MVN - Most Valuable Network

My last post on MVN

Well, the day has come when I am leaving MVN and moving everything I write to www.redsminorleagues.com. It has been good being a part of MVN, but its time for me to take other opportunities. Be sure to still check out the quality blogs here though, there are plenty of them.

Future commitments and the minor leagues

Justin has a post up about the Reds future monetary commitments for now and the future. It got me to thinking about what the Reds need to produce from the farm system in order to fill in the holes. I want to look at these in four groups: Infield, Outfield, Starting Pitching and Relief Pitching. Today we will look at the position players and tomorrow I will look at the pitching.

Infield 

I think that we can all assume that the starting 5 will be David Ross, Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, Alex Gonzalez and Edwin Encarnacion in 2008. Ross is on contract through 2008 and has an option for 2009. Alex Gonzalez is on contract through the 2009 season. Phillips is under control through 2010 and Edwin is ours through 2012.

Our infield looks pretty good with everyone able to be retained for the next two seasons if they pick up the option on Ross.  When 2010 rolls around the Reds will be looking for a catcher and a shortstop. Right now the best bet for a catcher in 2010 would likely be Craig Tatum from the current system. At shortstop, there is always the possibility of Jeff Keppinger stepping in as a stop gap type until a true shortstop is ready to go. The Reds have a lot of guys who play shortstop currently, but there aren’t many true shortstops in the system. One guy that I would like to keep an on though is Jose Castro, who the Reds received in the Jeff Conine trade. As a 20 year old in the FSL last year he did hit .318, although he doesn’t walk much and doesn’t have any power to speak of.

Outfield

Currently lets assume Jay Bruce starts in the minor leagues, but spend more than half a season in Cincinnati. The Reds only have Griffey and Dunn through 2008, although they do hold an option on Griffey for 2009 although its unlikely that they use it. They also have Freel through 2009 and Hopper through 2012, but I hope they don’t have it in the plans to have them as every day starters. The outfield situation for 2009 looks like Bruce and a whole lot of question marks. The Reds could use nice years out of Chris Dickerson and Danny Dorn in 2008 if Dunn and Griffey aren’t going to be here in 2009. Dorn however has not shown any ability to hit left handed pitching, so he would likely need a platoon partner. Another option that has gone through my head would be to move Votto to left field and play Adam Rosales at first base if the Reds are short on outfielders that can hit. There is also the 26 million dollars from Griffey and Dunn that could go toward an outfielder (some of it goes to the raises for Harang and Arroyo).

Reds to Arizona is close according to Rosecrans

C. Trent Rosecrans (new blogger/multi sport beat writer for 1530Homer.com and former Cincinnati Post Reds beat writer) has this up on his blog:

Well, not yet. But seems like it’s all but done.

Expect the deal to partner Ohio’s two teams in Goodyear, Arizona.

This is pretty big news considering that it seemed like the Reds truly wanted to stay in Sarasota. Here is what John Allen said about the possibilities:

“The stadium will be ready in 2009 when the Cleveland Indians move in, but to build six training fields, the clubhouse and administrative offices is what takes all the time,” Allen said. “In Sarasota our lease expires in 2008. We have three one-year club options that we have to exercise by Aug. 1 the previous year.”

It looks like the Reds would actually make the move in 2010 according to C. Trent, meaning the Reds would use one option year on the current deal with Sarasota. If the deal with Goodyear goes through, the Reds will have plenty of time to figure out a deal with a city to be the home for their High A affiliate that currently plays in Sarasota.

Articles on Jay Bruce and the Big 4 plus more

The Louisville Courier Journal had an article on Jay Bruce run in today’s paper. There are lots of good quotes there from Jay on his plans for spring training as well as how he adapted to things last year as he moved up three levels while maintaining his production.  Ryan Freel seems like like what he saw in Bruce:

“This kid could probably start right now and play,” Freel said. “He’s one of a kind … and he’s going to be a treat to watch on the field.”

Anyways, give the article a read, its pretty good.

Reds.com also has up two nice things on our prospects. First is an interview with Jay Bruce about the Rookie Development Program. Second is an article on the ‘Big 4′ prospects and how they could emerge onto the scene next year and give the Reds a push toward their goal of making the playoffs.