The Enquirer reports that Aurilia’s best “viable alternative” is the Reds.
The Reds and Aurilia have until a Sunday deadline to get a deal completed, otherwise Aurilia can’t re-sign with the Reds until May 1st.
“Both sides are trying to get it done,” Reds general manager Dan O’Brien said.
This creates quite a logjam at 2nd base where Aurilia, Freel and Womack are expected to compete for playing time. Freel could get some time in the outfield, as could Womack. Aurilia can also play SS and 3B.
My concern is that with the signing of another “veteran”, it gives the Reds (never known for their patience with young players) an excuse to give a quick hook to Edwin Encarnacion, if he would struggle early. Encarnacion has nothing left to prove at AAA and isn’t going to improve sitting on the Reds bench. This team isn’t going to contend this year (baring some major move in the pitching department), so even if he struggles, he should stay in the lineup.
Remember what they did last year when Aurilia was handed the starting shortstop job despite being out played by Felipe Lopez in ST and early in the season.
I have no problem with re-signing Aurilia. He played pretty darn well for the Reds after he came back from injury in late May. But it doesn’t make sense to me to have him, Womack, and Freel. But then again, it makes no sense to me for the Reds to have traded for Womack at all.
If they can eat Danny Graves’ contract, they can eat Womack’s.
If Aurillia comes back? Does the Tony Womack trade make any sense at all?
I can see the headlines now:
Rangeless Vet comes back to town to steal At Bats from Youngsters!!
If the Reds sign Aurilla then I agree, the Womack trade was useless. It seems to me that they don’t have much faith in Freel. What does he have left to prove?
Nuthin. I thought they were on to that by giving him a 2 year deal. If Griffey goes down, I’m guessing they slot him somewhere in the OF.
What does he have left to prove?
Comment by James  1/4/2006 @ 4:05 pm 💡
How about staying healthy for a year.:wink:
The Womack trade still gives me that uneasy feeling that either Kearns or Pena will be traded before the season starts. If you step back and look at the roster as it stands now, there’s not very much improvement over last year’s team. Mike Williams is not going to make 15-20 games difference into the win column.
If they’re going to deal Wily Mo or Austin for a proven young pitcher, then I’m for signing Aurilia and such. If they’re going to tarde one of them for another Dave Williams, I’m most certainly NOT for it.