The Reds are unlikely to make any splashy moves this offseason, John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports. "It’s been very quiet," says GM Walt Jocketty. "I haven’t had one discussion with another team or an agent. That could change next week. But I think if we do anything, it will probably be a smaller type of deal." Fay notes that the Reds have no, or almost no, money left in their budget.
That means that the Reds are unlikely to re-sign Bronson Arroyo, and it also means they won't pursue higher-end free agents like Nelson Cruz and Stephen Drew, about whom Jocketty flatly says, "We don’t have the money."
One player the Reds could end up getting is former star Indians outfielder Grady Sizemore, MLB.com's Mark Sheldon reports. "We have [talked]," says Jocketty. "I'm not sure where that is right now. With the holidays, not much has happened." Due to injury trouble, Sizemore has not played since 2011, so if the Reds were to sign him, it would almost certainly be a minor-league deal.
I guess that means Phillips is staying put. Man, that has really got to be awkward though when it comes to that relationship.
Seriously — the guy’s never really been a leader or team player, this is just going to amplify his me first mindset and exacerbate whatever tensions there are in the clubhouse. Whoever allowed the “we really want to trade Phillips” story to leak should be fired.
2016 local TV renewal can’t come soon enough. Reds are likely looking at $30-50M more in revenue per year in the new deal.
I thought they already spent this money when they extended Votto and Phillips?
Not even close, Phillips’ pay is pretty flat through the next few years (goes up by like $1M a year or something). Joey goes up, but that’s like $10M of the $30-$50M.
Seriously? That market is smaller then STL and Reds dont have the juice to create their own regional network.
Cincinnati has the highest market TV share though. I believe that something like 7.5 households per 100 in the Fox Sports Ohio region were tuned to a Reds game on any given evening, which if not first, was easily a top 5 team in MLB.
I was actually telling my friend a few months ago that the Reds should explore Seizmore since I knew they weren’t getting Choo back. Minor League deal with incentives that could go up to say 5million and an option for next year that could warrant more if no injuries etc. Couldn’t hurt, the guy has so much upside if he’s healthy.
good luck getting fans in their seats this yr
Reds had record attendance last year in the ballpark, and they’re losing Arroyo and Choo. Those weren’t exactly the big draws. Attendance will be fine.
Their record attendance was good for 15th in all of baseball. Just a bit ahead of Bucs.
Cincinnati is 29 out of 30 in market size. They are 1/10th the size of New York, Chicago, LA, etc. They’re never going to lead the league in attendance. Shockingly a STL fan is trolling about attendance again. Same broken record.
I didn’t take it that way. He was just stating an observation. If anything, I detect a bit of envy.
If you pay attention to STL fans, everything always comes back to attendance. Their media does, their fans do it. It’s really gets old. Their beat writers always have snide tweets about Reds, Pirates, etc. attendance. It’s a broken record like I said. I’m sure lots of people have seen this.
Well, in fairness, they have drawn 3 million every year since 2003, in a small market. That’s nothing to sneeze at.
Cards have the best fan base in baseball. Instead of being bitter about that, you should think of why your team doesn’t have the same fan base.
Cardinals are tha bomb.
Matt Adams rules and Matt Holliday is a beast sliding of r second base (better watch it Pagan)!
If Cincy has/bad a decent baseball fanbase they ought to come. They have a solid team that should be able to compete with St Louis and Pittsburgh. Really good rotation with Latos, Cueto, and Homer anchoring it and some really good positional players in Bruce and Votto to hold down the center of the rotation.
Not to say having a good team is always the answer… look at Tampa. Solid team and can’t fill that stadium even in the playoffs sometimes. smh
The fact the Rays can’t fill the stadium has to do more with the really bad location of the Tropicana Dome. It’s an hour away from the actual city of Tampa, where most of the diehards live.
No playoffs for us. Got to save money for the 2015 “All-star” year
Have to appreciate the frankness. Sounds like he’s bored.
So when WJ said “We are going to do everything we can to resign Choo” I guess what he meant to say was “We broke”…..
Sizemore would be interesting. In the mold of Kevin Mitchell, Ron Gant, Eric Davis (second time around) and Josh Hamilton.
I actually like Sizemore as a bounce back candidate. Odd, I know due to his extensive injury history, but if he can stay healthy… he was one of the best CF around for a bit there in Cleveland
Sizemore was all hype and substance.
Put a fork in him, he’s done.
Im a huge Reds fan but this team will be in 3rd place !
A little luck and hitting all cylinders this team still has a shot of surprising people dont forget that Cingrani, Cueto, Chapman, Bailey and Latos make up an amazing pitching staff, while Bruce, Votto, Ludwick and Phillips give enough punch to keep this team in it IF they dont fall into slumps and Frazier, Mesaroco and Hamilton can play to their potential.
A lot of luck… Ludwick is what 36, 37 and had one good season in the last five. Cueto seems to always head to the DL by the end of May. Cingrani is a two pitch pitcher who gets by on a 90 MPH fast ball. Phillips was a product of Choo’s and Votto’s OBP and doesn’t provide much offensively (thus, he’s still with the Reds). Hopefully Price will use Chapman more than in the 9th, otherwise his talent is completely wasted. Also, his control and increase in HRs could be problematic. Frazier’s what 28? So he is what he is, an average third baseman with below league average contact skills and will put up a triple slash line around 250/320/450. Votto is the only one who gets on base, Bruce is the only one with any power, and there is reason to still be bullish on Mesaroco’s upside.
Yup third place in the central is the most likely outcome.
Jocketty should snatch up Grady Sizemore. If healthy he’d be a great low risk/high reward type of player, Losing Choo hurts, but if the Reds can get a healthy Sizemore and a decent season from Billy Hamilton, the leadoff spot could be handled. Minor league deal with incentives. Next concern is the # 4 spot with Ludwick. Reds have no choice, must stand pat, no money. The Reds bench would be:
B Pena- C
Schumaker- 2B/OF
Hannahan- 1B/3B
Heisey- OF
G. Sizemore- OF
Walt has as much to blame as not having enough TV revenue.
Broxton and Ludwick contracts were stupid. Giving contracts to guys like Votto and BP are and can be explained…. but for a MR like Broxton? Ludwick? Pathetic use of money right there along with Jack Hanahan. 2 years for JH? Really Walt?
The Votto contract is one of the worst in the league. He’s on a deal until his age 42 season. And in NL with no DH spot? Insane.
In 5 years Reds will pay the price for that contract.
Look forward to seeing your post in 5 years but for the moment Votto’s vary capable of winning a few MVPs and is a major key to any return to the playoffs. I’d guess he’ll be in the running for MVP for the next 5 years alongside Bruce.
think votto gets traded to his hometown toronto bluejays in the next 3-4 yrs.
He has a no trade clause. But yes of course….he is from Canada so he must have to go there or must want to be there. This is why he decided to sign a contract with the Reds for another 10 years.
It all makes sense to a non Reds follower that ….#1 Reds cannot afford the contract and he wants to play in Canada.
It goes through his age 40 season. 1st base is the easiest position for longevity. He’s not a guy that relies on speed (at all). Sure the last 2-3 years of the contract probably won’t be great, but for the next 6-7 the contract is fine. Votto has lead the league in OBP the last four years and finished the top 5 in OPS each of the last five years. Elite players aren’t free.
Sure it is. Worse than Alex R or Cano’s or Pujols or Hamilton’s.
The guys is making 12M this year and 14M the next….then the Reds get a new TV contract…..which will pay for that contract all by itself….as the Reds will probably make closer to 100 million in TV revenue.
Worse contract in all of baseball? Have you seen the contracts being signed lately…..this is a bargain they way contracts are going.
If the Reds stay healthy, they have a chance to win it all… That is a big if however. Hamilton’s success will be paramount to win the Central IMO…