RHP Enerio Del Rosario, OF Chris Heisey, RHP Logan Ondrusek, RHP Jordan Smith, IF Chris Valaika, LHP Philippe Valiquette and LHP Travis Wood.
Removed from the roster: RHP Daryl Thompson, who was outrighted. OF Laynce Nix refused an outright assignment and elected free agency...C Craig Tatum was claimed off waivers by the Orioles.
That puts the Reds roster exactly at 40 players. At this point, there is no room to select someone from the Rule 5 pool.
Nix wasn't too surprising of a move since he was a non-tender candidate eligible for arbitration anyway. With money tight and Jonny Gomes situation still be worked out, a spot for Nix was slim.
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My condolences to the Baker family.
]]>1. Todd Frazier, of/2b/3b
2. Yonder Alonso, 1b
3. Mike Leake, rhp
4. Chris Heisey, of
5. Juan Francisco, 3b
6. Yorman Rodriguez, of
7. Travis Wood, lhp
8. Matt Maloney, lhp
9. Brad Boxberger, rhp
10. Zack Cozart, ss
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]]>Reports last week said that club was reducing payroll, which triggered speculation that a salary dump was near and that Brandon Phillips would be the most marketable player for a trade.
"All of that stuff was speculation by a number of different writers," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "They see that our attendance is down and so that must mean our payroll will go down. We were grouped in with clubs that are reducing payroll but we're not in that position and hopefully won't be."
Jocketty denied attempts are being made to trade Phillips. He also said that the club isn't necessarily slashing the payroll that was at $73 million in 2009.
"We really don't know yet," Jocketty said. "The final budget won't be done until December and then we'll have a better idea once season tickets sales come in. It may have to come down some but it's too early to say. I have to approach that way but if it's not [that way], we'll have a nice surplus."
With Hernandez now signed, it seems less logical [or popular with fans] that the Reds would turn around and trade key members of the roster like Phillips or Bronson Arroyo. But man are things getting tight. I count nine players making a combined $64.75 million in 2010.
They are:
Francisco Cordero - $12M
Aaron Harang - $12.5M
Scott Rolen - $11M
Bronson Arroyo - $11M
Brandon Phillips - $6.75M
Willy Taveras - $4M
Hernandez - $3M
Mike Lincoln - $2.5M
Arthur Rhodes - $2M
As for Hernandez, Jocketty had this to say:
"He was a priority for us this winter," Jocketty said on Monday. "He's familiar with the club and our pitching staff. We're confident his knee has recovered. He and [Ryan] Hanigan, we feel, is a good tandem catching wise."
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]]>Today the Reds announced that Class AAA Louisville's coaching staff will include manager
Rick Sweet, hitting coach Adrian Garrett, pitching coach Ted Power and athletic trainer Tomas Vera;
Class A Lynchburg's coaching staff will include manager Pat Kelly, hitting coach Tony Jaramillo, pitching coach Rigo Beltran and athletic trainer Dale Nitzel; rookie league Billings' coaching staff will include manager Delino DeShields, hitting coach Alex Pelaez, pitching coach Bob Forsch and athletic trainer Charles Leddon; rookie Arizona League Goodyear's coaching staff will include manager Julio Garcia, pitching coach Tom Browning, hitting coach Jorge Orta, head athletic trainer Clete Sigwart, assistant athletic trainer
Charlie Rodriguez and strength and conditioning coach Zach Gjestvang.
REDSFEST ATTENDEES: Bronson Arroyo, Dusty Baker, Todd Benzinger, Mark Berry, Jack Billingham, Pedro Borbon, Glenn Braggs, Jeff Brantley, Marty
Brennaman, Tom Browning, Jay Bruce, Jared Burton, Leo Cardenas, Clay Carroll, Zack Cozart, Johnny Cueto, Eric Davis, Jim Day, Chris Dickerson,
Carlos Fisher, Juan Francisco, Todd Frazier, Wayne Granger, Ryan Hanigan (Friday only), Chuck Harmon, Billy Hatcher (Friday only), Chris Heisey,
Tommy Helms, Daniel Ray Herrera, Brook Jacoby, Tracy Jones (Saturday only), Jim Kelch, Mike Lincoln, Jerry Lynch, Jim Maloney, Matt Maloney, Nick
Masset, Lee May, Hal Morris, Jim O'Toole (Friday only), Ron Oester, Joe Oliver, Logan Ondrusek, Micah Owings, Brandon Phillips, Jeff Piecoro, Bryan
Price, Jeff Reed, Arthur Rhodes, Scott Rolen, Adam Rosales, Chris Sabo (Friday only), Scott Scudder, Mario Soto, Chris Speier, Mike Stefanski, Drew
Stubbs, Chris Valaika, Pedro Viola, Edinson Volquez, Joey Votto, Chris Welsh, Herm Winningham and Travis Wood.
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]]>
After deciding to decline his $8.5 million club option ($1M buyout), the Reds have re-signed primary catcher Ramon Hernandez to a one-year contract. The deal also includes a vesting option for 2011 that will become guaranteed if Hernandez appears in 120 games next season.
(Update: I have learned the contract is worth $3 million for 2010 and the vesting option would be worth $3.250 million if Hernandez can trigger the games played clause.)
Hernandez batted .258 with five home runs and 37 RBIS in 81 games in his first season with the Reds. His return means that Ryan Hanigan will likely return to his backup role.
"It's a good place with great players," Hernandez said of the Reds from his home in Miami. "I know they'll do very good next season. That's why I decided to come back."
Hernandez said his agent, Eric Goldschmidt, worked on the deal over the weekend and told him that it was done on Sunday night.
Hernandez was not surprised when his option wasn't picked up.
"I expected it to happen," he said. "Hopefully next year, they'll see Ramon Hernandez play the whole year."
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]]>Among the topics:
* Catcher Ramon Hernandez is definitely not having his $8.5 million option picked up and will get the buyout for $1 million. The Reds want Hernandez back, however.
"We're not going to pick up the option," Jocketty said on Friday. "We have been talking with his agent and trying to negotiate a new deal. We're hoping he comes back."
Hernandez would be a Type B free agent on the market, which means the Reds would get a first-round sandwich pick if he's offered arbitration and signs elsewhere.
* When asked about the Brewers trading shortstop J.J. Hardy to the Twins for CF Carlos Gomez, Jocketty said the Reds had interest in Hardy.
"We talked to [the Brewers] several times," Jocketty said. "We didn't match up and they didn't want to trade within our division, which was understandable."
* Jocketty wants to retain catcher Corky Miller and outfielder Darnell McDonald after they were sent outright to Triple-A Louisville. Miller was signed to a 2010 contract with Louisville.
* As for arbitration eligible outfielders Jonny Gomes and Laynce Nix, "we've talked a little bit," Jocketty said.
* In more moves revealed later, infielder Danny Richar was reinstated from the 60-day disabled list, was outrighted off the roster and elected free agency. 1B Kevin Barker was outrighted off the roster and elected free agency; RHP Justin Lehr was signed to a one-year Major League contract through the 2010 season and then was outrighted to Louisville.
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]]>]]>
Key Reds Hitters (by OPS)
Player At-bats R HR RBI SB Avg. OPS
Joey Votto 502 80 27 90 7 .311 .947
Jay Bruce 574 92 38 95 10 .274 .877
Todd Frazier 507 61 17 69 9 .278 .807
B. Phillips 613 85 21 81 22 .269 .756
Drew Stubbs 544 76 11 51 51 .267 .726
Notice the No. 3 guy on the list -- James thinks very highly of prospect Todd Frazier. The infielder/outfielder could be an interesting subplot when Spring Training gets here.
Key Reds Pitchers (by ERA)
Player IP W L K SV ERA
Bronson Arroyo 210 11 12 144 0 4.11
Aaron Harang 211 11 12 179 0 4.18
Johnny Cueto 174 9 10 155 0 4.40
| BATTERS | LEAGUE | AVG | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | HR | RBI |
| Alonso, Yonder | AFL | .244 | 11 | 45 | 8 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| Bankston, Wes | LMP | .229 | 13 | 48 | 9 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Barker, Kevin | DWL | .364 | 12 | 44 | 7 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Bolivar, Luis | VWL | .242 | 11 | 33 | 6 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cozart, Zack | AFL | .354 | 12 | 48 | 9 | 17 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 10 |
| Dorn, Daniel | VWL | .250 | 17 | 52 | 6 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 9 |
| Ford, Lew | VWL | .317 | 15 | 63 | 9 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 7 |
| Francisco, Juan | DWL | .184 | 10 | 38 | 6 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 |
| Heisey, Chris | AFL | .364 | 14 | 55 | 13 | 20 | 5 | 2 | 3 | 10 |
| McDonald, Darnell | LMP | .378 | 19 | 74 | 15 | 28 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 20 |
| Rojas, Miguel | VWL | .310 | 12 | 29 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Rosales, Adam | LMP | .325 | 20 | 80 | 17 | 26 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 12 |
| Tatum, Craig | DWL | .179 | 8 | 28 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| PITCHERS | LEAGUE | W | L | ERA | G |
| Boxberger, Bradley | AFL | 1 | 1 | 7.00 | 4 |
| Castro, Oscar | LMP | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 1 |
| Del Rosario, Enerio | DWL | 1 | 1 | 3.18 | 6 |
| Jukich, Ben | DWL | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 2 |
| Kennard, Jeff | DWL | 0 | 1 | 2.08 | 5 |
| Leake, Mike | AFL | 0 | 1 | 1.04 | 3 |
| LeCure, Sam | DWL | 0 | 2 | 7.71 | 3 |
| Medina, Ruben | VWL | 1 | 0 | 6.30 | 9 |
| Ondrusek, Logan | AFL | 2 | 1 | 10.80 | 6 |
| Watson, Sean | AFL | 0 | 1 | 11.57 | 6 |
In the meantime, here are some things to keep in mind:
Redsfest tickets go on sale on Monday...of course, they can be purchased at reds.com. It will be held on Dec. 4-5 at the Duke Energy Center.
Click here for more information:
http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/cin/fan_forum/redsfest.jsp
A list of players expected to attend isn't out yet but a majority of players under contract are usually on hand, as are several prospects and former players. In the past few years since Redsfest came back after a layoff, it's been a top notch event. If you like baseball and need an itch to scratch, check it out.
I've been getting e-mails about the releasing of a Spring Training schedule for the first camp at Goodyear. All I know is it's likely to come some time in November so keep checking back. Deposits for Spring Training season tickets are being accepted now.
http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/spring_training/tickets.jsp?c_id=cin
There should be another edition of the Reds Inbox next week. Feel free to click on the comment link below if you'd like to get a question in. You can also send them by e-mail or via Twitter.
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]]>Cliff Lee for the Phillies vs. CC Sabathia for the Yankees. They were the last two American League Cy Young Award winners...for the Indians. Sabathia in 2007 and Lee in 2008.
Ouch.
Of course, the Indians just had a lousy season and face a long road back to contender status.
My prediction for what it's worth -- Phillies will win the Series in seven games even though I don't like the week-long layoff they'll get.
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]]>Some stuff to think about in the coming weeks:
The 40-man roster has to be set by Nov. 20. Among the prospects that will need protection are Chris Heisey, Travis Wood and Chris Valaika. Players drafted and signed at age 19 or older get four years in the minors before they have to be protected on a 40-man roster. The wait is five years for players taken at age 18 or younger. That means the Reds can wait one more year on Todd Frazier, who taken out of college in 2007.
"We're in the process on developing a plan," Reds GM Walt Jocketty said on Thursday. "We have a number of players to protect on our 40-man roster, which means we have a lot of tough decisions on guys to keep on the roster or not."
The $8.5 club option ($1M buyout) must be exercised or declined on catcher Ramon Hernandez. That doesn't have to be decided until soon after the World Series. My take: the Reds won't pick up the option but will try to re-negotiate for a lower-priced deal.
The shortstop situation is still fluid. Look for the Reds to scan the trade market.
Here are some other key dates:
Dec. 1, 2009
Last date for former Club to offer their free agents salary arbitration to receive compensation.
Dec. 7-10, 2009
Winter Meetings, Indianapolis. The Rule 5 Draft is Dec. 10 before everyone bugs out.
Dec. 12, 2009
Tender deadline
I was out of town when Bryan Price was named the pitching coach on Saturday. It sounds like a decent hire to me. Price was in Arizona with Brandon Webb and Dan Haren (and Micah Owings) and was in Seattle when young ace Felix Hernandez came to the Majors.
Jocketty liked Price's ability as a teacher of young pitchers that can also handle the veterans well.
"He has experience teaching at the minor league level as a coordinator and coach and he's had success at the Major League level," Jocketty said. "He's not a household name but once people see the work he does and how he relates with the pitchers, they'll see why we liked him."
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]]>Now 40 years old, Weathers posted a 3.92 ERA in 68 games combined with the Reds and Brewers this season. Milwaukee holds a $3.7 million option on Weathers for 2010.
]]>In the meantime, check out this photo gallery. Spring Training is around the corner, sort of.
Also -- Reds assistant director of media relations Jamie Ramsey has become the latest to start a Reds blog, Better Off Red. When you have a chance, check it out.
In a compliment that is in no way a shameless attempt to gain favor, Jamie is a great guy to work with and his wit shown in the minor league report has become appointment reading for people in the press box. His ongoing fashion jabs at Thom Brennaman's pants could one day result in a battle royale that will be folklore through the generations. Is that an enticing promo or what?
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