Who do you think should be in the Reds outfield for 2010? There are 9 outfielders in the Reds organization that are candidates for the 40-man roster this off-season.
The team has 6 outfielders currently on the 40-man roster (not counting Baker’s experiment with Drew Sutton): Balentien, Bruce, Dickerson, Gomes, Nix, and Taveras. All are under team control next year. Gomes and (I believe) Nix are arbitration eligible while Taveras is under contract for $4 million.
Plus, the Reds have 3 outfielders in AAA who must be placed on the 40-man roster in the offseason or exposed to the Rule V draft: Danny Dorn, Chris Heisey, and Drew Stubbs.
Is there enough talent from that pool of 9 outfielders to field an above average everyday outfield, or does this team need to look outside the organization for starting outfield help? You could look outside the organization at the free agent market or via trade.
For one of the bigger free agent names, initial estimates already have Jason Bay going for $60 million over 4 years. Jermaine Dye is another player that the Reds were interested in the past. He wouldn’t cost the team Homer Bailey, but he would likely be a Type A free agent and cost the team a draft pick. I don’t expect that the White Sox will pick up Dye’s option after claiming Alex Rios on waivers.
- I think the first, obvious choice is to part ways with Willy Taveras. Consider him a sunk cost. The outfield offense and defense is immediately better.
- I would look outside the organization for a starting left fielder. I like Dye on a short-term contract.
- Drew Stubbs would be my opening day centerfielder.
- Jay Bruce, though his offense the past two months has been down, should be with the team starting every day in right field.
- I like the 4th and 5th outfielder to be guys who could start on other teams or start on this team if the starters are injured. I think Gomes and Dickerson are best suited in this role, and I would really work with Dickerson on his corner OF defense.
- Dorn and Heisey start the year in AAA on the 40-man roster.
Who do you think should be in the Reds starting outfield for 2010? Who should be on the bench? The team’s typical 25-man roster composition has been 12 pitchers, 8 starters, a backup catcher and 4 bench players, which would normally allow no more than 5 total outfielders.