The Reds need to stay away from Joe Blanton.
Frank White said 02/13, 03:17 PM
The A's are asking for either Cueto or Bailey, plus Votto. Given Cincy's current pitching problems, and deficiencies at first base, such a deal would effectively kill the Reds' chances at building a solid future.
Cain-Willis. In & Out... said 02/13, 03:43 PM
I think it is something the Reds should look into, and for several reasons.
1) For a team to build itself into a playoff team, it needs to have a strong rotation. Right now the Reds have three spots up for grabs, with Harang and Arroyo already penciled in. Bronson is not real good pitcher. That gives the team 1 good starter. 1! How many teams can make the playoffs with one good starter? (Harang is no Jake Peavy or Brandon Webb) Blanton would really anchor the rotation.
2) His stamina would take a HUGE load off the bullpen which is not great either. Blanton(28 years old) pitched 230 innings in 2007 and struck out 140 with only 40 walks. This would give the Reds 3 starters that all pitch 200+ innings and can win 12+ games.
3) They would still have Jay Bruce.(He kept them from getting Bedard)
4) The Brewers are getting better every year and the Cubs don't go away. For the Reds just to compete in the divison they need to have at least 3 good starters.
I am not saying they have to ABSOLUTELY do this trade, but i think they need to look into it and see about putting together a package. Blanton would really help the Reds.
Frank White said 02/13, 04:28 PM
You're right, the Reds' pitching situation has been abysmal. They need help. But Blanton is not the answer. He's the product of a pitchers' ballpark.
Look at his away stats last year: 5.11 ERA, .304 opponent batting average. He surrendered nearly twice the number of HR on the road, and walked twice as many batters. This guy would get lit up at Great American. The end result? 1 good starter for the Reds. 1!
Bailey and Cueto, though, give the club some hope for the future. Both are ranked in every Top 50 prospects list that I've seen. Bailey is one of the top 2 pitching prospects in the league. Cueto seems to be something special too. Losing either one of them would be a hit, in my opinion. If they both pan out, all of a sudden, Cincy has a 4 deep rotation
Now, another aspect of this trade proposal that should not sit well with Cincinnati is the A's insistence upon gaining Votto. Once again, he's one of the top 50 prospects in the league, and he looks to be a reliable hitter (a departure from the "Live By The HR, Die By The HR" philosophy of the Reds in recent years). Given the Reds' lack of a consistent 1B, trading him would be shooting themselves in the foot.
Cain-Willis. In & Out... said 02/13, 07:19 PM
The Reds can't afford to ignore any possibilities to improve their team. ""Just like the other 29 GMs, I don't think you ever stop trying," Krivsky(the gm) said. "There's no trade deadline now. If something presents itself, it can happen at any time."--mlb.com
The Reds are not trading their best prospects away right now, but they need to stay in the Blanton loop. His stock could go up or down just like the prospects. Who knows, midway through next year it could be a steal to get Blanton for what the A's are asking now.
The reason the Reds are intriueged(?) by Blanton is that by moving to the NL, it is very likely his era would be just as good as Harang's. Around 3.50 or 3.75. And Harang got 16 wins. So with the Reds having 2 16+ game winners would be VERY good in the NL central. Maybe the best pitching staff IN the Central. And just because the Reds have a hitters park doesn't mean they should only aquire hitters. No matter if the park is a hitter's park or a pitcher's park, a team is more likely to win if it is properly balanced.
And with Blanton rumors going around, he could become angry with the A's and insist to be traded. Then the A's would ask for less.
Frank White said 02/14, 08:21 AM
I totally agree that the Reds need to revamp their pitching staff. It's sad that they couldn't get anything worked out for Bedard. But here's my issue with this whole Blanton situation: it seems that his stock has become inflated far beyond its worth. Because there are so many teams expressing interest in making a deal with Oakland, a seller's market of sorts has been created. Teams that are desperate to find a quick fix for their pitching ailments are going to do some desperate things.
I don't think that the Reds need to be so desperate. Champions are built through a good farm system. The Reds (at this moment) look to have a promising future. They shouldn't gamble it away.
Comparing Blanton to Harang is a bit of a stretch. Yes, they both played for the A's, but Blanton has no chance of being an ace on any staff. I see him as a .500 guy, at best, away from a pitcher's park.
Bottom line: Cincy needs to avoid this situation until, like you said, the terms become more reasonable. They're not deep enough to take such a gamble.
Problem is, given the interest that the Dodgers and Red Sox are showing, I don't see Blanton's stock taking a hit any time soon.
Cain-Willis. In & Out... said 02/14, 09:32 AM
The farm system is just not good enough on a lot of teams. Royals, Pirates, D-rays, and other teams have been trying to rebuild for a long, long time. Sometimes you need outside help.
The Mets were interested in Blanton but they got Johan. The Yankees are interested but only if the A's ask for less. Same with the Reds. My point is, they can't afford to let him go to another team if they could have got him for a bargain. And teams' DO ask for less if no one takes them up on their original demans.
The Dodgers aren't seriously interested. Red Sox are merely pretending.(they have plenty of starters).
Joe Blanton career ERA is 4.10. Harang career ERA is 4.15. Blanton is two years younger.
Harang had era's 4.83 and 5.34 when he made 21 starts for the A's. He has a lower era with the Reds. So don't tell me this crap about "pitchers do worse in the Red's hitter's park". Harang got better there as he matured and so can Blanton.
Blanton is someone the Reds should be interested in, and any GM that ignores a possible way to improve him team is not doing his job.
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Comments (17)
Good luck to you sir!
Cain-Willis. In & Out... | 02/13/08, 03:48 PM
Report Offensive CommentI think it would be a good trade for the reds although i still think they have to many other problems to be a threat even in the nl central but if they get him they are around 500 team
woooooo | 02/13/08, 03:54 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe reds have Dunn, Griffey, Phillips, Edwin Encarnacion, and Bruce. That's not a bad lineup for the NL. But you have to be a balanced team, and that is why their rotation needs addressed. They have a closer now, they just need some starters to get him some lead late in games.
Cain-Willis. In & Out... | 02/13/08, 03:58 PM
Report Offensive CommentGET RID OF MY AVATAR YOU **** !!
fvkasm2x | 02/13/08, 04:05 PM
Report Offensive CommentGetting rid of Homer Baily wouldn't be worth it.
Danbash | 02/13/08, 04:22 PM
Report Offensive CommentThat and he would not do well in that hitter's park...he of the over 5.00 ERA away from the pitcher friendly Oakland park....
Jimmer69 IS Darth Caedus! | 02/13/08, 04:42 PM
Report Offensive CommentBruce isn't expected to start, is he? There's like two guys ahead of him on the depth chart, right? Behind Freel and Hopper
Jimmer69 IS Darth Caedus! | 02/13/08, 04:43 PM
Report Offensive CommentThanks, Willis. I'm new to this TD thing, but I absolutely love it.
Fvkasm2x: Didn't know I was co-opting your corner on the Batman market, guy. I'll switch my avatar, though, so that nobody confuses us.
Wooooooo: I think Cincy can pull off .500 with some of the staff that they have in place. Like Willis said, their offense is solid. I can't wait to see Bruce this year. Adding Volquez and Cordero should help out their pitching problems. Everything kind of hinges on how well their prospects can pan out.
Frank White | 02/13/08, 04:47 PM
Report Offensive CommentBruce may not even be a starter...he may not even make the team this year. Volquez? yeah...that trade was a fleecing of the first order...Reds wont finish above .500.
Jimmer69 IS Darth Caedus! | 02/13/08, 05:21 PM
Report Offensive CommentVolquez?? how is he gonna improve your team, he couldn't even stay in the RANGERS rotation. Just look at that, the RANGERS. Our pitching sucks, always has.
Nickb23- Vote Bullet Bob | 02/13/08, 05:38 PM
Report Offensive CommentVolquez is still young. The jury's still out on him. He can't be much worse than some of the gas cans that Cincy pulls out of their bullpen.
As for Bruce, he'll be a starter soon. He has a lot more upside than Freel and Hopper. It's just a question of if he's ready yet.
Frank White | 02/13/08, 05:49 PM
Report Offensive CommentI think the Reds should stay interested in Blanton. If Bailey totally looks terrible and suddenly the Reds realize they over-valued him, then they might deal. Or the A's might trade Blanton for less. If the Reds are the only team left in the loop, (like the Mets and Twins), they might be able to rob the A's. Remember, the A's are building for 2010 and beyond, it seems here in california that they are trading away anyone older than 25 and making more than a Mill a year.
Cain-Willis. In & Out... | 02/13/08, 07:27 PM
Report Offensive CommentThe A's ballpark is not as pitcher friendly as you think. Blanton just pitched better at home last year.
Cain-Willis. In & Out... | 02/13/08, 07:39 PM
Report Offensive CommentUm, Beane said in his book that the dimensions are the way they are because it helps the pitchers...all that foul territory allows the OFs to catch balls that would go into stands in pretty much every other park...now, in a park that has a lot less foul territory, those balls go into the stands allowing batters more chances to have productive ABs...that's what happened to Blanton, cause he gave up pretty much the same amount of homers at home as on the road, but the BAA was 77 points HIGHER on the road...and that results in an away ERA of 5.11 as opposed to a home ERA of 2.69...
Those kind of splits aren't explained by just saying Blanton just pitched better at home...that kind of explanation is acceptable for differences of a half a run differential between home and away, maybe a whole run...but a 2.42?
Jimmer69 IS Darth Caedus! | 02/13/08, 11:27 PM
Report Offensive CommentGood arguement Frank, but as a reds fan, I think they need to persue Blanton. They have to win now - and young talent does not win now. Make the deal. In my opinion, they should have made the deal for Bedard by giving up Bruce. Vote right.
whodeyjb | 02/14/08, 09:37 AM
Report Offensive CommentI hear you, whodey. Eight losing seasons is a tough thing to deal with. As a Reds fan myself, I'd like to see them turn the corner immediately, too (if not five minutes ago). I just think that a little patience will pay off. I don't think that free agent band-aids really pay off as much as many people would have you believe.
I also agree about the Bruce for Bedard. Bruce is gonna be sick nasty, but Bedard could really help our staff in the way that Willis points out (stamina, extra wins, deeper staff for a toughening division).
Frank White | 02/14/08, 10:57 AM
Report Offensive CommentGreat TD. Tough to vote on.
Most of the pitchers have stuggled very much after they got traded from the A's. At least they did for a season or 2. Harang is a better pitcher than Blanton that's for sure. Because of the fact the Reds would still be giving up alot for a 3rd-4th starter who is a big risk in that ballpark it'd be a high risk-moderate reward sitation probably.
Coletrain | 02/14/08, 11:10 AM
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