FanPost

If I was GM...

As a REDS fan, this season has been very difficult, especially when I saw it coming. With BP's continual decline (despite fantastic defense), Votto's lack of power, Bruce's inconstancy, and the reliance on Simon to pitch in the rotation, it has been easy to predict. There is no quick fix that the Reds should trade for THAT WILL NOT DEPLETE THE FARM. I believe the Reds should have let Homer Bailey walk, or at least trade him... not looking like a great deal now is it? Now... for the what the Reds should do, but won't.

1) Trade Johnny Cueto. Yes, I know its difficult to lose such a good player. He has been the Red's ace for several years now, when healthy, but he only has one year left on his contract (after this one) and the Reds will also have Leake and Latos with expiring contracts. If they want to resign them (which i believe should be done with Leake, maybe Latos, depends on $$$), then they need to trade Cueto for prospects. All the David Price speculation will be for naught because the Rays are winning again, and that speculation and interest will transfer to Cueto and the Reds. A year and a half ago, the Rays got Will Myers, Jake Odorizzi, Mike Montgomery, and Patrick Leanard when they traded James Shield with his expiring contract and Wade Davis to the Royals. Look at a team like Seattle or Toronto (who has a bevy of former Reds teeing off, Juan Francisco, Dioner Navarro, and, of course, Edwin Encarnacion) or even a surprise team like Miami or Chicago. (I would LOVE to deal him to Chicago) Definitely should look to receive two top position prospects along with a high upside arm.

2) Shop Aroldis Chapman. Now you are about to kill me, I know. But let us be realistic, he is probably the best closer in the game. He has struck out more than half of the batters he has faced this year. MORE THAN HALF! With the Reds championship window closing with this core group of players, Chapman is less valuable on our team, then he would be on a team like San Francisco or Detroit, winning teams that struggle at the end of the bullpen. He will be a free agent in 2017, IF he accepts 5$ player option for 2015 and goes through arbitration in 2016. Yes, he is an absolute, shut the door, dominating Cuban lefty that throws 103mph on a regular basis. But we could get another top prospect and some lower minor league depth for Chapman. Look what the Tigers gave up for Joakim Soria, there #3 and #5 prospects in their system, for a guy that won't be closing for them unless Joe Nathan continues to struggle. Now what could the Reds get if they traded Chapman? I see San Francisco as a match, although they don't have as much to offer as other teams, or New York Yankees. Oakland could also be in the mix, but most of these teams don't have the amount of prospects to pull the best closer in the game from the Reds. Reds should look for a big prospect bat or several high upside arms, or both!

3) Sign Mike Leake and Mat Latos to contract extensions. Mike Leake reminds me more every 5th day of Bronson Arroyo. He is a dependable 3-4 starter in a good rotation. He would not break the bank (like Votto and Bailey have done) and would provide a good clubhouse presence for the next several years. Mat Latos would be much more difficult. He would push for a contract similar to Baileys (6 years, $105 mil.) but probably more like a 4 year, $75-85 mil. per year. I don't see the Reds being able to resign both. I think Leake makes more sense for the Reds to keep. With several high upside arms in the system, (Stephenson, Lorenzen, Guillon, Howard) and with many back of the rotation/bullpen guys, The Reds should attempt to resign both, but only signing Latos if it does not kill the Reds payroll for years to come. Pay a player for what they will do, and not what they have already done.

4) Let Walt Jocketty finish contract (last year now) and let him go. It is time for this era to end, and a new, statistically driven era to begin. Most ideal replacement would be David Forst (age 37) (Assistant GM - Oakland) or Kim Ng (age 46) (Senior Vice-President for Baseball Operations with Major League Baseball). Both would provide a fresh outlook on team management. Both are also younger options than Jocketty (currently 63)

5) Replace the veterans on the bench and outfield (Ludwick, Schumaker, Santiago, Pena) with younger guys. Same stats, just development. There is no reason for a .500 team in 4th place in division to be playing a bunch of veterans. Either keep them at AAA to play everyday or give them ABs while they are at the MLB level.

I will stop ranting now, thanks for reading all that, if you did. I will probably think of more things to say later, but this is a start. Please do not just criticize, let us discuss, not argue.... thank you.