Reds pick up Dunn, Hattie, Javy options
The Reds picked up the options of Adam Dunn, Scott Hatteberg and Javier Valentin. They refused the $3.5 million option on Eddie Guardado. No huge surprises.
Dunn will make $13 million, Hatteberg $1.85 million and Valentin $1.35 million. Hatteberg's a good deal at that price, even if Joey Votto's the starter. And it sounds like that's the case.
"I like Scott Hatteberg on the roster," Wayne Krivsky said. "I'm trying to give Dusty (Baker) as many weapons as possible."
Also, Johnny Narron will not be back as video coordinator/Josh Hamilton mentor.
Reds will try to re-sign Guardado at a reduced rate. "We're keeping open the dialogue with Eddie and his agent," Krivsky said.
posted by John Fay at 4:35 PM
18 Comments:
at 5:03 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 5:08 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 5:40 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 5:47 PM 
jbench5 said...
-
-
at 6:10 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 6:45 PM 
Dan H said...
-
-
at 6:47 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 8:49 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 9:45 PM 
Unknown said...
-
-
at 10:07 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 10:11 PM 
Brick said...
-
-
at 11:15 PM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 11:29 PM 
John Fay said...
-
-
at 12:20 AM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 9:03 AM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 9:10 AM 
John said...
-
-
at 11:28 AM 
Anonymous said...
-
-
at 12:59 PM 
Rob Dicken said...
-
-
Post a Comment*John: With the Reds picking up these options, could they now trade these players in the off season? The reason for the question was, on Adam Dunn, wasn't there some clause in his contract last year that was enacted automatically if he were traded? Maybe it was the automatic renewal @ $13.0MM or something like that.
Having Valentin at catcher will hurt. Sure offensively he is alright - but base runners will steal this guy blind. This is one area the team could use an upgrade. Maybe Edwin could catch....
Unless the team signs Dunn long term - he should be moved... The team needs to get something good out of Dunn.
Hatty is a class guy that is only going to help coming off the bench.... and at a ceap price.
Whatever happened to Dave Collins?
Adam Dunn's contract explicitly states that he now cannot be traded until the trading deadline (July 15) and only to the team of his choice, which is why they should've never bothered picking up his option in the first place. The handwriting was on the wall at this past year's TD as no one was willing to part with what the Reds were asking for a one trick Donkey for the last 3 months of the season. Could've put that 13 mill towards Torii Hunter, but I guess the FO is content w/ yet another LH hitter (read: cannot hit lefties) who cannot hit w/ runners on base and is not suited for LF w/ no range nor a decent arm.
Is it reading too much into this that a Votto package will be moved for pitching and the Reds will continue the Hatteberg/Cantu platoon at 1B?
Can you give odds on that, John?
I hope they can still get Guardado but I doubt it after 7 consecutive marvelous performances at the end. Was something wrong with Javy's arm last year? He only threw out 5 of 45 last year, but in 8 of 18 the prior year and 10 of 35 the year before that.
Valentin and Hatteberg are bargains at this price and good pieces to the overall puzzle. Hatteberg class act, solid baseball guy and should be a good pinch-hitter/part-timer if Votto is the starter. Dunn's production would be hard to replace, Bruce still has not proven himself at the ML level but if he does by mid-season then you have some options at the trade deadline. Back to Hatteberg, could this mean Votto is trade bait for starteing pitching? Pitching MUST be next on Krivsky/Baker's plate. Hamilton apparently has proven himself and at some point the "mentoring" has to be finished. After all he is a adult and should be responsible for his actions given his "re-birth". All in all good moves by the Reds including the Chris Spier hiring but don't forget about pitching.
Last I heard, Collins was coaching for the Brewers after spending a couple years with the Rockies. Wish he'd come back to the Reds. Collins was the first coach to use a stopwatch to time the pitchers before sending the runners to steal. Now evry firstbase coach does this.
I expect Dunn to be signed to a long term deal before next season. When it comes down to the choice between Dunn and Griffey at the end of the year next year, they'll let Griffey go free agent. Hamilton will move to right and Bruce will take over center.
Hatteberg had said he'd prefer to start, rather than be a role player. But maybe he's changed his mind because he also said he might only play another year or so. All the same, he will be useful, if for no other reason than for a positive influence in the clubhouse.
Considering the Reds are bound to be on the hunt for relievers this winter and trying to decide whether McBeth, Coutlangus, Salmon and possibly Shearn are deserving of an extended tryout next year, Guardado was probably a victim of the numbers crunch. It's too bad since, again, I thought he was a positive influence. He's bound to end up somewhere
If these numbnuts trade Votto in favor of a 38-39 year old first baseman who has to be platooned then somebody better be scheduling Wayne for a visit at Bellvue!
Why waste 16 million on Dunn (after incentives) when Jay Bruce could knock in 20 fewer runs for 15.5 million dollars less??
Does anybody in this management group bother to think?????
That's 16 million that could have been spent on Francisco Cordero to come in here an close games out, plus a guy like Linebrink in middle relief.
Brain-dead orgainzation. Sit back and get ready for yet another sub .500 record!
Have some you lost your minds? Not picking up Dunn's option would have been the dumbest baseball move known to man. The man hit 40 HR, had 100 RBI's, and scored 100 runs. You do not let that walk for nothing. That has major value on the market, not to mention his offensive production is not replaceable by anyone on the current roster. The point is simply you do not let those numbers go without being fully compensated for it.
John, with Dunn's option being picked up is it more or less likely that the Reds will sign him to a long term deal before the season begins? I know that the idea of a longer term deal was tossed around and was just wondering if this announcement would have any effect on the possibility or not. Thanks.
I'm amazed that Dunn gets ripped like he does on this board. Let's see:
Batting average: .264 (that's good for him and typical of a power guy), HR - 40 (#1 on team), RBI - 106 (#1), SLG% - .556 (#1), OBP - .386 (#3), BB - 101 (#1), Games Played - 152 (#2), Total Bases - 289 (#2), 165 strike outs (lowest total in 4 years), 6 errors this season (down from 12 the year before). The numbers look pretty good to me. It's not the Donkey's fault the Reds bullpen sucks.
According the Reds website Hamilton said "I told him it was his decision, ultimately. Would it have helped me if he stayed? Yeah, it would have. At the same time, it won't affect if I come back and play."
Whats the deal here John? Is this going to effect Hamilton, meaning did he just say that to keep things good with the office, or is he really upset about this?
My guess is Dunn ends up signing long-term. Krivsky said he's open to it. Castellini certainly is.
I like Johnny Narron. I think he played an important role with Hamilton, but you can't have personal coaches. That did not sit well with a lot of players.
I'm with Scott on the Adam Dunn rips. I have no real love for Shake 'n Bake but he puts up good offensive numbers. The last time I checked, he wasn't costing us games like the bullpen. Even if the Reds didn't pick up the $13M option you couldn't get the pitching we need anyway. Look at how much the Cubbies spent on Lily ($30M) and before that who had ever heard of the guy? The pitching market is rediculous and the salaries commanded by decent/fair relief pitching is way beyond Dunn's option even if you sunk it into a single player (we need MULTIPLE options in the pen). Dunn scores runs and if we can't win defensively then sink it into trying to run the score up on offense. It's sad to have some of the best fantasy stats and still be in the cellar.
For an organization watching every dollar, why do they continue to waste money. Hatteberg is a nice guy but with Votto and Cantu taking over at first base, put that almost 2 mil towards a better relief pitcher. I'm sure Keppinger could play first if needed...if not you do what most people in management do, you tell someone (Dunn) to change positions to better the organization! Also, why go after Guardado, we already have a 50 year old lefty in Stanton who can't get anyone out. Any feelers on Carlos Silva?? Might make a good number 3 guy with not much out there to choose from.
Signing Hatteberg is cool and all, but what do you do with Cantu and Votto?
Do you really need three first basemen? Or should Cantu start taking grounders elsewhere?
Cantu has played 21 games in his career at first (14 with the Reds), 218 at 2nd, 74 at third ... Hatteberg is a joy to watch, I'm glad he's back. One of the few guys on the team that truly knows how to work a pitcher.
Jay Bruce could knock in 20 fewer runs for 15.5 million dollars less??
He hasn't even played in the majors yet! Remember when these words were being said about Brandon Larsen? Last time I checked, he was playing Double A baseball for Washington. Until Jay Bruce proces himself at the major league level, you never put your money on a PROSPECT in the major leagues. You put it on MAJOR LEAGUE TALENT!
Dunn is a PROVEN major league talent that can knock in and score the runs needed, and he plays EVERY DAY. He's worth every penny he gets paid, and the option picked up was the smartest thing this organization could do at this point in time.
* Our online blogs currently are hosted and operated by a third party, namely, Blogger.com. You are now leaving the Cincinnati.Com website and will be linked to Blogger.com's registration page. The Blogger.com site and its associated services are not controlled by Cincinnati.Com and different terms of use and privacy policy will apply to your use of the Blogger.com site and services.
By proceeding and/or registering with Blogger.com you agree and understand that Cincinnati.Com is not responsible for the Blogger.com site you are about to access or for any service you may use while on the Blogger.com site. << Home