Dear Mr. Jocketty,
As you begin the annual Winter Meetings, there is only one request that we, the Nation, have for you, the General Manager of our beloved Cincinnati Reds. Please acquire a hard-hitting left fielder.
I know you’ve said that it wouldn’t break your heart if you didn’t do anything big at the Winter Meetings. Further, I know you said that our present LF, Jonny Gomes, “did a great job last year.” Yes, we understand that you can’t put all your cards on the table; you have to say certain things publicly while you keep some cards close to the vest.
In fact, despite our abiding love for all things Gomes-esque (primarily the mohawk and the all-out Sabo-tastic intensity), Jonny was one of the two worst starting left fielders in the league last year. From my vantage point, the easiest way to improve this ballclub is to obtain a LF who can mash the baseball.
Best of all, Mr. Jocketty, you have plenty of trade chips with which to entice other teams. We know you are taking calls about Yonder Alonso. You also have a surplus of pitching, and every team is interested in acquiring pitching. Why not use some of those assets to fill this team’s single most important need?
It may take some creativity to get a deal done, but we have faith in you. You’ve been around this block before (no, I’m not going to mention the Mark Mulder trade), and you know what it takes to put together a package that will improve this team.
Please, just get it done. Return to Cincinnati with a left field upgrade, and you’ll earn our enduring gratitude.
Thank you, Mr. Jocketty. Good luck.
Sincerely,
Redleg Nation