The Cincinnati Reds have gauged interest in second baseman Mike Moustakas on the trade market according to a report from Jeff Passan of ESPN. This is just the latest report that the Reds are seemingly willing to listen in on offers for just about anyone in their organization. Moustakas, who has only played one year of his four year contract that he signed last offseason with Cincinnati, now joins All-Star pitchers Luis Castillo and Sonny Gray, as well as All-Star third baseman Eugenio Suárez as players that have been rumored to have been discussed by the front office.
The 2020 season wasn’t a strong debut in the organization for Mike Moustakas, but it wasn’t bad, either. He hit .230/.331/.468 on the year in 44 games played. Much like many other Cincinnati hitters, Moustakas didn’t hit for much of an average on the year. His OPS+ came in at 108, better than the league average. His average never really moved much, but on September 4th he entered the day with a .648 OPS on the season. Over the final 21 games of the year he put up an OPS of .952 as his power output went up and his strikeout rate dropped off in a big way. Over the first 23 games he struck out 23 times in 84 trips to the plate (27.4% K rate). In those final 21 games he struck out just 13 times in 79 plate appearances (16.5% K rate).
If teams around Major League Baseball are going to continue to act as if the money tree has wilted and gone extinct, it’s going to be tough to see a scenario where Moustakas and the three years left on his contract at $14M, $16M, and $18M (not including the $4M buyout on a $20M team option in 2024) is going to generate much interest at all unless Cincinnati is willing to take on plenty of money in that trade.
If nothing else, the word is clearly out: Cincinnati is trying to cut payroll, even if it means trading their best players.
Reds sign Matt Ball and Josh Osich
The Cincinnati Reds announced on Monday evening that they have signed right-handed pitcher Matt Ball and left-handed pitcher Josh Osich to minor league deals for 2021 with invitations to spring training.
And yet little to no word from anyone in a leadership role as to being honest about what’s going on. Why do this to your own fans? Rebuilding? Ok. Own it. Take responsibility. Say what your doing and stop leaving fans and likely players in the dark. As for Nick Krall, there are over two dozen GM’s right now leaking information, controlling what should be his narrative and teaching him a few lessons. They are far out ahead of him and the rest of the front office in this story. Pathetic. Pitiful
If anything, the Reds should keep quiet this time around and just let their actions do the talking. The entire Castellini Ownership era has basically been a sales job to get the locals fired up and now it’s starting to come to roost that it was more sizzle than steak. The Reds might have an idea of evaluating and developing talent still, but they certainly have no idea on how to manage PR…at least when it comes to energizing a fan base with a proven winner. I’m for letting the rebuild and talent development take its course—the reds could be good at that. We know they’re not good at the talking. Any messaging they try and put out will likely just backfire and maybe take things off course.
Reds fans were promised Jeff Ruby’s but what we got was Sizzler.
They’ve now become experts at this and other types of failure
That would presume a strategy.
I would like to see a strategy and coherent plan for the organization. It doesn’t benefit the fans, current players, prospective trades, or morale to let this speculation continue that the Reds are about to dump anything of value period so that they can ???
However, I can see some good points with the
“let it play out” argument too once you consider the communication and strategic skills of Krall and David Bell. The paper bag just seems too daunting for them and it would be hard enough to describe the strategy of their existing efforts which mainly consist of getting washed up possible turnaround stories and a bunch of other players who are minor league prospects at best.
Unfortunately, with a very winnable division and the Reds still only a few players away from at least a playoff spot, every sign just points to saving money and having Krall/Bell being exposed for the second rate talents that they are as well. Sad, indeed.
Everyone on this roster is getting traded apparently
No none of them are getting traded currently and according to the articles nothing is close at this point.
And yet no interest in Votto.
Well when you have a no trade clause Jo
If Votto was worth a pot a spit, teams would look into independent of trade clause or not. Guess what smith. He can waive the no trade clause to an agreeable team.
We disagree on this. I think there would be teams interested.
I love that the theory is that Votto isn’t “worth a pot of spit”, but they should try to trade him and his significant salary to some other team. Because other teams are interested in that kind of thing? Would you have the Reds trade for him if they were on the other side of it?
The Reds have to carry so much of that cost they may as well keep him. It’s not that it shouldn’t be talked about, it’s just that it seems highly, highly unlikely.
It takes two to tango, and in this case it needs to be a ménage a trios. Not only would a team need to be interested and the Reds interested in the return, but Votto would have to wave the no trade clause. Something he’s repeatedly said he will not consider.
I doubt you get much at all for Moose given his 2020 and size of his contract which even last year seemed like a bit of a stretch.
If only Bell and the hitting coach were at the top of these trade rumors, I would be happy. Are they going to try and trade the clubhouse manager next, or the head groundskeeper?Good Grief.
haha That’s funny Charlie Brown. 🙂
Makes two of us. But, on the bright side I see they signed Osich and Ball earlier today. I’m telling you, it’s a dynasty in the making.
I don’t understand. The Reds sign some free agents and fans aren’t happy. The Reds don’t sign free agents and fans still aren’t happy.
Corey D.
I’ll explain all that has happened this year is they have signed a bunch of AAA or AA guys that should have zero chance of being in the big leagues. With an exception or two. There are a several minor league deals they have signed but nothing other than losing good players has happened so far this offseason and that is why fans are upset.
After this past season we all thought the plan was to continue to improve the team and make them better. That’s the message we all got last winter and with our first winning record in what seems like forever fans are hungry for more improvements not excuses and letting good quality players on not on huge contracts go. Bauer after he won Cy Young I knew we wouldn’t sign him but there is no reason to trade away these quality players with modest contracts away. This is why fans are upset.
Nobody wants to wait 6 or more years for another rebuild.
i agree they need too go the team would be so much better under new a new manager?
With all that is going on, it seems we will see some actual movement before the new year arrives.
This just in ESPN is reporting the Reds are gauging the interest from other Mlb clubs on the all the t.v. monitors and copper piping in the lower mezzanine at GABP.
+100
They are also selling the infield grass. They are going back to all dirt.
The way this team is acting I feel like I am watching the Movie Major League all over again.
If all is related to a payroll cut so I think they could try trading Akiyama or Miley first even if they do not get a good return for them. There would be $14 MM less..
Now back to the seasons like back to 2014-2018. Sorry fans we were all in for one season. We failed so back to the losing ways aka like the Bengals. They tear it down i hope fans walk away or hammer Bob with letters asking him to sell as he failed his own words ” Dear Cincinnati Reds Fans,
We are proud to be the new owners of America’s first professional baseball team, the Cincinnati Reds.
We’re long-time baseball fans who have grown up with the Reds and have fond memories of going to the ballpark. In our lifetime, we faithfully cheered on the Reds through three World Series championships, six National League championships and eight division titles.
We know this team truly belongs to you, and we understand what the Reds mean to our city and our region. We know what a winning team can do for a city’s pride. We also understand the unique legacy the Reds hold in baseball history and the potential to reignite an American love affair with the nation’s first professional baseball team.
It is with a sense of both responsibility and respect that we pledge to Reds fans:
• We will bring championship baseball to Cincinnati. The Reds have a long tradition of success. Only three cities have won more World Series than Cincinnati. We will work hard to be a championship team again.
• We will build one of the most respected organizations in baseball. As partners in other successful baseball organizations we know how it’s done. We will build a winning management team by putting the right people in the right positions with the right resources to win. We will foster a winning attitude and culture.
• We will have a greater community presence. We will continue to improve the lives of area children by building on already successful Reds Community Fund programs like the Rookie Success League. Whether it’s providing a way for inner-city children to play baseball or generating funds for charity, we’ll take this outreach to a new level.
• We will rekindle the Reds Nation spirit. We’ll share our story and our strategy, communicating directly with fans everywhere who want to know what is going on. When you visit the ballpark, we’ll periodically be asking for your feedback so we can continuously improve the experience. Our goal is that you feel a part of the Reds Nation whether you’re at the game, listening on the radio or living in another major league city.
• We will not rest until you are happy. The Reds are, after all, your team. You buy the tickets. You watch the games. You support us financially and emotionally. Without you, the Reds cannot be great. We know you won’t be happy until the team wins. We won’t be happy, either.
Bringing championship baseball to Cincinnati is the ultimate goal. Like you we believe in the power, potential and magic of the Cincinnati Reds. We will work tirelessly to bring a winner home to you.
We thank you for this opportunity and hope to earn your support.
Robert H. Castellini
Chief Executive Officer W. Joseph Williams, Jr.
Chairman of the Board Thomas Williams
Vice-Chairman of the Board”
Yep outside of the community presence I would say he’s failed in every other aspect of his promises.
Where is Mongo?
You know this time of year writers have to create their own news. I wouldn’t put too much energy into all this.
I don’t believe that the Moustakas’s contact is a problem for a franchise that is trying to win.
I have said the Reds need to be all in or all out. I am still holding out hope they have a plan for the in
I completely agree with the all in or all out concept. I just don’t think they can effectively go all in given their current situation. Virtually every real winning team has a couple of true all-stars in the field and a couple of very good starting pitchers. They have the starters, but they need a couple of true stars in the field to build around. Their contract situation won’t let them pay for 2 all-stars and the pipeline isn’t ready to produce them.
Trying last year with 3 potential aces was interesting and maybe worth a shot, but it didn’t really work. With Bauer gone, this path up the mountain isn’t going to work. They need to go back down and find a different path.
They’ve got some real assets in the Suarez, Gray, Castillo contracts. If I’m Krall, I’m using those assets to reload for the next run.
Next run?When was the first RUN?Imust have missed it.
Oh you mean those 20 games at the end of 2020 to finish around .500.
I am getting the feeling NK is leaking this, it seems almost unreal that this many rumors would be released any other way. Driving interest? IDK
I don’t think he’s that clever, unfortunately. I think he’s getting a good beating by other GM’s, who are controlling the narrative. All together these rumors sound like it’s completely out of control. Not a good trade strategy
I do not understand your point. In what way is Krall “getting a good beating by other GM’s?” How are other GM’s controlling the narrative?
It seems that Krall has some control of the starting pitching market because Castillo and Gray may be available.
All through the MLBTR chat the host kept saying the only way the Reds trade Castillo is if they could attach a bigger contract like Moose or Castellanos to the trade. Castillo is not a salary dump but could be used to dump other salary and get something in return. That actually made a lot of sense. And now we see the Moose rumors pop up right after the Castillo rumors….seems like the theory has legs.
I think it’s ok if the Reds rebuild, you just hope it doesn’t have to be a full rebuild like the Tigers and others from previous years. But I don’t think they have a World Series contending team, even if Bauer stayed, their position players as a whole vastly underperformed last year. Then again, I don’t know if 2020 affected some players’ performance more negatively than a normal year.
I think I’d trade Suarez and either Gray or Castillo. But if you are really trying to rebuild the right way you probably trade Castillo. The Reds failed to get really good prospects when they had previous stars such as Phillips, Bruce and Chapman. They either hung on too long to them, or just made bad trades.
The biggest problem I see with the Reds though is they haven’t been able to develop any stars from their farm system recently. Especially in the everyday starting lineup. I thought Senzel and Winker would be really good, but because of injury possibly and just not living up to the billing, they’ve disapointed overall. I think they could still be good, but those two I thought would be key to the next several years. If they don’t pan out as above average everyday players the Reds are going to really be bad.
Moustakas was most likely overpaid, but if you have a pretty good team, he’s a nice player to have as he is clutch, and been in the big pressure situations. If you are .500, right above .500 team like the Reds I don’t believe he is worth keeping.
Casetellanos may have been overrated, but I’d like to see a full season.
Overall, the pandemic’s effect on small market teams like the Reds may end up being pretty huge. Will fans even come back? The Reds were struggling any way, and then they cut payroll…I wonder if most night in the next few years they’ll be fortunate to have 10,000 fans at a game. Who knows though!
Good.
Now I’m hoping to hear Castellanos, Akiyama, and Senzel are on the block as well.
Then in a season or two, trade Winker as well for a massive haul if he keeps performing like this.
Trade Castillo, Gray, Geno, Moose, Castellanos, Akiyama, and Senzel. Votto’s contract is up in 3 years. Seems to be the perfect time to start a rebuild with eyes on competing around 2023 or 2024, then when Votto comes off the books, use the money to sign the missing pieces to really go for it in 2025.
No more half measures. No more cold feet. Blow it all up, and get a clean, fresh start. Play all the AAAA guys or keep signing cheap free agents until the young kids brought in from all these trades are ready.
The next two seasons will be awful, but it’s what needs to be done. Rip the band-aid off and let’s go.
Yep and if that doesn’t work we’ll try again and may be ready in 2030 or 2031. Nothing personal towards you CI3J. Just tired of rebuilding and hoping it will work.
Has to be a better way of doing this.
The thing is, at no point in the past 3 decades have the Reds ever gone all-in on a rebuild. They kept their players long after their trade value had peaked, and all they were left with was old, expensive, underperforming players that no one wanted. See: Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Todd Frazier, Aroldis Chapman, Homer Bailey, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto, Griffey Jr., Adam Dunn, Barry Larkin, Aaron Harang, Danny Graves, etc.
The Reds, if they had been smart, would have traded these players or let them walk and re-invested the money in young, up and coming players. This is what the Cardinals do, and why it seems like they can always just reload instead of rebuild. It’s all about the money game and not becoming too emotionally attached to any one player.
For example, the greatest Cardinal player in at least the last half century, Albert Pujols, hasn’t actually played for the Cardinals in the past 8 years. They let him go during his age 31 season after getting his best years.
And guess what? The Cardinals didn’t miss a beat. They haven’t had a single losing season since Pujols left. In fact, they went to the World Series the very next year, won 100 games in 2015, finished 2nd or 3rd for a few season, then won 91 games in 2019.
THIS is how you play moneyball. If the Reds trade all their assets this offseason, they can reboot their entire team, then follow the Cardinals cycle of getting the best years out of players when they are young and cheap, then trading them for more young, cheap, good players. You can keep a few core pieces, but right now the Reds don’t have anyone worth keeping outside of possibly Winker, and he would already be about 30 by the time the young players are ready to go in a few seasons, so it makes sense to trade him now when he’s even more valuable.
For this to work, it of course means you need an excellent scouting department, but it also means you need to trust the process. The Reds have been wallowing in mediocrity for a long time now, because they have always been trigger shy when it came time to making the tough decisions. No more. I want them to go big, and I want them to be bold.
Tear it all down. And I mean ALL. And the Reds will rise from the ashes as a new, fresh, exciting, young team in a few seasons.
No more half measures, Walter.
CI3J,
Exactly!
– Trade players when you can receive optimum value;
– No emotional attachment;
– Excellent scouting; and,
– No ownership meddling in the process.
C3J,
The Cardinals did NOT “let him go”. They offered a HUGE, long-term contract. The Angels offered quite a bit more and there you go. The Cardinals got lucky. The only shrewd thing was only offering to overpay by a good amount as opposed to a ridiculous overpay.
The Cardinals’ last offer to Pujols was for 10 years and $210 million.
Albert Pujols signed a 10-year, $254 million offer with the Los Angeles Angels
I’m sorry if we are doing a full rebuild it is going to take probably until 2025 at the earliest. I’m not waiting for another rebuild and I don’t want to be half way either. If this team is not attempting to find quality players to be competitive this year or next. I’m outa here. I’m done waiting for 5 to 6 years for a single season of hope.
As they like to say on this site. “Hope doesn’t make a winner” or something like that.
Ok, so they are listening to what other teams would offer for anyone … isn’t that what they are supposed to do?
Personally I’d be fine with trading one of moose or Suárez, for a hefty price
Agreed. That said, I’d like to hear the Reds GM is MAKING offers, starting with a couple of the top 3 or 4 prospects on 5 or 10 other teams. I also hope he is making offers to trade Suarez, Castillo, Gray, Moose, Castellanos, Barnhart and pretty much any other valuable piece. I am not saying to trade em all, but see whats out there and if you can part with two or three of those and get our top 10 prospect list the best in MLB, I am fine with that. We didn’t set the world on fire WITH these guys. Some are big time sell highs, with regression VERY likely (Suarez, Gray) and others are just not centerpieces of a contending team.
If we could get SD to part with Gore, I’d not hesitate to trade Gray or Castillo to them, assuming they also send another solid top 10 prospect as well.
I wonder if the Reds are in a real financial pickle. They’re basically shopping anyone except Votto and that’s only because he can’t be traded. Maybe this is more than a reset.
or as others noted, just GOOD, WISE due-diligence by a GM. If you can get another team to overpay in good, young, cheap, high upside talent, why not make the trade, especially if you’re not really seeing yourself as anything but a long-shot contender at best.
Moustakas has negative value. The only way the Reds can get rid of him is eating a portion of the contract or giving up a prospect.
Not negative, but we’d only get back some 25 year old AA player or something mostly useless. More of just being a salary dump at this point.
Life long Reds fan here. Last year I was excited, the Reds looked like a team that I wanted to watch every night because you never knew what they might do. After all these reports I can’t help but wonder why I would watch 5 seconds of a game if all these players are traded. You are tearing the heart out of your fan base by even letting these reports out, as well as possibly destroying the team we love. I cheer for my team, but it is the players that give a fan hope that something special could be just around the corner. When I see with all these players being talked about as trade bait it makes me want to pull the covers over my head, close my eyes extremely tight and hope that all the bad things surrounding my favorite team will go away. But if this is something I am going to be forced to deal with, please just tell me that the whole team is going to be traded for a food truck and 3 rolls of pennies and break my heart all at once instead of over weeks. Sell the team Bob PLEASE, SELL THE TEAM!!!!!
++
These headlines keep us fans interested during the down month of December. I think all the Reds are tradeable if the right deal comes along, and the Reds will look different come Opening Day. 2021 will be another truncated season (fans in the stands) with everyone getting vaccinated who wants to be. The GM’s plan will become evident in January after the Holidays.
For what it is worth, I thought it would be interesting to run these “Mock” deals through https://www.baseballtradevalues.com/trade-simulator/ they all came out accepted. I sought quality in reach return, while being limited to the values assigned each player and what I thought the reasonableness of the ask on both sides would be, given what I have read this offseason about each team’s needs.
I choose 1a., 2. and 3. I also looked at deals with the Mets, Yankees, Mariners, Dodgers, Rangers and others, but did not see any good fit. There are several accepted matches with the Rockies and Indians for Story and Lindor, but did not think they would be feasible– financial reasons.
I am still interested in 1f.
Players in parenthesis with question marks denote player in a proposed deal that i did not choose. Player in parenthesis with no question mark is backup, utility or in minors.
1a. Gray and Winker to MIA, returning: Braxton Garrett, JJ Bleday and Max Meyer (i.e. Sonny Gray clone).
1b. Gray and Suarez to ATL, return: Kyle Wright, Kyle Muller, Drew Waters and Shea Langeliers.
1c. Gray to SD, return: Jake Cronenworth and Adrian Morejon.
1d. Gray, Winker and Senzel to MINN, return: Royce Lewis, Bryon Buxton and Alex Kirilloff.
1e. Gray and Winker to KC, return: Adalberto Mondesi, Brad Keller and Asa Lacy.
1f. Gray to PHI, return: Bryson Stott, Rafael Marchan, Roman Quinn, and Adonis Medina.
2. Suarez to Atl, return: Inciarte, Kyle Muller and Shea Langeliers or Austin Riley.
3. Castillo and Moose to CWS, return: Dylan Cease, Garrett Crochet, Michael Kopech and Nick Madrigal.
OF (L to R): Akiyama (Kirilloff?), Inciarte (Siani), (Buxton?, Quinn?) and Castellanos (DWaters?).
IF (3B to 1B): Senzel (India), Garcia (Cronenworth?, Lewis?, Mondesi? or Stott?), Madrigal and JV (Riley?).
C: Stephenson, Barnhart (Langeliers?, Marchan?).
Starters: Mahle, Cease, Miley, Kopech, B Garrett, Crochet, (Meyer?, KWright?, Keller?, Lacy?, Medina?), (Greene, Lodolo).
Pen: A Garrett, Sims, Lorenzen, Muller, Antone, etc. any pitchers that do not make the rotation.
Summary: Heavy on promising pitchers, contact oriented hitters, and up-the-middle position players.
Go ahead, make my day.
Quality over quantity, you’d never be hired as Reds GM. MLB-ready or bust! We want replacement level, 25 year-old AA ball players and lots of em. Not 19 year old hotshot, skys-the-limit prospects. Just kidding.
Man, I’d be down with just about any of those trades. If Suarez would bring that back from Atlanta or any combination of Gray, Suarez, Castillo, Senzel, Winker bringing back a haul, the future would be bright…just not too bright in 2021 is all. Some of those prospects are basically ready to start their rookie years.
I don’t understand the bellyaching. What would Gray or Castillo or Suarez do for the Reds if they stay? Regress a bit? Have a great year on a barely .500 team that gets swept in the playoffs? Then regress big time in 2022? I would love to have 4 or 5 elite, future all-star prospects pushing others out of our top 6. I’d rather have that than a .220 hitting Suarez with 40 mostly unimpactful HRs, or a 3.30 ERA Gray that barely goes 6 innings in most starts only to leave down a run because the offense stinks up the place and have the bullpen blow up.
No on the Inciarte. I like the trades for younger top prospects and definitely contact hitters. Trade Castellanos as well. If they are going to trade the big 3 then trade everyone over 27 . Get ready for 2023 or 24. Get rid of guys who get hurt every season. I want guys who stay on the field and can play defense as well. I would rather stock the system with young prospects that are going to be good then watch this team play 500 this year and cant get on base. The league is going to change because of the shift and all or nothing guys are going to be looking for jobs. Nice post Doofus.
3b. Castillo, Moose and Garcia to KC, return: Bobby Witt Jr., Brad Keller and Asa Lacy.
The Reds haven’t won since the Dusty Baker era. And remember Baker was fired after they lost the 2013 Wild Card game. At least they scored a couple of runs. Bell and the current Reds couldn’t even manage that. The bottom line is that all this optimism, all these trade scenarios, etc. are going nowhere. Bell and the current FO couldn’t win if they had the talent of the 1975 Reds. Bell is no Dusty Baker nor Lou Pinella, and certainly no Sparky Anderson. I’m not sure he’s even as good as Bryan Price or Jim Riggleman.
So today, if the Reds had the 1975 roster, they would not be a winning team because of David Bell and the present front office, seriously? This is an example of hyperbole.
I kind of agree with you and half way like Bell. But can’t think for the heck of me Why he was leading off Votto!!!! I guess he thought. boy the pitcher will be really nervous that he will steal second base if he gets on. Votto is 37 and runs like he is 57. So Why would he be leading off????
But the team seams to like Bell and he wasn’t the problem. Bell couldn’t bat for them. Having said that I think the Averages will go up for most of the Reds next year if any of them are left. Go Reds
If you’re asking do I think the Reds would have won the 75 series with David Bell managing?… NOOOOPE Sparky barely got em there. Do I think they would have underachieved all season under David Bell?….YEEEEP
This trade I would be fine with. The Angels need a corner outfielder and pitching. Send them Gray and Winker and ask for no less than Adell and a pitching prospect.
The Reds can’t realistically do anything until Votto’s contract is off the books. They are stuck with a whole lotta money in Votto, Moustakas and Castellanos. After the upcoming fire sale Votto is going to be stranded on a team that will be a F##king nightmare (for Reds fans). Maybe they can buy him out to depart.
Bench him. Buy him out. Whatever. Just get him off the team. His time is past. Trust me, corporate America has no trouble getting rid of old guys.
It’s good when old guys know it’s time to change direction.
Nonsense, Votto isn’t holding them back
Right. Votto was second on the team in OPS+ last season behind Winker. He’s certainly lost a bit at the plate as he ages, and more so in the field, but he’s not the issue with this team.
Wow, once again it’s all Joey’s fault. BS
The whole offense was bad this year, and the on field management was worse. The moves made during the season did absolutely nothing other than give David Bell more broken toys to play with. Davidson, Payton, Goodwin, and on and on. The front office and field management is the problem.
Please trade Mike!!
It is a shame that some of you do not like optimism. Have a little fun! Enjoy the offseason! Imagine what if?
I laugh when I see certain monikers. I do not have to read your comment to know that you are just griping…again. Seriously, why do some of you even come on this forum, when all you do is whine and complain?
Tis the season to be jolly, positive, not impersonate Scrooge and the Grinch tied up in the clubhouse dirty laundry bag.
Ho, Ho, Ho!
Remember, baseball is just a game. No one in ownership or the front office is depriving you or your family of oxygen.
Have some FUN!
Every hitter was subpar in 2020, which was obviously a strange season with no fans, short two months, etc. I would hope Castellanos or Akiyama or Moose would bounce back and be just what we thought they’d be in 2021. That would help things a bit. Maybe holding Moose or Castellanos till July might make more sense, when perhaps the vaccine is wildly successful, fans are allow to return in bigger numbers and teams financial outlooks get back to 90% of normal.
I do find myself hoping to see a trade when I wake up each day, for a big time, elite prospect, but I dread seeing a trade where we get back much less than hoped and the talking-heads roundly pan the Reds GM as getting fleeced. I am so torn.
Reds Ownership can’t afford to go status quo heading into 2021, after taking a huge loss in 2020… They just do not have the resources to weather this storm. Neither can any of the other small market clubs… (There’s poor billionaires, I guess.)
Moving contracts for prospects makes a ton of “cents” to bean counter types only focused on moving the ledger out of the red & into the black.
The problem is, it’s 2020…Every club with some cash on the books, all know the Reds need to dump salary…So, even though the Reds have some savory assets to barter with…Don’t be surprised if the return package is so skewed in favor of the buyer, it’d make a pawn broker blush.
If the team doesn’t get blown up, I think we will see a lot of improvements offensively. I think the Gray or Castillo rumors have the most legs. My guess is they didn’t like the proposals for Gray, so they floated Castillo out there to try and get a specific player or package. I doubt we see more than 1 player traded.
Rotation
Gray, Mahle, Miley, Lorenzen, Antone
In the wings guys
Gutierrez, Santillian, De Leon, Lodolo
You lose that 1, 2 punch we all though we’d have but a solid rotation non the less.
Since Votto has a no trade clause offer him three choices: waive the clause, take a one-half cut in pay, or you get sent to AAA. The last is to embarrass him into taking one of the first two deals.
You don’t understand how the rules of baseball work.
If they try to send him to the minors, he says no, becomes a free agent, and the Reds are still on the hook for his full salary.
And while they could *ask* him to take a pay cut of 50%….. on no planet is anyone agreeing to do such a thing. Nor should they.
Also – who is going to trade for Joey Votto right now? Teams are crying poor and he’s owed $100M.
Amen Doug. Joey Votto is NOT the problem with this team right now. We need people that can get on base, and he is still the best at that. I gave his stats versus Castellanos somewhere in this thread I believe, and he is not the problem. Mainly I think its on field management.
It does not matter what Votto is owed, if he cannot play, he only hurts the team. Trade him to the American league. He will allow it because at least he can be a DH vs sitting on the bench.
I agree that the Reds are in a catch 22 situation with Votto, and I think he should be paid back for underpayment in his glory years, but it just hurts bad now if the Reds want to spend more money to improve. I think that he IS part of the problem because of the contract, but I am on his side to stay as is. The players seem to look up to him and I would bet we will get a Lot more production from the rest of the team the next few years. They all will step up next year, just watch.
As NIKE says: Just do it!!!!!