Loading ...It’s official: Francisco Cordero is a Red. Most of the media coverage surrounding the Cordero signing over the last day or so has focused on manager Dusty Baker’s role in convincing Cordero to come to Cincinnati:
Players around baseball talk highly of Dusty Baker. The trickle-down effect from that was a huge factor in Francisco Cordero becoming a Cincinnati Red.
The $46 million the Reds will pay Cordero was the biggest thing, of course, but Corderoentioned the Dusty Factor several times Wednesday when he was introduced officially as a Red.
“Knowing Dusty Baker like I know him, watching him with the Cubs and Giants, he’s a great manager,” Cordero said. “I talked to a lot of people who played with him. They tell me I’m going to love to be part of a team that Dusty Baker is the manager of.
“He played a big role.”
Baker made a couple of calls to Cordero early in the free agency process.
“That said, they really want me to be here, they really want me to be a Cincinnati Red,” Cordero said.
I like this comment from GM Wayne Krivsky in Hal McCoy’s article:
“The goal is to make the bullpen better and the pitching staff better, period,” he said. “We’re still looking to make the pitching staff better. We’ve added a tremendous piece to the puzzle with Cordero holding down the ninth inning, but our goal is to make the team and pitching even better.”
As I’ve said before, I’m a fan of the Cordero signing. The contract was probably too high, but I can’t complain. The Reds are a better team today than they were a couple of weeks ago.
Has anyone considered that all this talk of Burton and Weathers getting the Reds to Cordero…they’re counting on a guy that has about 60 innings above AA and a guy that’s 37 years old?
A couple of years ago, many of us believed that Todd Coffey was going to be an anchor in the bullpen also.
I think the DB factor is a bit overdone. It’s not like he took less money to play here.
Obviously, Cordero chose the Reds over the Brewers because they offered him the most money. But the source of the “DB factor” is Cordero – he’s the one who brought it up, so I don’t see how it is overdone.
Mlbtraderumors has the Cincinnati Reds as the mystery team in the Johan Santana sweepstakes muhahahahahahaha
Well of course he’s not going to say that the reason he’s in Cincy is because “they paid me the most.” He’s obviously gonna come up with something less self-serving (insert: DB Factor).
Not necessarily true Andrew. Reports say we beat the brew crew by just a few extra million per year and there was no counter. He got their offer and then ours and took it. I am pretty confident the Brewers would have countered our offer if it was that close. The DB factor might have been a little bit bigger than we all might want to admit.
ooh johan!
but whati n the world could we give up for johan and what about harang he’s my fave pitcher
Admittedly, this is off topic, but I think we’d all agree that we can make an exception for the late, great Joe Nuxhall.
Tomorrow (11/30) is the final day to cast your vote(s) for Joe for the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award. I can’t think of a better way to show our respect, appreciation, and commemorate his memory.
http://web.baseballhalloffame.org/awards/frick_2007/vote.jsp
It would take probably a package of either Bailey, Cueto, Votto, Bruce, Stubbs, or Hamilton. Even if the package was Cueto, Hamilton and Stubbs I still wouldn’t do it. Santana would be a one year player because he hits FA next year.
From what I’ve been reading, the Reds match up as well or better than any other team to pry away Santana.
They’ve got three SP prospects of staggered value: Bailey, Cueto and Maloney. They’ve got talent at positions the Twins need: EdE, Hamilton and Stubbs. I don’t think the Reds would trade Bruce under any circumstances, but he might not require much else. If the Reds can get a 72-hour window to work out an extension, which other teams are asking, and are willing to offer $140 million over five years, I think they’ve got the prospects to do this. And assuming, of course, Santana waives his no-trade clause.
Lotta variable have to fall into place, but it’s fun to entertain the possibility. They would become instant contenders for the NL pennant.
Another possibility, if the Reds were willing to take on more salary, but Santana money, might be to send EdE, Hamilton and Cueto or Maloney to Oakland for Joe Blanton and Eric Chavez.
Blanton is arb-eligible for the first time this winter, and Chavez and his surgically repaired labrums (labra?) are owed $34 million over the next three years, with a $3 million buyout for his age-33 season in 2011. Hell, the A’s might be willing to throw in someone else in this deal in exchange for the payroll flexibility.
If the doctors think Chavez, who’s been playing hurt, can recover, he’s a fine defender and might thrive as a hitter at GABP. Blanton is a great #2 SP.
Joe Blanton is overrated IMO. Giving up some of our best prospects for him doesn’t sit too well with me. I’d rather see the Reds sign a free agent pitcher to an incentive laden deal.
You know, I looked a little more closely at Blanton’s numbers, and he is indeed an above-average innings-eater. No need to give up quality prospects and swallow Chavez and his contract for that.
Just out of curiosity, what FA pitchers would you like the Reds to sign?
The only FA starting pitcher who has the upside to possibly be worth it is Randy Wolf, IMHO… of course I’ve read that the Phillies are trying hard to get him back, so even he might get some major $$$.
Dan Haren is another possibility instead of Blanton. I love Haren’s BAA with RISP .181 compared to Johan at .219. With bases loaded Haren is .111 while Santana is .375. Neither guy is great with G/F Santana is actually worse than Haren’s career 1.29 with .88. Why pay top dollar for one year of Santana, most likely, when you could pay less for Haren and have him for three years before he becomes FA eligible.
I like Wolf and Prior…1 year deals with incentives and club options for the 2nd years. It entirely depends on the money.
I’d love to have Haren, but I think you’d have to include Homer or Bruce. I don’t think EdE-Hamilton-Cueto/Maloney gets that done.
It seems like Wolf’s drawn enough interest that he’ll get overpaid by someone, but I could see Prior coming here if he’s as close to Dusty as we keep hearing.
I’ve gotta think that there’s another move planned to net a quality SP. You don’t spend that much on a closer and leave the rotation a man short.
Question: How would we feel about committing to a rotation of…
Harang
Arroyo
Belisle
Bailey
Cueto
Maloney
(I list 6 guys b/c some starters always always always miss some starts.)
Is that just a huge mistake? Thoughts?
Bailey’s career high in IP is about 140.
Maloney’s is about 170.
Cueto’s is about 160.
I think the rule of thumb is, don’t let young pitchers increase their maximum IP by more that 10% a year.
Wow… Belisle pitched 180 IP in the Braves system at age 20… and then, surprise, missed all of his age 21 season w/ an arm injury.
He returned at age 22 and was pretty good again by age 23… but his K rate has never been the same.
K rate pre-injury about 8 K per 9 IP.
K rate post-injury more like 6 K per 9 IP (granted, at higher levels of competition).
Anyway… interesting.
And one thing I will give LARGE props to both O’Brien and Krivsky on — knock on wood — is cutting down on major arm injuries to young pitchers. Can anyone find those numbers? I think they have been WAY down since the days of Leatherpants.
Leatherpants…I never tire of that one.
A Santana trade doesn’t happen unless the Reds give up Phillips or maybe EE and Bruce and Cueto. And are ready to shell out the $160M it will take to resign him. (The Twins expect a current semi-star, plus prospects.) They also don’t really need young pitching, even after trading Garza.
Haren’s interesting, but I really don’t think the Reds are going to make that bit a splash after coughing up for Cordero (and Baker).
One name I’ve heard elsewhere, but not here, is Scott Rolen. I like him, but he’s brittle, and might be about to age rapidly. More, I really like EE.
Check this out editors of the site……
Guevara listed as one of the Best options available in the Rule 5…..wonder why he wasn’t protested?? Somebody start a thread!!!!
http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/news/265252.html
*protected
Guevara is going to be 26 next March and has never pitched above AA.
“Guevara is going to be 26 next March and has never pitched above AA.”
For the last season and one-half I have been left wondering why he didn’t get a chance at AAA hitters. His numbers fully support him getting a shot. With the Reds sporting the worst bullpen in baseball, one would think he would get a look. Maybe there is something about him that the brass doesn’t like. My take is that the Reds will regret leaving him unprotected.
This was something that infuriated about player development and the management of the Bats last year. Because of the rotating door between Louisville and Cincy in last year’s bullpen. The Bats always had to keep there bullpen stacked with guys horrible guys like Soryilost, Magik man, Coffing up runs, and Stone Age. My point is that all the dead weight in the Bats pen created a log jam and guys in AA that should be progressing, couldn’t.
If Guevara becomes a good RP for some other team, keeping guys like Rick Stone will be the reason. Just thought I would vent, any comments?