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Reds Extend Walt Jocketty Through 2014

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The Reds announced that they have agreed to a three-year contract extension with GM Walt Jocketty that will keep him in place through 2014 (Twitter link). Reds owner Bob Castellini promised last week that he would bring the longtime GM back.

The Reds currently have a 76-80 record (though they have scored more runs than they've allowed) and sit in third place in the NL Central. They won the division with a 91-71 record last year and made their first trip to the postseason since 1995. They lost in the Division Series, but only after re-establishing their relevance in the division and boosting attendance by over 3,000 per game.

MLBTR's Transaction Tracker provides complete documentation of Jocketty's moves with Cincinnati. This is Jocketty's third full season with the Reds (this was the last year on his previous contract), but he has been a big league GM since 1994. Click here to see what they were saying when the Cardinals first hired him 17 years ago.

Central Notes: Reds, Buehrle, Floyd

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Some late-night linkage regarding the Redlegs and Pale Hose:

  • Reds GM Walt Jocketty said that Cincinnati's payroll will increase in 2011, according to John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer, but they will only "bump it up a little." Fay speculates the Reds' payroll will increase from this year's $80.8MM to roughly $85MM in 2012, which would represent a similar hike from 2010's $76.1MM. Most of that, however, is accounted for in projected salary increases for players under contract. When asked whether he'd be shopping for big-ticket free agents this winter, Jocketty said "probably not."
  • White Sox lefty Mark Buehrle, an impending free agent, said moving to the National League is enticing to him, as it would represent a chance to face hitters who have seen him relatively few times, according to Scott Merkin of MLB.com. The 12-year veteran, who said he's willing to play for a few more years, has pitched exclusively in the AL Central, so those hitters have seen him a lot. Sounds like classic posturing, doesn't it? Buehrle, a Missouri native, has been rumored in the past to have designs on pitching for the Cardinals.
  • Buehrle's teammate Gavin Floyd could be a trade candidate this offseason depending on how the White Sox plan for 2012, writes Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times. Under team control through next season at a very reasonable price of $7MM (with a club option for 2013), Floyd would draw plenty of interest on the market.

Phillips Won’t Offer Reds Hometown Discount

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Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips told John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer that he hopes to stay in Cincinnati, where he established himself as an MLB star. Just don’t expect him to give the Reds a hometown discount if they want to talk extension this offseason.

“No bueno,” he said. “This is my last contract. There’s no homeboy hookup. That ain’t going to work. I want to be paid what I’m worth.”

The Reds can sidestep questions about Phillips’ long-term role on the team by exercising their $12MM option for the 30-year-old’s services in 2012. Though Phillips told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon this month that it would feel like “a slap in my face” if the Reds pick up the option without talking long-term deal, that remains a perfectly viable option for the team.

Phillips says he’s glad Reds GM Walt Jocketty expects to have him back in 2012 and that he hasn’t heard anything official about his option for next year. The sides have had some talks about an extension and, as MLBTR's Tim Dierkes suggested this morning, a backloaded deal might work for the Reds given their limited financial flexibility heading into 2012.

Jocketty Says Phillips Will Be Back

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Reds GM Walt Jocketty said second baseman Brandon Phillips will be back next year, reports John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer.  Fay takes that to mean the Reds will pick up Phillips' $12MM option in the least.  The two sides have had preliminary talks on an extension, so it may not come to that.

Phillips is opposed to the idea of the Reds picking up the option.  He told MLB.com's Mark Sheldon earlier this month, "If they just pick my option up and don't extend me, I feel like that's a slap in my face.  If the team wants you, they will make room. They will show you they want you here, period. They did it for some of the other guys.  If they're going to have me for just one year, I feel like they don't see me in the future."

The Reds probably would prefer some kind of backloaded extension, because simply exercising the option would give them limited payroll space for 2012.  Phillips, 30, is hitting .294/.346/.452 with 18 home runs in 648 plate appearances this year with above-average defense at second base.

Central Notes: Indians, La Russa, Verlander

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A few links to pass along regarding clubs in the Central divisions …

Reds Owner Says Jocketty, Baker Will Return

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The season has not gone according to plan for the Reds, who are 72-76 and 14.5 games back of the Brewers in the NL Central. GM Walt Jocketty's contract is up after the season, and there's been some speculation that he could be a fit for the Cubs. Reds owner Bob Castellini shot that down though, telling John Fay of The Cincinnati Enquirer that both Jocketty and manager Dusty Baker will be back.

"Walt's contract is up … There's been some speculation about his future. My instincts tell me he isn’t going anywhere," said Fay to Castellini, who replied: "Your instincts are correct." As for Baker, Castellini said: "Of course, he’ll be back."

Jocketty has been running the Reds since late-April of 2008, when he replaced Wayne Krisvky. Baker came on board a few months before Jocketty, agreeing to manage the Reds during the 2007-2008 offseason. The duo has helped the team go from 72-90 in 2007 to the NLDS and a division title last year, though this season has been a bit of a bump in the road.

To see all of Jocketty's moves with the Reds, check out our Transactions Tracker. 

Cubs Rumors: Aramis, Jocketty, LaHair

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The Cubs currently project for the seventh overall pick in next year's draft.  Once that is determined, things should get interesting on the North Side.  The latest:

  • The Reds will discuss the idea of signing third baseman Aramis Ramirez if he reaches free agency, writes Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.  I think signing Ramirez would really push the Reds' payroll to the limit, assuming they also pick up Brandon Phillips' club option.  The Cubs must decide between Ramirez's $16MM club option and a $2MM buyout within five days of the end of the World Series, so the team's new GM may not yet be in place.  After the Cubs decide, Ramirez has five days to make his choice on the option (declining would mean forfeiting the buyout).  Ramirez wants to stay, but he recently told ESPNChicago.com's Bruce Levine he desires a two or three-year deal. 
  • One scenario raised during informal discussions (presumably ones including owner Tom Ricketts) has the Cubs hiring current Reds GM Walt Jocketty, which could then lead to the team snaring Tony La Russa to manage and Albert Pujols to play first base, writes Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.  Jocketty declined to comment, saying that he's happy in Cincinnati, but also lavished praise on the Cubs job and noted that the team extending farm director Oneri Fleita "shouldn't be" a hindrance.  Wittenmyer says the Cubs are gathering information on Andrew Friedman, Billy Beane, Dan Evans, and Ned Colletti so far.  Ricketts has yet to ask permission to speak to any GM under contract, writes Levine.  In a chat conducted yesterday, Levine guessed Rick Hahn would be the next Cubs' GM.
  • Also in that chat, Levine wrote that Ricketts has identified the Cubs' primary need to be two or three starting pitchers.  The beat writer does not think the team will spend their money this offseason on position players.  He predicts a payroll in the $120-130MM range.
  • Numerous Japanese teams have been scouting and are prepared to make offers to Cubs first baseman Bryan LaHair, reports Levine.  LaHair is intrigued but hopes to remain in the Majors.  The 28-year-old snagged Pacific Coast League MVP honors by hitting .331/.405/.664 with 38 home runs in 523 plate appearances, and he's carried that success to the bigs in an eight-game stint.  Former Cubs first baseman Micah Hoffpauir went the Japan route a year ago, but is hitting .245/.325/.429 for the Nippon Ham Fighters this year.

NL Central Notes: Berkman, Samardzija, Jocketty

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Aramis Ramirez, whose solo homer helped the Cubs beat the Reds tonight, will be looking for a multiyear deal this offseason. Here’s the latest from his division, with updates on his current club and the team that first signed him… 

  • There's no guarantee that Lance Berkman will be back in St. Louis next year, Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch writes (on Twitter). Berkman has leverage, so a new deal is not a "slam dunk."
  • For more on the Cardinals’ offseason plans, click here.
  • The Cubs have held internal discussions about Jeff Samardzija as a candidate for the starting rotation, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times writes. The Cubs have less rotation depth than they did earlier this year, as Wittenmyer explains. The right-hander has started five MLB games, but all 69 of his 2011 appearances have been in relief.
  • Reds GM Walt Jocketty told Mark Sheldon of MLB.com that he doesn't want to discuss his contract, which expires after the 2011 season. "It's not for public consumption,” he said. “It's not worth commenting on it."
  • MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes discussed the free agent prospects of Reds catcher Ramon Hernandez earlier today.
  • The Pirates have notified their Venezuelan academy that they're going to end their lease and stop participating in the Venezuelan Summer League, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. Pittsburgh will field two teams in the Dominican Summer League next year, however.

Rosenthal On Guillen, Marlins, Reds

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The latest from Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports…

  • One prominent agent told Rosenthal he can envision a free agent frenzy if a labor agreement is reached by the start of the offseason.  The last labor agreement, in 2006 was followed by ridiculous overspending on mediocre veterans.  The current labor agreement is set to expire on December 11th, three days after the conclusion of this year's Winter Meetings in Dallas.
  • Rosenthal has a source familiar with the thinking of Ozzie Guillen who has recently dropped his predicted chances of the manager returning to 50-50.
  • Rosenthal sees "mixed signals" on whether the Nationals will spend big this offseason, but he considers Jimmy Rollins a good fit.
  • The Marlins intend to discuss every available starting pitcher this winter.  The free agent market is looking thin, so teams with starters to trade will be in a good position.
  • The Reds' top goal is to add a middle-of-the-order hitter.

Free Agent Stock Watch: Ramon Hernandez

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During the period of 2003-06, Ramon Hernandez was consistently among the top ten offensive catchers in the game.  He hit .278/.335/.466 in 494 games in that time, averaging almost 19 home runs per season.  Fortunately for Hernandez, he reached free agency when he was still in his prime, and he scored a four-year, $27.5MM deal with the Orioles in December of 2005.

Hernandez

After three years in Baltimore Hernandez had worn out his welcome, and the Orioles shipped him to the Reds with cash for Ryan Freel, Justin Turner, and Brandon Waring.  Hernandez wasn't great in his first year with the Reds, but they re-upped him for $3MM anyway.  He managed to improve his batting average and power, but re-signed with the Reds again for the same money.  Hernandez has had another solid offensive year in 2011, though he is averaging less than 100 games per season.  Hernandez has re-entered the discussion of the ten best offensive catchers in baseball, but he's something less than a regular and will turn 36 in May.

Hernandez re-signed in November both times, before the Reds were forced to decide whether to offer arbitration.  If no deal is reached by the free agent arbitration offer deadline this year, the Reds will have a tough decision.  Hernandez profiles as a Type A free agent.  At the trade deadline, Reds GM Walt Jocketty wasn't even willing to listen to offers for him, under the assumption no team would offer enough.  In August, Hernandez was claimed off waivers but Jocketty again chose not to make a deal.

Jocketty's unwillingness to trade Hernandez suggests he's thinking of re-signing Hernandez, or at least is mulling an arbitration offer.  Hernandez and his agent Eric Goldschmidt are aware that turning down an arbitration offer from the Reds would hurt his market value, as a team would have to surrender a draft pick to sign him.  There's a case to be made for accepting an offer, as Hernandez clearly likes Cincinnati and he'd get a raise too.  But with Devin Mesoraco considered the catcher of the near future for the Reds and backup Ryan Hanigan locked up through 2013, how much playing time would Hernandez get?  The Reds could trade Hernandez if he accepts, at which point the catcher would probably wish he had simply chosen his destination in free agency.

There's an intricate game of cat-and-mouse when a free agent like Hernandez gets Type A status.  The Reds could play it safe and not offer arbitration, but then they'd risk getting nothing for him.  I think the club has more leverage here, since Hernandez would be tradeable if he accepts.  If he declines Hernandez would probably be the best catcher available on the free agent market, but he'd be a better fit for a team with a protected first-round draft pick.

Photo courtesy of Icon SMI.

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