis Castillo this offseason, and look at free agent-to-be Orlando Hudson. I feel like we've heard this before. Castillo still has two years and $12MM left on his deal, so good luck trying to move him.
  • MLB.com's Mark Sheldon has some quotes from Reds manager Dusty Baker about wanting "dudes that drive in some runs and hopefully don't strikeout so much." Scott Rolen, the Reds big trade deadline pickup, has hit just .278/.360/.380 for Cincy.
  • Jeff Wilson of The Dallas Morning News writes that outfielder Marlon Byrd is healthy and hitting again. It comes at a good time for Byrd, who will be a free agent after the season.

Jonny Gomes’ Future With The Reds

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The Reds' signing of outfielder Jonny Gomes has been one of the best minor league deals of the year, up there with Garrett Jones, Ryan Roberts, Kevin Correia, and Juan Uribe.  Gomes, 29 in November, has a .279/.349/.558 line with 18 home runs in 261 plate appearances.

Gomes feels he's proven that he's more than a platoon player, and John Fay's article for the Cincinnati Enquirer addresses his future.  Given his service time (less than five years), Gomes is arbitration-eligible after the season.  The Reds simply have to tender him a contract, and he's theirs for 2010 whether he likes it or not.  Fay's article seems to imply that the Reds might non-tender Gomes, which would be odd (but not unprecedented). 

And then there's Gomes telling Fay he'd accept arbitration if the Reds offer, which makes even less sense.  If the Reds tender him a contract, Gomes' only say in it is regarding his 2010 salary.  If the two parties can't find common ground, there would be an arbitration hearing.

Odds & Ends: Gomes, Mets, Compensation Picks

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A few links to kick off Labor Day weekend…

  • The legendary Hal McCoy of The Dayton Daily News says that if the Reds "don’t give (Jonny) Gomes a shot at playing left field next year they’re missing out." The 28-yr old Gomes is hitting .285/.357/.566 in 249 plate appearances this year.
  • Joel Sherman of The NY Post writes that the Mets will have essentially the same problem this offseason that they had last offseason: a need for pitching even though they don't necessarily have the means to acquire it.
  • Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports says that baseball's free agent compensation system is broken, but neither MLB or MLBPA leaders think it's a big enough problem for "either side to re-jigger it" before the new CBA in 2011.
  • Bob Nightengale of USA Today points out that seven of the nine highest paid teams would make the playoffs if the season ended today. Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said it's "very discouraging, from a data standpoint."

Odds & Ends: Mets, Reds, Halos, Skippers

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Another batch of links as the Braves and Phillies prepare to get underway on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball…

  • According to ex-Mets GM Jim Duquette, via Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets have canceled their fall instructional league "in an apparent cost-cutting maneuver."  If they're making cutbacks in the minors, might they also have cutbacks in mind at the big league level?
  • According to Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty reaffirmed Sunday that he currently has no deals in the works. The deadline for waiver trades is tomorrow, August 31.
  • Matthew Pouliot of NBC Sports continues his "Restoring the Rosters" series with a look at the Angels, who he ranks 10th among all MLB clubs with their impressive what-could-have-been roster.
  • Phil Rogers of the Chicago Tribune discusses some MLB managers who may be on the proverbial "hot seat."  Among the names?  Cincinnati's Dusty Baker, Cleveland's Eric Wedge and Houston's Cecil Cooper.  Craig Calcaterra of NBC Sports goes more in-depth with the list.

Reds Rumors: Looking To 2010

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The Reds seem unlikely to make a move. As they stand, John Fay of The Cincinatti Enquirer asks whether the Reds have a shot at making a run in 2010. His answer?

“It will depend on how the young players develop. Adding [Scott] Rolen’s salary took away all of the flexibility the Reds had in their payroll. They’d have to move one of the aforementioned veteran pitchers in the offseason to open money to pursue free agents. That’s probably not going to happen. Again, when the Reds got Rolen, it was a clear signal that CEO Bob Castellini thought the Reds were a short-term fix from contending in 2010.”

The “aforementioned veteran pitchers” he mentions: Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, or Francisco Cordero. Fay notes their are several holes in which young players will need to step up. He breaks them down by position.

Reds Not Likely To Make A Move

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According to Tom Groeschen of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said Saturday afternoon that his club plans to sit tight as the August 31 waiver trade deadline approaches.

"Nothing has changed," Jocketty told Groeschen via text message.  This backs up a similar report that was published earlier in the week by the Enquirer's John Fay.  Not a single team showed interest in closer Francisco Cordero and his monstrous contract, and it appears the Reds will hang onto trade candidate Jonny Gomes as well.

Odds And Ends: Burnett, Baker, Ichiro

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Some links for the morning…

  • Joel Sherman of the New York Post wonders if A.J. Burnett will be able to cope towards the end of his contract, when his stuff will presumably begin to fade. 
  • Bob Hunter of the Columbus Dispatch believes Dusty Baker's job is safe, partly because the Reds don't want to eat his contract next year.
  • Yahoo's Jeff Passan wonders if Ichiro can reach 4,000 hits, or more than double the amount he has so far. A friend of Ichiro's says the Japanese star wants to play well into his forties.
  • Tom Verducci of SI.com believes the Yankees and Red Sox were smart to add C.C. Sabathia and Billy Wagner, respectively. Verducci notes that salaries negotiated through arbitration are not guaranteed so the Red Sox could cut Wagner if they agree to a contract through arbitration and he underperforms in Spring Training.
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