Reds snag P in Rule V

by Thundering Turtle on Dec 7, 2006 9:33 AM EST

The Reds selected Jared Burton, a RH RP from Oakland, in the Rule V Draft.

Burton went 6-5 with a 4.14 ERA last season in AA. He gave up 71 hits in 74 IP, Kd 66 and walked 27. He had one save in 53 games.

This season in the AFL, playing for Phoenix, Burton was 1-2 with a 4.38 ERA in 10 games. He gave up 10 hits in 12 IP, Kd 11 and walked 6, with a .217 BAA and one save.

Update: The Reds are also going to acquire Josh Hamilton. The Cubs selected him from Tampa Bay. Doesn't this mean both of these players have to be on the 25 man all year? Hamilton's a former number one pick, but he was out of baseball for quite awhile with drug problems, and to top it off he had season ending knee surgery last year. I don't get this at all. - JD

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Comments

uh?

does this mean we have to keep AA-boy on the 40 man all year?

GO REDS!

by ewquinn on Dec 7, 2006 9:58 AM EST reply actions

No

25 man.

We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars. --Oscar Wilde

by JD Arney on Dec 7, 2006 10:02 AM EST up reply actions

Chances are

He'll get a tryout in Spring Training and if they decide that he's not good enough to face Major Leaguers, he's be sent back. If he is good enough to face them occasionally, he'll make the team, pitch once or twice a week, and then suddenly be injured after the requisite 90 days on the roster.

Looking at his numbers, there's not a lot that pops out about him, but I'm sure the scouts see enough potential to take a $50k chance on him. I think the one big downside is that if he makes the roster, there's a good chance they'll be carrying 13 pitchers out of Spring Training.

by Slyde on Dec 7, 2006 10:18 AM EST up reply actions

But...

That won't leave any room for the fourth catcher.

Don't mind me...just thinking positive and pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Dec 7, 2006 12:44 PM EST up reply actions

Baseball America's initial take on Hamilton

* Brilliant move by the Cubs on Josh Hamilton; why didn't we think of that? No one has his upside in this draft, he's the biggest Rule 5 name Jim Callis or I can recall, and if he can tame his demons, he could produce a big payoff. Perhaps being around big leaguers and a big league atmosphere will bring out the best in Hamilton, and Lou Piniella certainly has been around him from his days in the Devil Rays organization. Same for Tim Wilken, the Cubs' scouting director. Smart, low-risk move, and maybe it will help the Rays as well. Now they don't have to deal with Josh Hamilton questions anymore.

by pw on Dec 7, 2006 10:13 AM EST reply actions

Royals picked Joakim Soria, RHP

Could Soria be the PTBNL in the LaRue deal? He's been impressive lately according to Baseball America:

The name with the biggest buzz attached to it the night before the draft was Padres righthander Joakim Soria, a 22-year-old who spent most of the 2006 regular season pitching for the Mexico City Red Devils, with a 12-game stint in the low Class A Midwest League thrown in. Soria also has outstanding life on his fastball, which sits in the low 90s and tops out at 95. He also throws an above-average changeup, but his breaking ball remains a question.

"I know last year it was a problem--he couldn't locate it at all," a scouting director from a National League club said. "But it's gotten tighter and the reports this winter have been very good and he's shown good velocity. He's the flavor of the week in a lot of ways just based on what he's doing now."

What Soria is doing now certainly is impressive. The 6-foot-2, 170-pounder is 8-0, 2.02 with a 64-19 strikeout-walk ratio in 62 innings for Obregon in the Mexican Pacific League. Those numbers have him leading the league in the pitching triple-crown categories. During the regular season, Soria went 1-0, 2.31 in just 12 innings at low Class A Fort Wayne after coming over from the Mexican League.

by pw on Dec 7, 2006 10:28 AM EST reply actions

At this point

I hope not. That would be three players that would have to stay on the roster but may not be ready for prime time. Soria certainly looks impressive, but if he is PTBNL, then why did the Reds take Burton?

by Slyde on Dec 7, 2006 10:33 AM EST up reply actions

Tryouts in the spring?

I agree the Reds couldn't keep all three, but, since they presumably wouldn't cost that much (who knows about Hamilton), give them all a chance in the spring. Send back the ones that don't fit. In today's market $50 K is peanuts.

by pw on Dec 7, 2006 10:43 AM EST up reply actions

Josh Hamilton?

How are the Reds acquiring him if the Cubs drafted him? I dont get it...

Courtney for President, 2008

by ohiobobcat on Dec 7, 2006 10:40 AM EST reply actions

Well, see

They have these things that are called trades. Teams make them all of the time. :P

Marc has more details: http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/spring/2006/12/thursday-moves.asp

by Slyde on Dec 7, 2006 10:41 AM EST up reply actions

Gone

Hamilton has officially joined the OBC all-stars. That's my game jersey from next year's Redsfest.

I'm not joking.

Courtney for President, 2008

by ohiobobcat on Dec 7, 2006 10:55 AM EST up reply actions

damnit

You could have bought a Joey Hamilton jersey (I saw one) and you would have been set for the upcoming year. Of course, it would have been crazy big on you.

by Slyde on Dec 7, 2006 10:59 AM EST up reply actions

Straight cash homey

Reds just bought him. I like the move it's not everyday you can get a former #1 pick on the cheap. If we can keep him off the needle he might work out.

by WayneNarron on Dec 7, 2006 10:52 AM EST up reply actions

I saw an 'Outside The Lines'

episode featuring Josh Hamilton (unless I'm completely mistaken) sometime this past year, and I'm going to be cautiously optimistic on this one.

It looks like the guy can hit. Granted, it wasn't major league pitching, but... Now, only if he can get himself physically healthy and keep his demons at bay...

Reds fandom: A study in futility and masochism.

by Ash on Dec 7, 2006 10:47 AM EST reply actions

SI

SI had a piece on him right after the Marlin's won in '03. Beckett was picked right after Hamilton, and the article talked about how the Rays wrestled with the choice as well as serving as a cautionary tale for the draft. Hamilton was suppossed to be the biggest can't-miss since ARod.

by ken on Dec 7, 2006 11:14 AM EST up reply actions

Official Guess Hamilton's Jersey # sub-thread

Put your guesses down for what number my main man Josh Hamilton will wear in Spring Training. I have my extreme preference, but will mute my voice until others have their opportunity to venture a guess.

So......have it at, gang.

Courtney for President, 2008

by ohiobobcat on Dec 7, 2006 10:58 AM EST reply actions

23

Reds fandom: A study in futility and masochism.

by Ash on Dec 7, 2006 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

00

I have no idea what his number in the minors was, but he's seems like a double zero to me.

by Slyde on Dec 7, 2006 11:00 AM EST up reply actions

So negative...

Reds fandom: A study in futility and masochism.

by Ash on Dec 7, 2006 11:02 AM EST up reply actions

No I'm not

I think double-zero is cool. The Chief, Robert Parrish, was double-zero.

by Slyde on Dec 7, 2006 11:06 AM EST up reply actions

Yeah, but...

So was Jeffrey Leonard.

I gotta take a wicked "yes"! - Peter Griffin

by NYRed on Dec 7, 2006 1:28 PM EST up reply actions

oh yeah

Maybe we can teach him the "one flap down" home run trot.

by Slyde on Dec 7, 2006 1:37 PM EST up reply actions

Josh Hamilton

with his history, seems like a great fit for the Bengals.

OK, that was mean and uncalled for. I'm pulling for him.

The Reds took a couple of guys in the minor league phase of the Rule V, too:

Francisco Mateo, LHP, Toronto. 5-2 4.18 64 H in 66 IP, 59 K 21 BB, .261 BAA in rookie ball. He was a starter at Pulaski of the Apply League.

Nick Moran, RHP, Tampa Bay. 2-1 5.51 in 21 G. 56 H in 49 IP, 48 K 20 BB, .295 BAA at Hi-A ball. Cleveland's 3rd-round pick from Fresno State in 2001. Got a $400,000 signing bonus. Best pitch is a curve. Signed with Tampa Bay in April, 2005. Has potential, but injuries have held him back.

by Thundering Turtle on Dec 7, 2006 11:11 AM EST reply actions

Nick Moran

Daedalus is going to love this.

Reds fandom: A study in futility and masochism.

by Ash on Dec 7, 2006 11:13 AM EST up reply actions

Maybe get a guy named Moran...

To catch for him and do a fan promotion. Call it "The Night of the Morans. Get a Brain."

Don't mind me...just thinking positive and pitching to contact, that's all...

by Paul Householder on Dec 7, 2006 12:46 PM EST up reply actions

HA HA HA HA

winter is boooooooring

by Daedalus on Dec 7, 2006 3:49 PM EST up reply actions

Hamiton

Lots more about why the Reds wanted Hamilton: http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/prospects/news/262983.html

They followed him in Instructional League and hope to get him AB's in winter ball.

by pw on Dec 7, 2006 12:37 PM EST reply actions

hamilton

Part of me says Wayne Krivsky is cementing himself as the biggest idiot GM in the majors. Another part of me says this is a risk worth taking.

From the article...

"Two days ago, a scout from a National League club alluded to Josh Hamilton as a possible Rule 5 pick.

But even he didn't sound serious.

'I could see it maybe . . . the tools are still there for the most part,' he said. 'But that's a major gamble--we're talking serious risk assessment.'"

...

"Hamilton, who spoke to reporters in a telephone interview, sounded eager for a change of scenery and an opportunity. 'I'm not really concerned. Baseball has never been the problem . . . ' he said. 'I've been working out, and I can guarantee I will be in the best shape of my life when spring training comes.'"

by greg456 on Dec 7, 2006 1:03 PM EST up reply actions

Risk?

Am I the only one that fails to see the 'major gamble' or 'serious risk' of this?

Buy low, sell high.

Krivsky has done some questionable moves, but I don't see how this cements him as the 'biggest idiot GM in the majors.'

by indy on Dec 7, 2006 1:46 PM EST up reply actions

Hamilton

I like it the gamble. The guy doesn't turn 26 until May. Maybe BP can give him some advice...Maybe Griffey would move over to Right for a productive Hamilton?

by satyanaas on Dec 7, 2006 1:17 PM EST up reply actions

I'm all all about low risk

and high reward. Yeah, it's buying a lottery ticket, but Josh Hamilton could pay huge dividends. If he's a bust, so what? You haven't really given up anything. This is a shockingly smart move by Krivsky.

Now watch, he'll go and screw things up by signing Jeff Cirillo for that 2.8M or whatever.

by cesarhernandez on Dec 7, 2006 2:22 PM EST reply actions

Hamilton is a damn good move.

If I'm saying I like it, then you know it's not worth criticizing.

by Geki on Dec 7, 2006 3:28 PM EST reply actions

Yeah

You didn't even drop the f-bomb. This might be the best move in the history of sports. :P

by Slyde on Dec 7, 2006 3:30 PM EST up reply actions

i think i agree

still trying to decide, but i'm leaning towards liking it.

winter is boooooooring

by Daedalus on Dec 7, 2006 3:51 PM EST up reply actions

Hamilton

I've taken Krivsky to task all winter for the signings I didn't like, so I have to admit it when he makes a move I do like. And I love this move.

Zero risk, high reward. Worst case scenario, he can't hack it, you send him back to Tampa, and you're out $25,000. Best case, the biggest can't-miss prospect since Alex Rodriguez gets his stroke and confidence back, and you have a star. The good here far outweighs the bad. For a team who carried Tony Womack, Quinton McCracken and DeWayne Wise for the better part of the year, and a gaping hole in right field, there are a lot worse ways to spend a roster spot (Chad Moeller being one of them).

The personal issues are a concern, but I think getting back into baseball will help him. Baseball was all Josh ever did; when that was taken away from him by virtue of a car accident, he didn't know how to deal with it. He had almost no social skills, and no other hobbies. He was a 20 year old kid with tons of money and nothing to do. It turned into a vicious cycle; he used the drugs because he couldn't get back into baseball, he couldn't get back into baseball because he used the drugs. Now, he seems to have his life cleaned up, and he's back in the game.

For his sake, and for his wife and little girl, I hope Josh stays on the path he's on now.

For the Reds' sake, I hope he can still play ball.

Good luck, Josh.

"Karma - there it was. The meaning of life, straight from Carson Daly's lips to my morphine-laced ears." -Earl Hickey

by BLee2525 on Dec 7, 2006 7:25 PM EST reply actions