Short Hops
–Corey Patterson and Paul Bako have filed for free agency. So has David Weathers. (I know I’m in the minority, but I’m tired of Weathers and I hope he isn’t resigned.)
Also filing were Jerry Hairston, Jr., Kent Mercker, and Javier Valentin. That’s a lot of free agents, but not a ton of talent in that group. Other than Jeremy Affeldt and Mike Lincoln (who already filed), and possibly Hairston (if signed as a backup), I’m not that interested in retaining any of the others.
–Are the Reds planning to upgrade the Great American Ballpark scoreboard in the off-season?
–Former major leaguer David Bell — whose father and grandfather both played for the Reds — will be managing the Reds’ AA affiliate in the Carolina League.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:02 pm
You really don’t want both Lincoln and Weathers to walk because then the Reds will have a fairly inexperience pen. I bet there is a naive GM out there that will offer Hairston a multi year deal.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:22 pm
I don’t care if our bullpen is inexperienced as long as it’s good!
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:52 pm
Cool that the videoboard is getting an upgrade.
A lot of free agents but in my opinion the only guys they should go for is Affeldt and Lincoln. I don’t see Affeldt coming back and Lincoln was pretty good although he fell off at the end but that could’ve been exhaustion from not having pitched a full season in a while. Hairston if he’ll come cheap.Serve as a back-up or maybe a platoon split somewhere in the outfield.
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:58 pm
True. But, what are the chances of a combination of Roenicke, Masset, and the cast of thousands at L’ville making 60-65 appearances without having some serious growing pains in ‘09? I’d go with vets in the pen that are used to pitching in all kinds of situations.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:06 pm
I mostly fear of Gary Majewski. Hope he can do well but it has yet to feel like that will happen.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
re: bullpen, it depends whether you are going for it in 2009 or building for 2010. They also have the option of converting to the bullpen some of the 5 candidates fighting for the 5th rotation spot. A lot of successful closers were previously starting rotation prospects.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:08 pm
Majewski will be non-tendered.
November 3rd, 2008 at 10:11 pm
He better be non-tendered.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:15 pm
The Reds should pick up Cliff Floyd. The Rays didn’t pick up his option, and he’d be a much better option off the bench than someone like Valentin.
November 4th, 2008 at 12:18 am
Cliff Floyd? I dunno. His career might be over because of knee problems.
November 4th, 2008 at 1:41 am
Floyd would be very expensive for a pinch hitter, which is all he could be at this point in his career.
November 4th, 2008 at 2:12 am
I don’t know if he’d be very expensive given his injury history. If he’s available for close to the minimum, it’s worth exploring, at the very least.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I agree let Weathers walk. We need dominating set up men. I really like Joe Beimel on the Dodgers, he did a helluva job against us when we went up against them. I think if we can shorten the game to 7 innings, with our improved starting pitching we become extremely dangerous. One good bat, and at least one good set up man is needed this off season.
November 4th, 2008 at 8:56 am
One sign of a good GM is the ability to put together a solid bullpen without wasting valuable resources (in the Reds case, $$). Krivsky obviously couldn’t do that, as evidenced by the Cordero signing. Let’s see if Walt can.
November 4th, 2008 at 9:44 am
Or the wasted money on Cormier, Stanton, Hammond, etc. They have 5 young starters vying for 1 rotation spot. Looks like an opportunity to see if anyone can help at the back end of the bullpen.
November 4th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Beimel is available via free agency. I really like that guy. I say sign him and between him and Burton and hopefully Roenicke we have tremendous set up for Cordero. I want this bullpen to be a strength… its been a weakness forever.
November 4th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
What’s the price tag on Latroy Hawkins?
November 6th, 2008 at 11:05 pm
Beimel has the stuff to be a closer, and will probably not only command that type of money, but I’m not sure he would want to be a set up guy. I think he would like to go someplace where he could compete for a closer’s job at the least. Tampa comes to mind.
I agree his stuff is excellent and I would love to have him, but I’m not sure the money is there for an expensive set up guy.