Reds interested in Fogg?
I heard today that the Reds have been talking to free agent right-hander Josh Fogg. Wayne Krivsky would not confirm that.
Fogg, a 31-year-old right-hander, was 10-9 with 4.94 ERA for Colorado last year. It was the fifth time in six years he's won at least 10 games. But he's never pitched 200 innings.
Fogg made $3.625 million last year, so the Reds might be able to get him at a relatively reasonable price.
Krivsky did say the Reds remain hopeful about landing a veteran for the rotation. He just won't name names, of course.
56 Comments:
They don't have the Fogg-iest idea.
Bedard is still out there. I think the Reds need to pay the price.
This makes no sense to me. Fogg is a flyball pitcher who gives up a ton of hits. I understand the free agent market for pitchers is very slim, but the reds do not need to bring in another MILTON! Why can't the Reds just go with their young pitchers and let them learn on the fly for once. A rotation of harange, arroyo, belisle, bailey, and volquez may be inexperienced and inconsistent, but at least it would be exciting to watch them grow. Also, Cueto and Maloney would be playing in AAA ready to be brought up to the bigs when an injury occurs or due to poor performances.
Say it ain't so. Don't need a guy like that taking innings away from Bailey, Volquez, & Cueto. The young guys can at least match his numbers and get the experience to allow improvement as the year goes along at the same time.
A flyball pitcher who doesn't strike anybody out. How did Ramon Ortiz work out for us again? Fogg is just a hair above replacement level. Anything more than his 2007 salary is a bad idea, particularly if it's more than 1 year. He's a stopgap poor #4 starter at his best. Yuck.
Ugh.
Is this the best they can do?
How clearly can it be spelled out?
The only free agent worth pursuing is Livan Hernandez--and he is a stretch.
Get Bedard, Joe Blanton, or some other young pitcher in a trade--or go with the kids.
John,
What is the word with the market in solid vets in the bullpen. I would rather the Reds put some more millions in the pen (up to Bedard money for a few guys combined) to help with our young talent in the starting rotation. Ease the Reds into the season while they learn under fire. Sign the pen guys for one year and get rid of them when the rotation is solid.
If this rumor is true then I have one question. Did Krivsky bump his head? I wouldn’t sign Josh Fogg if he agreed to play for free in 2008. He is a right-handed flyball pitcher whose stuff is well below average. GAB has been a nightmare for soft throwers and there is no humidor factor there. This guy is a bullpen killer who gives up runs and hits in bunches. My gut feeling is that Wayne is smarter than this and this will not happen.
I think this would be a good pick up. He has piched in the playoffs, and was huge in pressuse times for the rockies last year. Wasnt his nickname the Giant killer? What do you think John?
I mean Fogg isnt great. But Adding 10 wins could be nice.
What's the difference between Fogg and Eric Milton? nothing.
Pat there is a difference...Milton is a lefty! haha
Fogg is cheaper, and worth giving a shoot on a one year deal, he was in the World series last year, and so he wants to get back, i think he is going to have a big year!
I know this is off topic but how come Bronson's comments aren't making bigger news? Dude comes out and (repeatedly, mind you) says he wants out of cincinnati...He is our number two starter and hates our city! Not to mention he was absolutley horrible last year, something even his almost average second half didn't make up for. Maybe Bronson should spend more time with his conditioning and pitching coaches and less time playing shows in cities he has no business being in! I am beginning to think that Bronson is letting his personal feelings effect his pitching...
Pat the difference in Milton and Fogg is that Milton will actually cost less and he is a lefty.
Honestly though.. this is not the type of vet the Reds need to be going after. Yes he was on a World Series team and won 10 games.. but he's not going to be worth the price tag. Not in this park. Like was said before he is a #4 at best and that still leaves Belisle at #3 which is scary.
I'd try to go for Bedard or Kazmir. If that fails go for Cliff Lee or Joe Blanton. If that doesn't pan out then sign Livan and be done with it.
Johnny
I like it - Fogg has great stuff.
Maloney, Bailey, Volquez, Cueto..
It sounds like a liquor cabinet already, who needs Fogg?
I agree with previous commenters.
Id' rather the Reds:
a) Saved money and went with what they have.
b) Signed Eric Milton and another guy to a minor league deal.
Fogg is a righty, flyball pitcher who gives up a ton of hits. His 4.94 ERA last year was his best ERA in three years. Milton if healthy could easily do as good as that. And Fogg has never pitched 200 innings, so he isn't an innings eater.
This is just a dumb move. Don't sign a vet just to sign a vet. I like Krivsky, but this would be his worst move yet. I'm going to go vomit now.
"Adding 10 wins would be nice."
Indeed. Unfortunately, Fogg's W-L record says almost nothing about how he'll pitch for the Reds. Eric Milton, of course, was signed because he'd won 14 games as a Phillie (14-6!! Who doesn't like 14-6?!?!)
Take away Fogg's run support, Denver's great defense, and solid bullpen, and you have a guy who was no better than Matt Belisle, and less likely to improve.
Pass.
I say if bronson wants to go back to Boston and be out of Cincinnati, http://bostonist.com/2008/01/07/dear_boston_i_m.php , then i say lets send him back. He is not even that great of a pitcher. Trade him back and get a decent pitcher in return.
It sounds to me like he was playng to the crowd. He signed a deal for below market here. He could have left as free agent if he hadn't.
John, the reds are an embarrassment. Signing Fogg would be a joke. Fire Wayne now!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John,
What's Fogg's velocity like? What tools does he have?
Oh, and thanks for your efforts keeping the blog clean. My 10 year old twin boys read this blog avidly and I can't stand it when they read a bunch of idiots insulting each other. I really appreciate you trying to make it fan-friendly. This sport has lately ignored the youngsters who used to be captivated by baseball. It's hard to let them read everything they can when guys in their mom's basement can't keep their mouths clean.
To all of you guys/girls who keep having arguments with each other and complain about John keeping it clean: Kids read this stuff. It's not censorship for Nuxie's sake. It's making sure things stay high-brow. He's doing his job. Don't take things so stinking personally, it's baseball... the greatest sport. Meant to be ENJOYED.
~3 of the biggest Reds fans in D.C.
I just read the article from Boston. NC Reds fan, don't be silly, it's a joke to play to the crowd.
Also, still don't get all the anonymous haters on this blog with the fire Krivsky remarks fat gonzales remarks etc, Agree with you DC Reds fan. Thanks to John for keeping it on track.
The Reds don't need Fogg, can't imagine spending 4 million or more on the guy.
Suck it up and spend the 7 or 8 million it will take to get Livan. Or take a flyer on Benson for the 4 million or less...
I see that Joe Kay of the AP says that the Reds are 1 of 4 teams making solid offers to Guardado, but the Rangers seem to have the inside track. This is the guy I think the Reds need. Please spend your Fogg money on Eddie. He would have only cost $3.5M had they picked up the option. He actually fills a need. After his solid finish last year he's a better bet than their other lefties. I feel good about their RH options out of the pen.
Thinking Fogg would be more of a Cory Lidle kind of pitcher here. An occasional great start mixed with few nondescript intertwined with some god awful ones.
Still rather see them grab Blanton or another Free agent. But what can you do?
Woody
Thinking Fogg would be more of a Cory Lidle kind of pitcher here.
Dead arm?
Fogg would be a waste of 4 million.
The kids have more promise than Fogg.
Cordero and the Rangers pitchers for Hamilton were good attempts at giving this team what it needs to improve. Fogg won't improve this team at all.
The Reds really should try to sign one of those humidor's (sp) that they use in Colorado. If they had one of those they would improve their ERA by a run a game.
Before I say this, let me start by saying this obviously wouldn't be my favorite signing of all-time.... that being said, Fogg does have a career record of 4-2 at GABP with an ERA of 4.17. That's not great, but it's better than the career 6-9 record and 5.16 ERA that Belisle owns at GABP, and he's locked into the rotation.
Fogg would not be THE answer, but if we can sign him for cheap and create more competition in spring training without mortgaging our future, I'm fine with it.
redfuture hit the nail on the head... sign Eddie and let Josh go off into the Fogg.
If we're not going to mortgage the future on a Bedard/Blanton/Ace Du Jour... then let the young guys get the innings and the team can grow as a unit.
Innings eaters are nice, but not so nice when they are losers who hurt the team. If you're going to go after a vet Krivsky, can you at least try to make it a vet that fits our ballpark?
4-2 with a 4.17 ERA in GABP isn't bad but my gut just doesn't like this move. I still think the Reds should go at Bedard with full force, trade Votto for him (anyone but Jay Bruce).
I don't understand the obsession with trying to get Blanton. I know his ERA seems good, but if you look closer at the numbers and see that he had a 5.11 ERA in 119.2 innings away from Oakland (a very good pitcher's park) I don't think that will translate well into GABP. Plus you know Billy Beane is going to want our young players, just does not seem worth it for a guy who doesn't play too well outside of a pitcher's park
I'd be interested to know why they wouldn't sign Livan AND a guy like Garcia or Colon to an incentive laden contract. The potential for all three of these guys, despite injuries, is much better than Fogg, who to me is much like Milton.
Fogg is an absolute bumb. He was horrible in Pittsburgh and wasn't much better in Colorado. For all that is holy please don't sign him. Fly ball pitchers throwing 88 don't make sense at GABP. Please no. if he goes five innings it's is considered a good outing for him, why not let one of the young guys throw five, take their lumps, and learn.
Fogg is Milton all over again... just say no, Wayne! Slightly fewer HR's, but more hits and walks. He'd be a terrible fit in GABP.
By the way, I don't put too much stock in Fogg's career numbers at GABP, since it's based on a very small sample... but even in that fairly good ERA (4.17), there are warning signs (10 HR in 49.7 innings).
I really like Jonathan Sanchez of SF. He's younger (and therefore still improving), and he can blow it by you.
Also, Sanchez had a rough year last year, but mostly due to a bad BABIP (batting average on balls in play). That BABIP number is mostly random, and therefore likely to come back to the normal range this year. Basically, he was unlucky... which might give us a chance to buy low.
Check out the eye-popping K rates here:
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/S/Jonathan-Sanchez.shtml
This guy couldn't make it in the Pirates rotation. Why pay him veteran money when you could get the same production from a rookie like Cueto at the major league minimum and save money for a mid season deal if they are in contention.Fogg will be a bust if they bring him here.
The Reds should stand pat and enjoy the ten game improvement they may see this year and go for a championship in 2009. Griffey will be retired and they can afford another top level arm and the young guys will be more prepared to carry the club.
EE for Clif Lee?
or Votto or EE for Lowry?
We already have Josh Fogg on the roster. His name is Victor Santos. I am a huge Krivsky proponent but signing Fogg would be a huge mistake. I throw harder than he does and there is no reason to think that the Reds can do anything to his mechanics to add velocity or for him to add another out pitch. He's an average fastball/changeup guy and that's that. I don't care if he's a dragon killer, or gritty, or tough, or any of that garbage. He's pedestrian. I was acutally dumbfounded when I saw the rumors they were talking to him. Hopefully this is just posturing in order to get the O's to think the Reds are looking elsewhere for a starter. Fogg is a number 5 starter at best, and at worst will be designated for assignment by mid-season.
Well I was waiting for the nay-sayers to chime in about Bronson's song before a BOSTON crowd singing a song called BOSTON. This is a non-story, so please, stop the nonsense now before this turns into another Chad Johnson-type of controversy (as in a story that is made up by the media and perpetrated by the media and talk radio).
Regarding Fogg, seriously, this would be a worthless signing. Almost a 5 ERA. Enough said, either do better than that on the free agency market, make a trade, or go young.
I would trade EE for Lowry or Cliff Lee, for sure. If that deal is even on the table.
I AM SORTA LOST HERE ..REDSFUTURE ET AL..HAVE REPEATEDLY EMPHASIZED THAT THE REDS ARE GONNA MAKE A MOVE THIS YEAR AND CONTEND FOR A TITLE...YET IF YOU READ THIS POST HE ONCE AGAIN HAS CHANGED HIS OPINION... NOW THIS WILL BE A YEAR WHERE THE YOUNG ARMS SHOULD LEARN AND GET EXPERIENCE.
FURTHERMORE WHO IS TO SAY THAT VOLQUEZ AND CUETO EVEN MAKE THE TEAM?
REDSFUTURE.. GUARDADO HAD A COUPLE OF DECENT OUTINGS YET FOR THE MOST PART HE LOOKED TERRIBLE..HIS CAREER IS ABOUT OVER.
AARON WHAT MOVES HAVE THE REDS MADE TO CONTEND AS YOU SUGGEST
WE GOT A HIGH PRICED CLOSER ON THE TAIL END OF HIS CAREER. THATS IT
OUR MIDDLE RELIEVERS STINK AND I SEE NOTHING THAT HELPS THIS OUT.
WE DONT HAVE A CATCHER
DEFENSIVELY GRIFFEY AND DUNN ARE AVERAGE.. WE TRADED AWAY, MINIMALLY.. A GREAT DEFENSIVE OUTFIELDER
AS IS THE CASE WITH YOU AND MANY OTHERS THAT BLOG..THE FOUNDATION OF YOUR THESIS THAT THE REDS WILL BE CONTENDERS REST ONLY ON YOUR HOPE THAT PROSPECTS AND /OR MINOR LEAGUERS WILL MAKE THE TEAM AND DO GREAT... OR THAT OUR MIDDLE RELIEVERS LIKE COFFEY ETC WILL HAVE SPECTACULAR TURNAROUND YEARS
WE SIGNED A CLOSER ..THATS ALL FOLKS . ASIDE FROM "PROSPECTS THAT MAY OR NOT MAKE THE TEAM AND HAVING SOME MINOR LEAGUERS THAT HAVE NEVER PLAYED A SINGLE GAME AT THE MAJOR LEAGUE LEVEL..ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO IMPROVE LAST YEARS TEAM
BY THE WAY GANG..THE BENGALS ARE GONNA BE IN THE SUPERBOWL
JACK IN BLUE ASH
Not quite sure why everyone keeps calling Fogg a flyball pitcher. Look at this list of pitchers with their groundball to flyball ratios in their last year:
Milton 0.55
Arroyo 0.76
Weathers 0.77
Cordero 0.80
Harang 0.88
Fogg 0.98
Bailey 1.04
Fogg will be about the least flyball pitcher on the whole Reds staff. While it's true that he pitches to contact (which isn't so great when the Reds' lousy defense backs you up), he also has pitched in the cozy confines of Coors Field for the last two years. I really like that his road ERA last year was 4.15.
Let's face it, we NEED a 3rd established starting pitcher if we want to make the playoffs this year. While our young guys have lots of talent, Cueto and Maloney have combined for only 39 IP at AAA. We can't rely on them to contribute this year at the big league club. Without signing another pitcher, all it takes is one injury or a poor performance from Belisle, Bailey, or Volquez before we are depending on guys who were AA pitchers last year. Anyone want to bet against that happening? I sure don't, and when it does, our bullpen will again suffer from overuse. Another SP like Fogg means that one of Bailey, Volquez, or Belisle can falter without hurting us too badly.
The one thing that concerns me about Fogg is that, according to mlbtraderumors.com, he is expected to get a 3 yr, 21 million contract. That wouldn't be worth it for us. I'd sign him for 1 yr 5 mil, or maybe 2 yr 8 million, but absolutely no higher than that. We don't need him for 3 years.
- Tim
I too have serious doubts about Fogg in a Reds uniform. He is just like Milton, and b--fat you're right, Milton night be a better option in that he is a lefty!
As far as Bedard, the Reds should only sign him if he agrees to a multi-year contract, since it seems very clear that he will test the market when he becomes a free agent in two years. There is no sense bringing him in for just a couple of years, take inings away from the youngsters, and then leaving for what he would consider greener pastures!
I don't want FOGG here but he is better, as a poster pointed out, than Belisle at GABP, and he's far better than Milton.
We need a Blanton or Bedard quality starter.
So far the Reds 2008 is Cordero riding a pig with lipstick.
Although I have high hopes for those Rangers pitchers that we got for Hammie, and very high hopes that Keppinger will keep Dunkin Donutez on the bench, and that Votto and Bruce will play a full season and make us forget about Hammie's offense, if not his defense, it looks like fourth or third place this year, at best.
Krivsky's grades:
Hamilton Trade: A
Cordero: A
Cantu: F
Fiorentino: F
Andy Phillips: D+
Dusty Baker: D (too much money for too little return when we needed that money to buy free agent starting pitching or maybe Japan has an arm that the Cubs and Red Sox haven't swiped yet...)
Other moves: not enough info yet.
We need the best starter you can buy, Wayne. Not the most mediocre journeyman starter who just happened to win a playoff game last year...
Nice post on the fly-ball stats...
1. Milton won't be healthy until long into the season, so can we stop mentioning him as a realistic possibility?
2. I'm not crazy about Fogg either. But look at the Reds' options. They can't sign Livan because he will probably want at least a two-year deal. The Reds already appear headed to have 5 other above-average pitchers in '09, so there's no point in paying Livan $9 million or so that year. Now, Fogg is at best an average pitcher, but he's better than Belisle. If they can get him cheaply, he improves the team, and there's no demonstrably better option, then what are we complaining about?
Do you guys really belive the reds are not looking for a top nouth sp?
If its that easy to just go out and get one all of us would be in charge. I am a long time reds fan and no matter what I will still enjoy going to the games with my family and freinds. Where else can you go and enjoy the the things that are around you. There is nothing better on a nice summer night enjoying a ball game with my 3 boys and wife. All of you guys bitch about them not getting a picher. If you dont like the way they do things dont go to the games. Its that simple. I bet most of you guys bitching are the ones who watch the game on tv
I don't think that GB rate is as important as HR rate. I've never understood it, but there are some pitchers who give up a lot of ground balls, but also a lot of HR's.
The fact is that Fogg's HR rate is pretty high, and his K rate is low, and in GABP that's a very bad combination.
Jack in Blue Ash --
You might want to lay off the sauce and/or disable your "Caps Lock" key.
Anon 2:28 --
As to Cantu, who would you rather see as our backup IF/bat off the bench -- Keppinger or Cantu? Especially when Cantu would have made close to a million through arbitration. (Despite your fondest hopes, it is very unlikely Kepp will keep AGon on the bench barring injury.)
As to Philips and Fiorentino -- I will never understand why people get so fired up about signings of minor league free agents. Unless these guys play lights out and make the team, they'll be at AAA next year. The Reds have to fill that roster too.
I'm not sure Phillips is solely for filling a AAA roster, but the rest are. I think the reds have better options in house than bringing Fogg in...bottom line is...Bedard is too expensive, both in terms of what you give up to get him, and what he will demand to keep him past his current deal. Blanton is not as good as everyone seems to think, high 4's ERA in a pitchers park in Oakland. I think the best lefty available is Kazmir, and he probably comes a lot cheaper, i honestly thought Hamilton and another prospect could have gotten Kazmir. But everyone is downing Foog for various reasons, and while i don't think he is a good fit, keep in mind Bedard has never thrown 200 IP in a season either.
someone else as tired of jack in blue ash as me?
blanton or cliff lee, no bums. doubt if the rays part with kazmir, and if they do it might be for a mini mint. he's ace and lefthanded (see santana, bedard).
Yes, 24/7, I am also tired of the said Jack in Blue Ash.
copied:
Rays' Kazmir May Be Available
Joel Sherman of the New York Post has a source saying the Devil Rays will listen to offers for ace lefty Scott Kazmir. Kazmir turns 24 in January and carries a 3.64 career ERA despite pitching in the AL East. He's been particularly tough on the Red Sox (2.66 ERA in 101 innings). You have to think that if the Yankees are entertaining making an offer for Johan Santana, they'd consider Kazmir as well if the Rays would deal within the division.
Sherman notes that Kazmir is under contract for three years as opposed to just one for Santana, which could equate the two pitchers in the marketplace. Erik Bedard, under control for two years, has to be in that group of elite, possibly available southpaws as well. Sherman believes the Rays would seek "a couple of high-end prospects" for Kazmir, who is entering arbitration for the first time this winter.
24/7
Hugh D Pohl
sorry you two cant deal with the truth. actually many of us are tired of people that cant deal with certain realities
The Reds are not very good nor have they been very good for the majority of the past two decades
now perhaps you both should quit surfing the internet from work before you get fired
jack in blue ash
Uh-oh. Here we go again. Tell me if you've heard this one before:
"Team X's #1 starter is reportedly available. The Reds should get him!" First Santana, then Bedard, Haren, Blanton, now Kazmir.
bart756, look at what really happened. You say thought Josh Hamilton and another prospect could have gotten Scott Kazmir, but what he really got was a 24-year old pitching prospect (Volquez), not a #1 starter (Kazmir). 24/7 is right, it will take a LOT to get Kazmir from the Rays. Just look at the article someone posted: if this writer thinks the Rays would demand a couple of "high-end prospects", that probably means the team would actually ask for a lot more, then settle for two top prospects. For the Reds that would probably mean Jay Bruce and either Bailey or Cueto. That trade isn't going to happen. I don't know if Krivsky needs to take out an ad in the Enquirer to tell fans "I will not mortgage the Reds future for one player!!!!" or what, but let's forget about Kazmir. The only way he'll play in GABP is if his team visits.
jack,
the reds "aren't that good" isn't indicative of the reds' current situation. the reds lineup is indeed good, as well as their manager and the back end of their bullpen. what is not good is the southpaw/experienced #2 or 3 missing from the rotation. with the current pieces the team has, it's feasible to say we can get someone with prospects left over.
check these stats out if you don't think bailey could be good this year regardless of a trade, or cueto could be good this year, period.
bailey-garza
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/B/homer-bailey.shtml
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/G/matt-garza.shtml
cueto-lowry
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/johnny-cueto.shtml
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/L/noah-lowry.shtml
also cueto-cain
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/johnny-cueto.shtml
http://www.thebaseballcube.com/players/C/Matt-Cain.shtml
cueto doesn't have as much experience above AA but his numbers are dropping including winter ball.
Didn't say i thought they would get him, or that they even should, was simply making the point that they don't need to overpay for Bedard because in my opinion Kazmir could be had for about the same price or less and was probably better. I am actually one who thinks they need to stand pat and keep the young talent. Point i made earlier is that this club can't afford any of these guys, in terms of what you give up to get them, and what you'd have to pay to keep them.
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