The Official 2023 Cincinnati Reds Thread
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That would be a sensible move. They badly need a reliable veteran backup catcher, regardless of hitting ability.
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14Red
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I agree 1000%. But here the thing and Reds fans will go nuts if they don't sign him due to money. Tucker made $7.5 mill last year. He was proabably one of the most overpaid players in baseball, considering he hit .221, 1 homer and 16 RBI. Now I don't know what the "rules" are for the Reds or any team signing him. I don't know if there is a floor. He certainly isn't going to get near what he made last year and this is where some guys price themselves out of baseball due to the CBA and salary rules.
But if they could get him for $2-3 mill next season, that would be great.
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I’d value Barnhart at around $3 million to $3.5 million, give or take. Agree, vastly overpaid at $7 million for no offensive production.
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I wouldn't pay him that much.
The Reds should be conserving payroll resources for future needs.
Find a catcher for league minimum.
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Problem is it’s very unlikely we’ll find a catcher at league minimum who’s worth having. The revolving door back there last season showed we need a consistent presence at that spot who can guide the young pitchers. Paying $2.5 million more than league min for that expertise isn’t a big deal, IMO.
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wolves82
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I would agree with you if the Reds were smart enough to move Stephenson out of the C position. I think you and I agree that they should, to help minimize concussion risks and keep his bat in the lineup for 150+ game.
If Stephenson is going to play LF / 1B / DH, then OK, pay up a little for a catcher to help the young pitchers. But if the plan is to have Stephenson catch, then it is an unnecessary expense for a backup C.
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I agree about moving Stephenson. His bat is too valuable to miss games stemming from getting beaten up behind the plate.
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14Red
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Absoluely true, we saw some of the characters you get with league minimum, although Austin Romine would be a good backup for us. Tucker would be worth a $3-4 mill per year contract. I think it's highly unlikley you see Stephenson regularly other than catcher. He's a catcher, he WANTS to catch. Now in a few years, he may be more open to moving but we have a need for a high level catcher. Let's just hope his injuries have been more of a freaky nature than regular occurrences.
14Red
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In Reds news, you won't The Punisher to kick around anymore. He's signed a one year deal with a team in the Japanese baseball league. Reportedly it's for a million a year. That's telling because here's a guy who was basically given up by the Reds, no one picked him up. Not one team picked him up and he was only making $700,000. The Reds brought him back because they were so banged up and I think all things being equal, seemed like a good guy. So for the final time, the days of Aquino in Cincinnati is finally over.
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Stephenson’s concussion history gives me pause. And putting the extra wear and tear on his knees by playing catcher can only be a bad thing in terms of the hope that he can develop into more of a power hitter.
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He seemed like a nice guy, but thank goodness the Aquino experiment here is over.
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14Red
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It scares me to death too, and the kneejerk reaction is to move him, but he's worked his whole life to be a major league catcher. I'm not sold he's going to be a super star because we've not seen him in a long stretch of games. And since you mention power, is he a guy capable of hitting 35-50 homers in a season, or 20-30. I don't know that he's a big time power guy, I like his approach and he can be a good major league hitter, but time will tell.
wolves82
Highly Respected Expert
It is not a knee-jerk reaction. It is a proven medical fact that once you've had a concussion, you are more susceptible to get more concussions. I don't care if he hits 25 or 45 HR, his bat needs to be in the lineup for 150+ games. He hits for average, and has great gap power. It will only improve as he gets more experience.
Getting him away from all those foul tips is not only a good baseball move, it will help the kid have a better life after baseball.
14Red
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Pardon, poor choice of words. The quick response is take him away from catching. But as I've said, I see no indication that the Reds are going that direction, and he's a good hitter for a catcher, but is he a good hitter if you put him in a corner infield/ outfield position?? I don't see him being an outfielder. First base possibly, but we have a guy at first for most of this season. As much as we like the kid, he's not really an athletic guy. At his size, he did not play another sport, don't see him as making an easy transition to another position.
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The above link is the Main Stage schedule for this Friday and Saturday at RedsFest. Unless they’re involved in Focus on the Farm or the Reds Hot Stove League segments, I’m not seeing any appearance by Phil Castellini or Nick Krall, much less a fan Q&A session. Pretty weak but not surprising.
I’ve only attended RedsFest once in the past a few years ago, and I recall there being an audience Q&A session with Reds front office members. I think Marty was the emcee.
Maybe they’re going to avoid critique by only doing the kids-only press conference.
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wolves82
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You do not need to be athletic to play LF. Just catch the routine fly balls. Examples go all the way back to Greg Luzinski, and even today big, slow guys like Schwarber, Gallo and Canha play LF. Just hit and you can play LF. Last summer on this thread we listed a dozen guys who transitioned from catcher to other positions, because their bat was so important, most notably Schwarber and Harper.
You may be right, I also have seen nothing from the Reds to indicate they are thinking about moving Tyler from behind the plate. That is the problem. Zero creativity or problem-solving skills in the front office.
14Red
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Ok, I'll stretch a bit, IF Tyler is moved from catcher, I think it would have to be left field for 2023. Votto is at first, no question. I think a transition to 3rd would be very difficult in a short turnaround.
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Tyler Stephenson will never play third base. And with the upcoming prospects, third base will eventually be occupied for the foreseeable future.
But both first base and left field are realistic spots for Stephenson. The decision honestly could come down to whether they consider Christian Encarnacion-Strand to be their next long-term answer at first base starting in 2024.
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So Luke Maile from Cov Cath HS and most recently the Guardians will be the backup catcher. A poor-hitting journeyman with no pop.
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Reds certainly are racking up lightly regarded, light-hitting, cheap journeyman types this offseason.
Nick Solak! Kevin Newman! Luke Maile! Single-game tickets on sale now!
I guess those are all bench players, but still.
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Nick Solak! Kevin Newman! Luke Maile! Single-game tickets on sale now!
I guess those are all bench players, but still.
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14Red
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I'm a little embarassed to admit this, but I'd never heard of Luke Maile until yesterday. I focus so much on the Reds that I just don't get to know much other personnel around the league, unless it's a team the Reds play alot, like our division opponents. Maile caught the 2nd most games for a really good Guardians staff last season. If he can somehow bring some of that over, I"m all for it. The Guardians basically made the playoffs last year because of their bullpen and their ability to win games late.
14Red
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As opposed to bringing in older, expensive free agents, signing them to longer deals and if they implode, you're stuck with them aka Mike Moustakas?
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I wouldn’t be opposed to a legit outfielder and a legit starting pitcher. Or a legit starting catcher and moving Stephenson to a different position.
Cody Bellinger on a one-year prove-it deal is attainable. Jesse Winker has a reasonable salary and could be traded for at minimal cost in all likelihood. Michael Conforto could be another prove-it deal candidate. Joey Gallo is probably a one-year-deal guy. All four of those guys are coming off downturns or injury and thus could fit into the “buy low” mold that the Reds seem to be constrained in. I’d rather see what any of those guys could do in GABP than run it back with guys like Senzel, Fairchild and Friedl.
Adam Engel would be a bargain-bin CF option that could be a solid player if he gets consistent playing time and can stay healthy. Plus he’d fit into the speed game that you want to see the Reds employ. He’d be gettable on a short-term, reasonably priced deal.
The added bonus to any of these vets on short-term deals is that if the Reds can help build them back up, they:
1. Might like it here and then become open to signing a new deal to stay in Cincy.
2. Can become a valuable trade chip for more prospects.
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14Red
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I think we need to get a true bopper in the middle of the lineup and Bellinger would be that guy. Will we spend the money? Who knows. And yes, we need staring pitching depth, but I just think you can find #4/#5 starters on the street corner as the winter months go by. It will be very interesting moving forward if and when the Reds sign someone to a longer term contract.
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I’d be targeting a #3 starting pitcher who is durable to slot in behind Lodolo and Greene.
The rotation looks a lot better if they’re not depending on Ashcraft to be a #3 caliber guy.
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14Red
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I'd agree with that. I see Ashcraft as being like that Tom Browning type. Rugged, bulldog type, not necessarily #1 dominate stuff but a grinder.
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wolves82
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=
THis last 15% is $30M per club. Which means the other 85% was already paid, which was about $200M per club.
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100%. I actually started a separate thread on this topic in April. Some classic 14Red stuff in there.
THis last 15% is $30M per club. Which means the other 85% was already paid, which was about $200M per club.
MLB Owners crying "Poor" are not being honest
How many of you know about MLBAM? MLBAM is "MLB Advanced Media", and it is the technology arm of the MLB. Back around the year 2000, the 30 MLB team owners wisely invested $77 Million (about $2.5M per team) to get MLBAM going, and they developed a great streaming technology that powered...
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With BAMTech, Apple TV+, Peacock, sportsbook deals, apparel licensing, merch sales, expanded playoffs TV money, national broadcast TV money, local TV money, in-stadium advertising, ticket sales, parking, concessions (and even uniform advertising is coming, right?), etc., it is impossible to believe any of these teams are losing money. With the possible exception of a team like the Padres who have a massive payroll in a smaller market. But even they might be profiting since their stadium was full most nights.
Even an event like RedsFest likely is a financial winner since tickets cost $25 to attend, or $35 for both days, plus whatever money gets spent on concessions, merch, Christmas gifts for others while there, etc.
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Even an event like RedsFest likely is a financial winner since tickets cost $25 to attend, or $35 for both days, plus whatever money gets spent on concessions, merch, Christmas gifts for others while there, etc.
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