2/11/2008 12:50:23 PM

Good goodness, if they give away Votto for the "innings eater" Blanton, I am totally giving up on this team. Trading away a solid prospect for a pitcher that's never struck out more than 140 batters in a season, and then handing part of the 1B job to a guy that can't stay healthy and strikes out once every three AB's when he does, that smacks of short-term desperation to get to .500 over long-term success. But I guess that's what a G.M. does when he feels like his job is on the line.

Adam Bartel

2/11/2008 1:11:50 PM

If they can trade Votto for Blanton (as long as they don't have to give up more than Volquez and Votto, not Homer, not Cueto), then that's a good deal.
Adam, think of our rotation that would look like this:
Harang (locked up long term for bargain price)
Arroyo (locked up long term for bargain price)
Blanton (locked up until 2010, I believe)
Homer (locked up long term for bargain price)
Belisle/Cueto

This is a solid rotation. Wilson is a stinker, but would fill in. Trading Votto moves Keppinger's bat into a more prominent role. And Kepp is what the lineup needs. Kepp and Hatteberg would produce solid, clutch hitting. Now, the Reds are also talking of acquiring Kenny Lofton. Again, this is intriguing. As Dan mentioned with Griffey always an injury risk, that would give us much needed depth in the OF and someone who can legitimately hit leadoff.

Jimmy Dinsmore

2/11/2008 2:30:29 PM

I'm with Jimmy on this one Adam. The Reds have done a masterful job of collecting tremendous talent in the minor league system. That's way Baseball American AND Baseball Prospectus have their minor league system ranked 1st in all of baseball.

If you don't use some of that talent to trade for needs when the time is right, then you will be a perpetual middle of the road team.

Right now, the Reds need another solid arm. They have plenty of pitching prospects in the system. And the NL Central might not be as weak as it was last year or this coming year. You have to strike while the iron is hot.

However, Jimmy, if you think you're getting Blanton without giving up Cueto or Homer, you're insane.

Billy Beane is an absolute master at trading, especially when he makes the decision to blow up his squad and start from scratch. Read MoneyBall if you don't believe me.

He'll ask for Votto and another high-level prospect for Blanton. That high level prospect is guaranteed to be either Homer or Cueto. Personally, I let Homer go.

I'm not sold on him after seeing him pitch in person twice. He has a good fastball, and an average curve, and that's pretty much it. If he doesn't develop something else, he'll never be the Messiah he's been tauted as.

Frankly, I give up Bailey and Votto. Get Blanton, insert him into the rotation as your #3. They will probably have Affeldt as the #4. Then let Cueto, Belisle, etc. battle it out for the 5 spot. Also, they have this kid by the name of Maloney who could be better than either Cueto or Bailey.

Got to pull the trigger if they want to take advantage of the weak division they play in.

Jeremy Fischer

2/11/2008 3:28:27 PM

I'm no Muehlekamp, but Maloney strikes me - from his numbers - as no better than a middling starter/swingman at best.

Maybe it's just me, I'd rather play for a couple years down the road when we might have a shot at something bigger than taking advantage of the weak division.

Blanton is just an above average pitcher at best, I'm not ready to sell the farm on Bailey just because of a shaky start to his career.

Adam Bartel