MLB: Cincinnati Reds 2007 - Who is Still Here and Who Isn't?

If Rip van Winkle went to sleep after the 2007 season and just woke up the other day, what would he think? What would he say?

He, of course, being a Cincinnati Reds fan would probably wonder if Brandon Phillips and Joey Votto were playing a pickup game with a bunch of kids.

In just five short years the Reds can now only boast six players of the 51 who saw any duty at all in the 2007 season. That is roughly an 88 percent turn-around. Really?

It is amazing but the Reds have sent more people home than most companies have. Fast food chains have a very big turnaround, but I don't know if it would hit 88 percent or not. They do have managers and assistant managers who hang on for quite some time. Yes?

Let us open up the archives and see who the six are and what has happened to the rest of the crew.

The Reds had two managers that year, Jerry Narron and Pete Mackinin.

Position players include Brandon Phillips, Joey Votto and Ryan Hanigan. The pitching corps consists of just  starters Bronson Arroyo, Homer Bailey and relief pitcher Bill Bray. That is a short list isn't it?

Moreover, the only three who were on the 2006 roster were Arroyo, Phillips and Bray. Nobody on the current roster was a member of the Reds during the 2005 season. My, how time changes things.

Let us take a gander at the ones who have moved on, where they went and how it worked out for them.

First up, starting catcher David Ross. He was released by the club in August, 2008. He was snatched up by the Boston Red Sox for a post-season run and granted free agency after the season. He was picked up in December of the same year by the Atlanta Braves and makes about $1.63M per year backing up Brian McCann.

First baseman Scott Hatteberg played with the Reds for three seasons before giving way to Joey Votto in the 2008 season. He was released by the Reds in June of 2008 and hasn't been seen since.

Shortstop Alex Gonzalez came to the Reds in 2006 and was traded during the 2009 season to the Boston Red Sox with cash for Kris Negron. He has done time with the Toronto Blue Jays and Atlanta Braves. He was recently signed by the Milwaukee Brewers.

Third baseman Edwin Encarnacion whom I dubbed as "Double E". That wasn't necessarily for the two names but for two errors per game. Edwin could hit the long ball, and could make plays for the highlight reel.  The frequency with which he botched routine plays was too much to live through.

He led the Reds in home runs in the 2008 season with 26 which doesn't bode well for the team. He was traded right at the deadline in 2009 to the Toronto Blue Jays along with Josh Roenicke and Zack Stewart for potential Hall of Famer Scott Rolen.

The left fielder in 2007 was Adam Dunn. He gave the Reds four consecutive 40+ HR seasons before being traded in August of 2008 to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Dallas Buck, Wilkin Castillo and Micah Owings. He was signed by the Washington Nationals prior to the 2009 season and played one year before being signed by the Chicago White Sox for mega bucks. He is signed through 2014 and will make $14+M each year.

Center fielder Josh Hamilton has had a colorful career. He was touted for greatness when signed by Tampa Bay as the No. 1 draft pick in 1999. His battles with alcohol and drugs are well chronicled.

He came to the Reds in 2006 and was beginning to show flashes of greatness. After the 2007 season Hamilton was shipped to the Texas Rangers for Edinson Volquez and Danny Herrera. Hamilton has an American League MVP trophy on his mantel. Volquez had a good first season with the Reds then was suspended for 50 games due to PED misuse. He then blew up and was traded with the farm to the San Diego Padres for Mat Latos this off-season.

Was that a bad deal? You tell me.

Right fielder Ken Griffey, Jr., is destined for the Hall of Fame without question. However it wasn't his years with the Reds that will have pushed him over the top. He came to the Reds in 2000 and was a mainstay until trade deadline of 2008 when he was shipped to the Chicago White Sox for Nick Masset and Danny Rychar.

Griffey continued to slide downhill and was signed as a Free Agent by the Seattle Mariners where he retired in 2010 after his career had gone full circle.

Time or space won't allow me to discuss the entire 51 players who at least shared a cup of java with the Reds.

To highlight a few of the names I will start with Aaron Harang. After the Reds declined the option on his 2011 contract he was signed by the San Diego Padres where he went 14-7 with a career best 3.64 ERA. The Los Angeles Dodgers picked him up this off-season.

Kyle Lohse was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for Matt Maloney in July of 2007. Last year with the Cardinals he was 14-8 with a 3.39 ERA.

Oh what a difference a half-decade makes. Rip van Winkle would still be rubbing his eyes.

For a complete list of the 2007 Reds with statistics click here.

MLB Rumors: Five Players the Cincinnati Reds Should Look At

As the Free Agent list depletes and the days begin to get longer, the Cincinnati Reds still need to land a left-fielder and maybe another pitcher.

Many names have been thrown around during the off-season and the Reds have sent away lots of talent for two pitchers. I would like to offer four players and a pitcher for the Reds to hone in on. Some have been written about and others have not.

P -  Paul Maholm. Maholm as had the best of the Reds in his career. He is 6-4 with a decent 3.81 ERA against Cincinnati. He is not a great pitcher but he is a decent left-handed starter which the Reds do need.

He throws a bunch of ground balls (52.3 percent) which would serve him well at Great American Ball Park. He has spent all of his seven-year career with the hapless Pittsburgh Pirates. Overall he sports a 53-73 record with a 4.36 ERA.

Maholm made $6.25M in 2011 but will probably be signed for considerably less. He had a season ending shoulder injury which would prove to be scary to some. If he is placed in front of a strong defense he could have an exceptional season in a new location.

OF - Coco Crisp. The center-fielder sounds more like breakfast food than a major league baseball player. Crisp is a pure center-fielder and could probably force Drew Stubbs into the troubled left-field spot. Crisp could bat at the top of the order, allowing Stubbs to drop down to the lower part of the order where strikeout kings should live.

Crisp is also a great base stealer and led the American League with 49 in 2011. He doesn't strikeout much and is a career .275 hitter. He only walked 41 times last year which is troubling for a lead-off man. He earned $5.75M in 2011 and could probably be the missing link the Reds have been searching for.

His clubhouse demeanor is questionable and that could prove to be his downfall. Disallowing that, there are not many reasons for the Reds not to look seriously into acquiring him.

OF/IF Martin Prado. Prado is a versatile good-hitting player with very little downside. He plays outfield with confidence and has a UZR higher than any of the Reds' current outfielders. He could start in LF on opening day and would be valuable in filling in for Brandon Phillips, Scott Rolen or even Joey Votto at first base (he has played 50+ games at 1B in his career).

Prado earned approximately $3M in 2011. Fangraphs projects him to earn around $4.5M in arbitration in 2012. He would remain under club control until 2013.

The price is not staggering for a .293 lifetime hitter. He is a right-handed hitter who bats .300+ against RH pitchers and holds own against southpaws (.273).

In his All-Star year of 2010, Prado produced a line of .307/.350/.459 with 15 HR and 66 RBI. Her also collected 184 H and scored 100 R.

OF = Ryan Ludwick. Last June, Hall of Fame writer Hal McCoy reported that the Reds could have traded Chris Heisey straight up for Ludwick.

Ludwick had an MVP year in 2008 when he carved out a line of .299/.375/.591/.966 with an OPS+ of 150. He hammered 37 HR and knocked in 113 and scored 104 runs. He hasn't come close to those numbers since then, however he has spent some time in Petco Park where sluggers go to die.

He was paid $6+M last season and spent time with the San Diego Padres and ended the season with the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is only 33 although it is possibly a hard 33, so he should not be done by any stretch of the imagination.

OF - Cody Ross. It would be his second stint in the Queen City if the Reds could make a deal with him.  He can play all three outfield positions, has 25 HR power, and is a career .261 hitter.

He had the proverbial 'cup of coffee' with the Reds in 2006, playing in only two games and batting just five times. He made over $6M with the San Francisco Giants last season but with his 2011 performance could probably be picked up for much less.

These are five players the Reds could target who could possibly help them gel into a team with very few weaknesses.

 

MLB Trade Rumors: Should Cincinnati Reds Pursue Braves' Martin Prado?

The Cincinnati Reds are still supposedly in the hunt for a decent left fielder.

The Atlanta Braves have shown interest in using All-Star infielder/left fielder Martin Prado as trade material in several different deals. They have reportedly been discussing a deal with the Colorado Rockies for Seth Smith.

The Detroit Tigers have also shown interest in the 28 year-old Venezuelan.

Prado earned approximately $3M in 2011. Fangraphs projects him to earn around $4.5M in arbitration in 2012. He would remain under club control until 2013.

The price is not staggering for a .293 lifetime hitter. He is a right-handed hitter who bats .300+ against RH pitchers and holds own against southpaws (.273).

In his All-Star year of 2010, Prado produced a line of .307/.350/.459 with 15 HR and 66 RBI. Her also collected 184 H and scored 100 R.

Defensively he more than filled the position. His UZR/150 is better than Drew Stubbs, Jay Bruce and Chris Heisey. I am not completely sold on Sabermetrics but that is a stat that many people go by.

I don't know what the Braves would look for in return. It was rumored that the Baltimore Orioles were working on a deal with the Braves concerning Adam Jones. The O's wanted Jair Jurrjens, Prado and at least two more players in return. Of course the Braves didn't bite.

The Reds have freed up a little money by mortgaging away the farm this winter. I don't think it is a matter of can they afford Prado, but rather would they like to barter away a few more good players.

Prado is a valuable asset to any club because of his versatility. He can spell Brandon Phillips at second base, Scott Rolen at third base, and he has played 50+ games at first base as well.

Maybe it would be a good time to unload (Willy Mo) Juan Francisco. They will need a man at the hot corner when Chipper Jones finally calls it a career. He and another prospect or two, such as Louisville pitcher Daryl Thompson and maybe Dayton outfielder Drew Poulk.

I don't know if the Braves would go for it but it is at least something to think about while sitting around the fire.

MLB Trade Rumors: Reds' Dave Sappelt Is Part of Sean Marshall-Travis Wood Deal

One of the "minor league players" in the Travis Wood - Sean Marshall exchange turns out to apparently be young outfielder Dave Sappelt, according to John Fay. This would put the trade in a new light in my view.

Sending Travis Wood was an understandable trade. The Cubs needed a starter and the Reds needed a reliever. Good deal, right?

I don't think so. Sappelt played 38 games for the Reds last season after having a tremendous spring training and a very good season with Triple-A Louisville. It is my understanding he was still in the running for the left-field position.

The young outfield corps of the Reds is becoming depleted. They waived Jeremy Hermida earlier in the year and then let Fred Lewis go.

The farther we get into negotiations, the more it seems the Reds are focusing on Chris Heisey as the everyday left-fielder. They already shipped heir apparent left-fielder Yonder Alonso to the Padres for Mat Latos.

In further transactions, the Reds have apparently grabbed pitcher Josh Judy off waivers, according to MLB.com's Jordan Bastian.

There is very little to be said about Judy who has only one big-league year under his belt. In 12 games in 2011 with the Cleveland Indians he had no decisions, and ERA of 7.07. He has given up four home runs in only 14 innings.

His one endearing quality that I can see is that he strikes out almost seven in nine innings.

What the Reds have in store for the young man is yet to be determined. With the crowded pitching staff I see him spending some time with the Bats at Louisville.

So far this off-season the Reds have traded Edinson Volquez, Travis Wood, Brad Boxberger, and have added Mat Latos and Sean Marshall.

The need of a closer still remains whether the management decides to re-sign Coco Cordero or try to make a deal for Brad Lidge, Brandon League or Ryan Madson. In-house closing candidates would include Marshall, Nick Masset, Bill Bray, Aroldis Chapman or Logan Ondrusek.

Snatching up players like Judy does not bode well when you are giving up outstanding young talent to make room for him.

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MLB Trade Rumors: Cincinnati Reds to Trade Travis Wood to Cubs for Sean Marshall

Here we go again!

According to Bruce Levine of ESPN, the Cincinnati Reds are poised to hand over southpaw starter Travis Wood and two minor league pitchers to the Chicago Cubs for reliever Sean Marshall.

Apparently, Marshall would become part of an already crowded setup group that includes Logan Ondrusek, Nick Masset and Bill Bray. Aroldis Chapman could be thrown into the mix (although the scuttlebutt is that there are still plans for him to become a starter).

At first glance, it would seem that Wood for Marshall would be nothing more than a wash—a lateral move for both teams.

Wood experienced the proverbial sophomore jinx in 2011 and as a result did a good amount of time at Triple A Louisville. He has good stuff, as evidenced by his near-perfect game against the Philadelphia Phillies in 2009. He carried a perfect game into the ninth inning before losing it to a double by catcher Carlos Ruiz.

In his two seasons, he has compiled an 11-10 record with an ERA of 4.18. He was projected to be in the running for a position in the starting rotation for the Reds in 2012.

Marshall is a starter-turned-reliever with six MLB seasons under his belt. He owns a career record of 32-40 with an ERA of 3.96.

Marshall will make $3 million in 2012 and is set to be a free agent at the end of the season. Does that mean the Reds are flushing Wood and only renting Marshall?

Just asking.

Unless the Reds are going to use Marshall as a closer, I don't feel the Reds management has done much to solidify their staff. His 34 holds last season was second-best in the major leagues among southpaws. Maybe other pitcher acquisitions are on the horizon.

The deal is said to be close to final.

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MLB Free Agents: Reds Show Interest in Francisco Cordero; Red Sox Turn Up Heat

According to MLB Trade Rumors.com, Cincinnati Reds GM Walt Jocketty has confirmed reopening talks with Coco, though he claims the two sides are not even close.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, meanwhile, reports the Boston Red Sox have also "increased dialogue with Francisco Cordero."

With the Reds currently in need of a stopper, there are just a handful of options remaining on the market, including Ryan Madson and Brad Lidge, both last seen wearing a Philadelphia Phillies uniform.

So what would it mean if the Red Sox would sign Coco? It would mean that the Reds are looking at Madson, who may be too expensive, and Lidge, who may be too injury-prone. Of course the Reds could try to handle it in-house with Aroldis Chapman, Bill Bray or Nick Masset.

You know you have "skinny pennies" when your best hope is Coco Cordero. Not that he is a terrible closer, just that he causes way too much anxiety to deal with.

"First, we'll address the bullpen a little bit," Jocketty said. "Once I get pitching done and know what we have left to spend, we'll know more about left field."

After taking the lion's share of the crop to the market last weekend, he has little to play with in the way of prospects. It is difficult to imagine picking up another viable starter without spending an arm and a leg. Famous Red killer Roy Oswalt is looking for a home, but you know Cincinnati is too short in resources to ink that deal.

After he finishes with the mound conundrum, Jocketty will focus his attention to left field. The "cream" of that crop has already been sifted. Josh Willingham signed with the Twins; Jason Kubel left the Twins for the Diamondbacks; and another ex-twin, Michael Cuddyer went for big money to the Colorado Rockies.

The best of the residue at that position would appear to be ex-Red Cody Ross, whom Jocketty is in negotiations with, Rick Ankiel, Ryan Ludwick and Pat Burrell.

Of that group I would certainly prefer Ross. He is not great but is a good fielder, a decent .260-plus BA and 20-25 HR potential, making him qualified to take the everyday job. Last season the Reds used left fielders by committee, including Jonny Gomes, Chris Heisey, Fred Lewis, Dave Sappelt and Yonder Alonso.

Reds fans seem to be still swooning over the Padres trade for pitcher Mat Latos. He does give the Reds a decent rotation, even if it took half the orchard to get him. If Latos was the tallest tree in the pitching forest, the MLB is certainly reeling.

Hopefully Jocketty can overcome his late start and sign a reliever and an outfielder to help the club be competitive in a watered-down Central Division in 2012.

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MLB Trade Rumors: Mat Latos to Cincinnati Reds for Worst Deal of the Offseason ?

I am sickened over the recent trade that will bring Mat Latos to the Cincinnati Reds while sending a former All-Star and three of the best prospects to the San Diego Padres.

This one may go down harder than Frank Robinson for Milt Pappas. My God, what was Walt Jocketty thinking?

Latos for Yonder Alonso would have been a good deal; Latos for Alonso and Edinson Volquez would be too much. Having the other two (Yasmani Grandal and Brad Boxberger) thrown in for good measure is just ridiculous.

The Oakland Athletics only wanted Alonso, Grandal and another player for All-Star pitcher Gio Gonzalez. Who among you would not rather see the southpaw at GABP than Latos?

Gonzalez has a GB ratio of about 48 percent, while Latos throws about 42 percent grounders.

Alonso was one of the best trading pawns in all of baseball and Grandal was not that far behind. All that sacrificed for a No. 2 starter—not even an ace. Come on, this trade can't be justified anyway you look at it.

Alonso could have played left field—albeit poorly, but he would have been a placeholder. With Grandal's departure, I am sure catcher Ryan Hanigan breathed a great sigh of relief.

Look at it this way: The Reds traded three No. 1 picks and a pitcher (the same pitcher they had traded a future MVP for), just to land a non-ace starter who wasn't even supposed to be going anywhere.

I am bewildered, and still trying to wrap my head around this entire deal. So now we have one more "decent" pitcher and no pawns left to play with for future deals.

I refuse to let myself become excited over such a lopsided deal.

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MLB Free Agents 2012: Cincinnati Reds Sign Kanekoa Texeira...Who?

The management of the Cincinnati Reds continues to baffle its faithful followers by landing pitchers that most people haven't even heard of.

The latest "catch" is right-handed relief pitcher Kanekoa Texeira. Don't blame me, I am just the messenger.

According to MLB Trade Rumors.com, the 25-year-old Hawaiian has been signed by the Reds. No monetary information was disclosed so let us proceed straightaway to the statistics.

Texeira, who comes fresh from Kansas City, has appeared in 49 games (all in relief), a 1-1 record with a mundane ERA of 4.66. He has a career WHIP of 1.685 and walks almost as many as he whiffs. Yeah, we need this guy! His only redeeming feature I can see is that his ground-ball percentage is around 52 percent, which would help in HR Heaven currently known as Great American Ball Park.

With Jair Jurrjens, Giovany Gonzalez,  Joe Saunders and even Paul Maholm (you know, guys you have heard of) still looking for a place to land, Walt Jocketty brings in two more arms that look to be of no help whatsoever.

It will be interesting to see if anything else is accomplished by Reds management. Remember the old adage that says crazy is defined by doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results?  Looks like the same ol' same ol' to me.

MLB Trade Rumors: Cincinnati Reds GM Walt Joketty Is Sitting on His Thumbs

Why in the name of Great Caesar's Ghost hasn't Reds GM Walt Jocketty even come close to a deal-signing this winter (I know it's not winter yet)?

The teaser that he shot out about Huston Street for Edinson Volquez really got the juices flowing, but now look at it. Street is off to San Diego to clean up messes that Heath Bell has been cleaning for five years.

From everything I have been reading, Joketty has been trying to move Yonder Alonso as if he was stolen merchandise that he didn't want to be caught with. Why?

Alonso has real potential. Did you see what I just wrote? Real potential. That stuff doesn't show up in your ballpark everyday. Is it worth a closer with a career ERA+ of 206, a career WHIP of less than 1.00 and a K:BB ratio of about 3.5/1?

I say when you have Joey Votto at first base and are in dire need of a reliable closer, then yes, you make that deal happen. Andrew Bailey of Oakland is only 27, a former Rookie of the Year and an All-Star. He should be taking Coco's closing job.

With all of the young talent waxing fresh from the farm, the Reds should be good to go, but they are not.

Is Chris Heisey relegated to a lifelong relief role? Is he destined to be Jerry Lynch (pinch hitter from the sixties for anyone not knowing) with only an obligatory start along the way?

I read where the Muckety Mucks were trying to make a deal for Josh Willingham (journeyman)—don't need him. Former Red Cody Ross is among the water-cooler scuttlebutt.

He is a very decent defensive player and he has a lot of pop in his bat. He was in a Reds uniform back in 2006 for a total of two games before he was shipped out to Florida. I think he would be a fine acquisition, but again, what is wrong with Heisey?The pitching is the thing—you know, the thing they need. Back end of the bullpen pitching. With all due apologies to Aroldis Chapman, he does not possess the makeup of a closer. The man should be a starting pitcher now.

A solid starting pitcher is needed in the worst way. I watched Mark Buehrle sign a $58 million deal with the Miami Marlins (that is going to take some getting used to). C.J. Wilson decided to hitch onto Albert Pujols' wagon and go to California.

Good pitchers are still on the block. I heard rumors of a Jair Jurrjens trade with Atlanta. Perhaps for Heisey, Volquez and a stiff to be named later. I could probably live with that. Jurrjens is destined for stardom.

So in closing, I say to Jocketty: "Get off your keester and make some deals, worthwhile deals. No 38-year-old CF or a lifetime .240 hitter. They are there, find them."