Headlines

Go To Pro Hockey Rumors
Go To Hoops Rumors

Reds Rumors

Quick Hits: Sizemore, Mariners, Reds

By | at

Congratulations to this year’s Silver Slugger winners. Here are the latest links from around MLB…

Minor Moves: Burton, Reyes, Wood

By | at

Today's minor moves…

  • Jared Burton elected free agency, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon (on Twitter).  The 30-year-old right-hander showed promise out of the 'pen in 2007-08, but has appeared in just ten MLB games since 2010. He spent time on the 60-day DL with shoulder inflammation in 2011.
  • The Padres signed 16-year-old outfielder Franmil Reyes out of the Dominican Republic for $700K, tweets MLB.com's Corey Brock.  Baseball America's Ben Badler has more on Reyes.
  • The Pirates announced they've signed reliever Tim Wood to a minor league deal.  The 28-year-old had eight big league innings for the Bucs this year, and posted a 3.49 ERA, 6.2 K/9, 2.8 BB/9, 0.4 HR/9, and 24 saves in 49 Triple-A relief innings for the Pirates and Rangers.

NL Central Notes: Cardinals, Samardzija, Votto

By | at

Tony La Russa's retirement has highlighted a busy day in the NL Central. Here are the latest notes from the division…

  • Former Cardinals infielder David Eckstein told Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports that Albert Pujols would re-sign in St. Louis if the Cards make third base coach Jose Oquendo their next manager.
  • Cardinals pitching coach Dave Duncan told Morosi that he’s going to return to St. Louis in 2012, but it doesn’t sound as though he’s looking to manage the team (Twitter link).
  • The Cubs declined Jeff Samardzija's $3MM option for 2012, according to Bruce Miles of the Daily Herald (Twitter link). Samardzija isn't yet arbitration eligible and remains under team control.
  • One person with ties to the Reds says there's "not a chance" Joey Votto becomes available this offseason, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com. The Reds control the first baseman's rights through 2013.

Outrighted: Thompson, Burton, Pirates, Tigers

By | at

Players outrighted off 40-man rosters today:

  • The Reds announced that they outrighted Daryl Thompson and Jared Burton off of the 40-man roster.  Burton would have been arbitration eligible for the second time and MLBTR projected a salary in the $900K range for the 30-year-old.
  • The Pirates announced that they outrighted Brian Burres, Kevin Hart, Brandon Wood and Steve Pearce to Triple-A to create 40-man roster space.  All four players can now elect free agency.  Wood and Pearce would have been arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason, and though neither player projected to earn even $1MM, the Pirates decided to cut them loose instead of tendering contracts.
  • The Tigers outrighted catcher Omir Santos and lefty Brad Thomas, tweets MLB.com's Jason Beck.  Thomas would have been arbitration eligible, but it was clear he wouldn't make it to the point of being tendered a contract after missing much of the season with an elbow injury.

Twins Claim Matt Maloney

By | at

3:50pm: The Reds announced that the Twins claimed Maloney off of waivers (Twitter link).

1:08pm: The Twins appear to have acquired 27-year-old lefty Matt Maloney from the Reds, as Maloney tweeted today, "Thanks for everything Reds…but i am now a Minnesota Twin!!! Looking forward to a great new opportunity!!"

Maloney spent most of the season at Triple-A, where he posted a 2.99 ERA, 5.6 K/9, 1.2 BB/9, and 0.9 HR/9 in 81 1/3 innings, missing much of the season with a cracked rib.  Baseball America ranked him eighth among Reds prospects a few years ago, noting that his ceiling was that of a back-of-the-rotation starter.

Reds Exercise Phillips’ Option, Decline Cordero’s

By | at

The Reds announced that they exercised Brandon Phillips' 2012 option and declined their option for Francisco Cordero (Twitter link). The Reds will pay Cordero a $1MM buyout instead of a $12MM salary and they'll pay Phillips a $12MM salary instead of a $1MM buyout.

Phillips, 30, hit .300/.353/.457 with 18 homers in 674 plate appearances for Cincinnati in 2011. He has made his desire for an extension clear, stating in September that it would feel like “a slap in my face” if the Reds pick up the option without talking long-term deal. But if the sides do discuss an extension, don't expect a hometown discount "There’s no homeboy hookup. That ain’t going to work," Phillips said.

The Reds discussed an extension for Cordero, a Type A free agent, toward the end of the regular season. MLBTR's Tim Dierkes explained in his recent offseason outlook article that the Reds "can't afford to commit $5MM a year for two more seasons of Cordero."

NL Central Notes: Pujols, Oswalt, Pirates, LaHair

By | at

The Cardinals and their fans may still be celebrating Friday's World Series victory, but it won't be long before a pair of the club's most prominent members will face decisions on their futures. Cards president Bill DeWitt III spoke to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports about Albert Pujols and Tony La Russa, two men without contracts for 2012:

"I don't want to prognosticate at all, but in the next week or so we'll hear from [La Russa]…. Albert may take a little while, I guess…. Who knows? Maybe we'll get something done in the quiet period (during which teams are only permitted to negotiate with their own free agents). But if you've waited this long, you're probably going to see what's out there."

Here are the rest of the morning's notes and rumors from the NL Central:

  • Bryan Burwell of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is surprised by DeWitt's lack of urgency regarding Pujols, and wonders if it's a good idea to allow the slugger to be wooed by teams who may be more aggressive than the Cardinals.
  • Fielding Reds-related questions for the Dayton Daily News, Hal McCoy says it's unlikely that Cincinnati makes a play for Roy Oswalt.
  • The Pirates will likely look at second- or third-tier free agents, but they won't make a huge splash this winter, writes Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. Biertempfel says the Bucs will be shopping for a catcher, a first baseman, and starting pitching, naming Jason Varitek, Rod Barajas, Jeff Francis, and Chris Young as a few possible targets.
  • In a Twitter exchange, Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker and Kevin Goldstein of Baseball Prospectus discuss Bryan LaHair of the Cubs and former Pirates outfielder Lastings Milledge, two players being eyed by Japanese teams. Goldstein suggests the Cubs would like to hang on to LaHair, but hears rumblings that Milledge could sign in Japan as early as next week (all four Twitter links).

Heyman On Beltran, Reds, Fielder, CBA

By | at

The latest from Jon Heyman of SI.com:

  • The Red Sox are expected to pursue Carlos Beltran, according to Heyman. Beltran won’t cost a draft pick and posted a .300/.385/.525 line in 2011, but he would block Josh Reddick in right field. He’d be replacing fellow Scott Boras client J.D. Drew.
  • The Reds are “still thinking about” Francisco Cordero’s $12MM option for 2012. Cincinnati considered an extension for Cordero in September. For all fantasy baseball updates on relievers, go to CloserNews.com and follow @closernews on Twitter.
  • The Mariners are believed to be eyeing free agent first baseman Prince Fielder. Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik drafted Fielder with the Brewers, but the Mariners already have switch-hitting first baseman Justin Smoak in place.
  • Heyman hears that the players and owners may compromise on the issue of slotting in the upcoming collective bargaining agreement. The sides may be discussing a tax system for draft bonuses that would limit spending to an extent.

Fred Lewis, Chad Reineke Elect Free Agency

By | at

Fred Lewis and Chad Reineke have elected free agency, according to Reds assistant director of media relations Jamie Ramsey.  Both players made their decision earlier in October.

Lewis signed a one-year, $900K deal with Cincinnati in January and looked to add some left-handed hitting depth to the Reds' outfield.  Lewis, however, hit .230/.321/.317 in 210 plate appearances this season, with all but 13 of those PAs coming against right-handed pitching.  He was also caught five times in seven steal attempts and spent time on the DL with an oblique injury.

Reineke, 29, appeared in just two games with the Reds last season and has seven Major League appearances (five of them starts) to his name over three seasons.  The right-hander re-signed with Cincinnati last year after entering free agency, so don't be surprised to see Reineke ink another minor league deal with the Reds sometime this winter.  Reineke had a 3.84 ERA in 25 games (22 starts) with Triple-A Louisville in 2011.

Offseason Outlook: Cincinnati Reds

By | at

Look for the Reds to be active on the trade market, as GM Walt Jocketty decides whether to use his trade chips and limited payroll flexibility on a front-of-the-rotation starter or a middle-of-the-order bat.

Guaranteed Contracts

Contractual Options

Arbitration Eligible Players (estimated salaries)

Free Agents

The Reds had a strong offense again in 2011, but were unable to muster the needed support from their starting pitching.  GM Walt Jocketty continues to face limited payroll flexibility, especially if he retains certain veterans.  Jocketty's own situation was resolved in September, when ownership extended him through 2014.

There's little doubt Phillips will return in 2012, though the second baseman has indicated he'd be insulted if the Reds merely pick up his option rather than extend him.  That's just talk, though — Phillips would have no basis to demand a trade, and if his performance drops off significantly it will affect his free agent payday.  An extension could help the Reds in the short-term by potentially reducing Phillips' 2012 salary, though he's said there will be no "homeboy hookup."  If Dan Uggla's contract is a guide, the Reds should be prepared to pay Phillips $13MM annually or else move on. 

Keeping one of the game's best second basemen makes sense, but hopefully, Jocketty keeps the price down on a potential two-year deal to retain Cordero.  The 36-year-old became a low-strikeout groundball pitcher this year.  The transformation was effective in 2011, but the Reds can't afford to commit $5MM a year for two more seasons of Cordero.  That'd be placing a premium on the save statistic, a market inefficiency the Reds should avoid.  

If the Reds have an $83MM payroll next year and retain Phillips for $12MM and Cordero for $5MM, that'd leave only $7MM in flexibility before considering minimum salary players.  The Reds could free up payroll by trading disappointing arbitration eligible players like Masset, Volquez, or Bailey, but they all project affordably at around $2MM each.  

In September, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports wrote the Reds' number one goal is to add a middle-of-the-order hitter at left field, third base, shortstop, or center field.  The Reds have solid incumbents at each spot, led by Alonso, Rolen, Zack Cozart, and Drew Stubbs.  Grady Sizemore could be an interesting free agent target, otherwise, those are tough positions to fill with affordable middle-of-the-order bats through any means.

The rotation is another big need, one Jocketty tried to address by checking in on Ubaldo Jimenez and James Shields at the trade deadline.  The Reds are deep in fourth and fifth starter types, said pitching coach Bryan Price in September, but they need a number two type at the front.  The Reds have starters with good stuff, but their most dynamic young pitchers seem unlikely to rack up 200 innings.  Chapman will probably get a look, but he's a wild card if there ever was one. 

The Reds have trade bait all over the place with their depth at catcher, interesting young starters, and promising position players in Alonso and Chris Heisey.  Alonso is a first baseman by trade, but he's penciled in as a left fielder due to Votto's presence.  If Alonso's big league debut this year was any indication, they're not going to find a better bat on the trade market.  Perhaps a Votto trade will make sense a year from now and Alonso can play left field until then.  The problem is the Reds can't acquire a front-rotation starter like Shields without starting their offer with Devin Mesoraco or Alonso.  The Reds could match up well with the White Sox, who may listen on Gavin Floyd, John Danks, and Carlos Quentin.

The Reds are likely to lose a top offensive catcher in Hernandez, but Mesoraco appears as one of few catching prospects able to replace his bat.  An arbitration offer is probably in order for Hernandez, a Type A free agent.

The Reds' offense should remain strong, especially if they get more out of Stubbs or Rolen next year.  Jocketty's big challenge is trading for an affordable front-line starter, especially since top chips Mesoraco and Alonso are penciled in for important roles next year.

Show all

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