FanPost

Scouts Busy in Cincinnati - Veteran Pitchers Availale

According to Yahoo! Sports Writer Gordon Edes wrote an article talking about Cliff Lee, and other trade rumors. I love trade rumors, especially when the baseball our team is playing is highly depressing. Edes is not specific as to which scouts were in Cincinnati, or what deals are in the works/being talked about. Apparently we've drawn interest from LAA and LAD, given our scouts' trips to their A-ball game recently. Other potential suitors are the big money teams that like to make moves to solidify their playoff push - like the Yankees, Red Sox (may need a LOOGY, although Arthur Rhodes is not on this list, I think he should be), etc. I think it will be very interesting to see how the next few days shake down, especially since management (hopefully) understands that we can be veteran salespeople this year and build for the future - hopefully with a good enough plan in place to make us legitimately competitive.

Another popular destination for scouts last weekend was Cincinnati, where starters Bronson Arroyo(notes) and Aaron Harang(notes) are said to be available, along with veteran reliever David Weathers(notes), and there are indications that the Reds would listen to offers for closer Francisco Cordero(notes). Moving Cordero, however, is problematic. He has full no-trade protection and two more years on his contract at $12 million per, plus a $12 million option in 2012.

We've talked about a lot of these guys before, and it might be a very lackluster trade deadline in Cincinnati if Jocketty decides to hold on to Arroyo till Winter, decides Harang is too important to move, and gets lowball offers for the relievers. There are also obvious financial and contractual issues. At least scouts are interested in some of these old guys that won't be contributing down the line.

Jocketty has been highly succesful at making good trades in the past, and has built quite a few great rosters and put together a pretty damn good farm system in StL. In Walt I trust - for now.

John Fay today also broke down the trade market as it applies to the Reds. He explains salaries and breifly touches on the players' values.There is talk of Scutaro, Rhodes, Weathers, Arroyo, Harang, Hairston, and CoCo. He also says he'd be stunned if Phillips is dealt. Would you? Really think about that.