Keeping the pipeline of cost-controlled talent flowing is critical to succeeding as a small or mid-market team. It's especially important for the Reds, given their outflow of talent during this offseason's trading frenzy. It's going to get harder with the amateur draft and international signing period spending caps under the new CBA. In addition to the two supplemental picks, they'll receive in the 2012 Amateur Draft, the Reds still have the chance to re-stock their farm by staying aggressive in pursuing international talent.

The new CBA, which phases in winning-percentage based spending limits over several years, limits teams to spending $2.9M during the 2012-13 period - which begins July 2, 2012. Spending above that limit is subject to penalty. Players that have logged a certain amount of time in an MLB-recognized international professional league and have achieved free agency, do not fall into that void. MLB.com's Jonathan Mayo explains:

Players in leagues deemed to be professional (those in Japan, Korea, Taiwan and Cuba apply), are at least 23 years old and have played a certain number of years in those leagues can be signed without the money counting against the pool. Yoenis Cespedes, the 26-year-old outfielder who is a free agent after defecting from Cuba for example, would not count against the pool. Neither would Japanese pitcher Yu Darvish, should he be posted by the Nippon Ham Fighters. But the money spent on Cuban left-hander Aroldis Chapman, who was 22 when he signed with the Reds almost two years ago, would have counted against the pool.

International players, especially those with limited scouting information behind the veil in Cuba, carry plenty of risk. In some cases, you can't even be sure of their actual name and age. Fausto Carmona (nêe Roberto Heredia) may be an outlier, but there's a mountain of uncertainty that can stem from the long-tail development of teenage players and the myriad cultural and baseball adjustments that must be made by importing talent.

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Donald Lutz sneaks into the top 20 after a really solid season on that stacked Dayton team in 2011. If you don't know his story by now, he was born in Germany and didn't start playing baseball until he was 15, got discovered in the European junior championships, and the Reds signed him from there. He'll likely take his .850 OPS to Bakersfield in 2012.

Just a recap of where we're at so far, with 7 spots to go:

1. Devin Mesoraco
2. Zack Cozart
3. Billy Hamilton
4. Daniel Corcino
5. Neftali Soto
6. Robert Stephenson
7. Yorman Rodriguez
8. Todd Frazier
9. Henry Rodriguez
10. Didi Gregorius
11. Tony Cingrani
12. J.C. Sulbaran
13. Denis Phipps
14. Kyle Lotzkar
15. David Vidal
16. Juan Duran
17. Tucker Barnhart
18. Donald Lutz

Same choices, vote now.

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Tucker Barnhart makes the list at #17, and I'm still reeling to figure out why. His plate discipline and makeup are far beyond his years, he's done a good job improving at each level, and was the best defensive catcher in the minors last year according to people who keep track of minor league catcher defense. Still with quite a bit to prove with the bat as he goes up the ladder, but he's set himself up well to be a big leaguer.

Be sure to follow Tucker on twitter at @Tucker_Barnhart, as he's one of the best Reds minor league tweeters out there. Also, he'll be on the Reds Caravan which kicks off today, so go out and see him if you're going to be in Huntington (WV) today, Bowling Green (KY) on Saturday, or Lexington on Sunday.

A few new names to add to the list, and the rest of the guys have been so close the past few days I have no idea who'll come out on top. Vote!

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The Reds Winter Caravan gets underway tomorrow, fanning out in three Cardinal - no, how about "Compass-y?" - directions. The events at each stop are free and present a chance for fans throughout the hinterlands of Reds Country to meet and greet players, coaches, executives, broadcasters and a seemingly endless parade of mascots. The Reds will also be pedaling tickets to Game 2/Opening Night at each appearance.

Here is a partial list of Reds mascots accompanying the caravan:

• Mr. Redlegs
• Rosie Red
• Gapper
• Mr. Red
• Dr. Cincinnatireds
• Reds Lobster
• Redrum
• P&G presents: Crimson Tide
  
• Vanessa Red-crave
• Trent Reds-nor & the Downward Speier-al
• The Reddleman (inspired by Thomas Hardy's Return of the Native)
  

The locations, personnel and other details by leg are available on the Reds' official Caravan page (there's also a custom Yahoo! map). Brandon Phillips, a fixture on the yearly tour, is probably the player with the biggest star power participating. Dusty is headed West toward Louisville (no, he's not being demoted) along with Red Reporter 2012 #3 Prospect Billy Hamilton and Todd Frazier. Marty, as I believe is customary, heads south through Thundering Herd territory and Devin Mesoraco will be snacking his way North through Columbus and Dayton.

With the team having settled with its arbitration-eligible players, the Caravan signals the last major landmark in the off season before pitchers and catchers voluntary report date on February 19. Kiss some babies, sign an underwhelming free agent (or trade for one) and then head to Arizona with the winds of an ambitious and successful winter at your back.

Sheldon wonders what the Prince Fielder deal means for Joey Votto
His conclusion is "not much". He's right, in that we all knew Votto was going to command a princely ransom in two years long before the news of Fielder's deal. I think the news is still a bit of cold water on the face of Reds fans though, as the actually dollars and cents of keeping him here in Cincy have come into a sharper focus.

Votto is one of the elite 1Bs in baseball, right up there with Prince, Albert Pujols, Adrian Gonzalez, Mark Teixeira, and Miguel Cabrera. All of these guys are making something between $20 mil and $25 mil per year over seven to ten year deals. Votto will be 30 when he hits free agency, so he's not likely to get a nine or ten year deal like Prince (who's 28) and Albert (who's a demi-god), but Tex's eight years and $180 mil seems a very realistic possibility for our guy. That's not strictly-speaking impossible for the Reds to pull off, but yeah, it's kind of unlikely. But who cares about that. They're gonna win two World Series before then and make everything totally cool.

Blog Red Machine weighs in on the Roy Oswalt rumors
and makes the case that the Reds would be better off with Homer Bailey than Roy Oswalt. Problem is, he did a poor job of making that case. Mostly because that case isn't really there to be made. His basic argument is that RoyO's ground ball rate is down the past few years, and that he will cost more money than Homer.

I think some of us are forgetting just how great RoyO's been over his career. He boasts a career FIP of 3.35. His career ERA+ is 133. Though his strikeout rate and groundball rate are down from his prime years, he's still as stingy as ever with the walks. As for the injury concern, it's certainly legitimate. A pitcher with a bad back is always going to give me pause. But last year was the first year since '03 that he missed significant time. He's been remarkably healthy his entire career. And he's only going to be 34 next season. That's no spring chicken, but I'm pretty sure there is still some left in his tank.

It's all probably moot, as the Reds don't really have the cash to give Oswalt. So this conversation is almost entirely hypothetical. But make no mistake about it: Roy Oswalt would easily be the 3rd best starter on this team if he were signed tomorrow. He is better than Homer Bailey. He is better than Mike Leake. Hell, I even made a bet yesterday that his '12 season will be better than Johnny Cueto's. I realize that's something of a reach, but jeez louise. This guy has been one the best and most durable starting pitchers of the last decade. It should go without saying that the Reds would be extremely fortunate to have him.

Coco to go-go to To-To
Francisco Cordero signed a one year deal with the Blue Jays for $4.5 mil. He'll serve as the set-up man to their newly-acquired closer Sergio Santos. If reports from earlier in the winter are correct, Coco turned down a two-year deal from the Reds worth something like $12-14 mil. That was most definitely a mistake. Instead, the Reds got a superior pitcher in Ryan Madson for half the cost. Also, the Reds will receive a comp draft pick this coming June. Put another tick on the chalk board for ol' Walt.

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Juan Duran is the 16th prospect on the list. It's been exciting to follow him since he signed with his huge bonus at age 16, and to see what he's evolved into. If he can corral those strikeouts, this is a special hitter, folks. If.

Vote.

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