Reds Rumors

Latest On Bobby Abreu

By Tim Dierkes | February 10, 2009 at 4:54pm CDT

4:54pm: SI.com’s Jon Heyman lists five teams considering Abreu: the Angels, Braves, Pirates, Reds, and Mets. The Pirates are a new one.

3:58pm: A source told Crasnick that the Angels have "strong interest" in Abreu. The Braves remain in the mix.

10:33am: Here’s what ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick had to say regarding the market for Bobby Abreu yesterday:

While Seattle and Atlanta are monitoring Abreu’s status and staying in contact with his representatives, the Mets continue to maintain they’re not in the mix.

Meanwhile Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News wrote this morning:

A Mets official did not rule out signing free-agent outfielder Abreu, but indicated that any contract likely would have to be for one year at less than $4MM.

Other teams loosely linked to Abreu in recent days: the White Sox, Angels, and Dodgers. Abreu is in line for a huge pay cut from last year’s $16MM. The remarkably quiet market for Abreu and other corner outfielders this offseason is tied strongly to defense. ESPN’s Peter Gammons talked to a GM who said a few days ago:

I still believe that one of the factors that has hurt some of the good offensive free agents this winter, like Manny Ramirez, Abreu and Adam Dunn, is the concern about how many runs they give back defensively. There is a great deal more appreciation for defense than there was a decade ago.

Reds Hoping To Avoid Arb With Encarnacion

By | February 5, 2009 at 5:04pm CDT

According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, the Reds are working to avoid arbitration with third baseman Edwin Encarnacion.

A hearing is scheduled for February 17. Encarnacion is seeking $3.7MM while the club offered $2.55MM. The 26-year-old hit .251/.340/.466 last season with 26 home runs and 68 RBI, but his defense has been questioned by some critics.

Reds Sign Jacque Jones, Daryle Ward

By Tim Dierkes | February 5, 2009 at 2:28pm CDT

According to Hal McCoy of the Dayton Daily News, the Reds signed Jacque Jones and Daryle Ward to minor league deals today.

Jones, 34 in April, hit .147/.239/.207 in 134 plate appearances for the Tigers and Marlins last year. Jones played winter ball and had laser eye surgery this winter. Troy Renck says he’ll get $600K and an April out clause.

Ward, 33, hit .216/.319/.402 in 119 plate appearances for the Cubs last year. He missed time with a herniated disc.

Reds Sign Humberto Cota

By Tim Dierkes | February 2, 2009 at 4:00pm CDT

According to C. Trent Rosecrans of AM 1530, the Reds signed catcher Humberto Cota to a minor league deal. Cota, 30 in a few days, hit .319/.342/.493 in 37 Triple A games last year. He served a 50-game suspension for testing positive for a performance-enhancing drug.

Abreu Still Waiting

By DJ Blatter | January 31, 2009 at 9:39pm CDT

Tyler Kepner of The New York Times reports that Bobby Abreu’s former general manager Ed Wade believes that Abreu could still be an impact player this coming season:

"He’s still an All-Star-caliber player,” said Wade, now the general manager of the Houston Astros. “He’s probably not the guy that stirs the drink, but if you have the ability to add Bobby Abreu to your lineup and your clubhouse, it’s going to make all the players around him better.”

Abreu, 34, who made about $16MM with the Yankees in 2008, hit .296/.371/.471 in 684 plate appearances last season.

The Mariners, Giants, Dodgers, Reds and Braves could still get in on Abreu. Though Abreu had originally sought three-year contract, agent Peter Greenberg has confirmed that the slugger would be open to a one-year deal.

Reds Rumors: Gonzalez, Wigginton, Encarnacion

By Tim Dierkes | January 30, 2009 at 4:02pm CDT

The latest from John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, who spoke to Reds GM Walt Jocketty recently…

Jocketty is working on bringing some "fringe guys" to camp on minor league deals. It’s been weeks since he talked to Luis Gonzalez’s agent. MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon learned of the Reds’ interest in Gonzo yesterday.
In reference to Ty Wigginton, Jocketty said, "They’re getting close to desperate stage. But we’re really only looking at bench help."
Jocketty isn’t handling the Edwin Encarnacion talks, but he expects to settle. Encarnacion filed at $3.7MM, the Reds at $2.55MM (midpoint of $3.125MM).

Reds Interested In Luis Gonzalez

By Tim Dierkes | January 29, 2009 at 9:25am CDT

According to MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon, the Reds are interested in adding outfielder Luis Gonzalez as a bench bat. GM Walt Jocketty admitted to liking Gonzalez, and the interest is mutual. The Pirates were said to have an eye on Gonzalez before their Eric Hinske signing became likely.

Reds Avoid Arb With David Weathers

By Tim Dierkes | January 28, 2009 at 2:42pm CDT

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Reds avoided arbitration with reliever David Weathers. He gets $3.5MM in ’09 with a 2010 club option ($400K buyout).

Weathers had asked for $4.6MM while the Reds countered at $3MM.

Odds and Ends: Yamarin, Eaton, Atkins, Ohman

By Tim Dierkes | January 26, 2009 at 2:02pm CDT

Links for Monday…

Yankees and Red Sox fans are dreaming of Joe Mauer, whose contract is up after the 2010 season.
Updated June draft order, courtesy of Baseball America.
The Braves signed a Japanese amateur pitcher named Yoshinori Yamarin to a minor league deal.
Adam Eaton is not a candidate for the Phillies’ fifth starter job, and they’ll probably release him and eat his contract if they can’t trade him.
MLB.com made a nice addition in Phillies beat writer Todd Zolecki.
Arbitration hearing dates are set for Paul Maholm and Nate McLouth.
Jim Salisbury writes about Tal Smith, who prepares arbitration cases for clubs.
Garrett Atkins comments on his arbitration request and his future with the Rockies.
The Reds voided the contract of 16 year-old Venezuelan pitcher Ismael Guillon and re-signed him for less due to a problem found during his physical.
Athletics Nation talked to MLB.com beat writer Mychael Urban.
David O’Brien chatted with unsigned reliever Will Ohman.
Orioles infielder Oscar Salazar cleared waivers.

Baseball Blogs Weigh In: Pirates, Rays, Pettitte, Cubs, Dodgers, Gomes, Mauer, Cruz

By Cork Gaines | January 23, 2009 at 1:24pm CDT

On this date 28 years ago, the Red Sox traded Fred Lynn to the California Angels for Frank Tanana and Joe Rudi. After six seasons that included an MVP and six all-star appearances, the Red Sox were forced to trade Lynn when the front office failed to mail a new contract to Lynn by the mandated deadline. Without the new contract, Boston was faced with the possibility that Lynn would be declared a free agent (Carlton Fisk was declared a free agent for the same reason). The player’s association dropped their case when Lynn agreed to a contract extension with the Angels. With many of this year’s free agent class still waiting for contracts to be mailed, let’s take a look at what is being written in the Blogosphere…

Bucco Blog sees an Adam LaRoche-Jonathan Sanchez trade as a "win-win deal."
DRays Bay would like to see the Tigers take either Troy Percival or Dan Wheeler off the Rays’ hands.
Mets Geek makes a case for the Mets signing Andy Pettitte.
Goat Riders of the Apocalypse are not worried that the Cubs have traded away yet another former top prospect.
Center Field isn’t buying that Jason Varitek didn’t know about the draft pick compensation as a result of his refusing arbitration.
Her Rays isn’t taking the loss of Rocco Baldelli well at all.
Dodger Thoughts doesn’t understand why the Dodgers keep spending money on veteran, offensively-challenged backup catchers that will never play.
Anaheim Angels all the way says the Reds replaced "90% of Adam Dunn" with Jonny Gomes and a very favorable contract. On Baseball and the Reds is not sure Gomes’ offense will offset his horrible defense and sees him as a decent platoon option.
UmpBump grades the Rays offseason favorably.
El Lefty Malo laments the contract of Dave Roberts and feels he is the type of player that would be forced to retire if he were a free agent this off-season.
Twins Geek speculates on what it would take to sign Joe Mauer to a long-term deal.
Bullpen Call sees only the Mets and Yankees as options for Juan Cruz.

Cork Gaines writes for RaysIndex.com. If you have a suggestion for this feature, Cork can be reached here.

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