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86 jay bruce... the dude has not proven anything! potential is a slippery slope...

whodeyjb | 12/16/07, 09:03 AM

why would the reds trade Homer Bailey? its not like their farm system has much pitching depth.

pw | 12/16/07, 09:18 AM

Add Bedard to Harang and Arroyo in the rotation, and support those guys with Cordero and Co. in the bullpen, and you have a contender in the NL. You've got to do it.

Heck, give 'em Bruce AND Bailey if they'll toss in another decent bullpen arm.

Tell it like it is | 12/16/07, 09:33 AM

You're pretty much on the money, Richard Tood. The bottom for the 2008 Reds is that without a third decent starter, they are still a pretty crappy team in a crappy division, whereas with one (read: Bedard) they have a decent shot at the playoffs. (Actually, getting Bedard would drop Arroyo to the No. 3 slot.)

Bedard is probably worth between five and 10 more wins than either Bailey or Belisle in the third slot, and five or 10 more wins could well be enough. Easy to forget now, but at one point in either late August or early September the Reds were closer to first place than the Yankees were.

Brad Wesley | 12/16/07, 11:24 AM

Sorry, "bottom LINE" in that first line....

Brad Wesley | 12/16/07, 11:39 AM

Gotta love that name Homer Bailey. True, old fashioned baseball name like Mordecai Brown and Grover Alexander and Gaylord Perry.

hyperRevue | 12/16/07, 11:43 AM

The Orioles would be stupid to trade Erik Bedard. They need to lock him into an extension.

will61375 | 12/16/07, 07:21 PM

they have plenty of OF depth and have Stubbs in the farm, if they can give up Bruce and keep Bailey, they will have 4 good SP next yr, plus a pretty solid line-up, in that division... thats a contender

i would be trilled to see a deal like: bruce, encarnacion, and votto for Bedard.

sean1stein | 12/16/07, 07:22 PM

How could they have not made this deal yet? Harang, Bedard, Arroyo stacks up against anyone in the division with Cordero and a full season of Jared Burton in the bullpen, and still with Griff, Dunn, Hamilton, Hopper, and Freel in the OF and Stubbs in the system, this could be the year the Reds actually make the playoffs. Make the deal and sign Jon Lieber to fill out the rotation.

phil2k | 12/16/07, 07:36 PM

The Reds cannot give away Bruce AND Bailey. Those two could potentially be the Red's foundation in a couple of years. Bedard is a very good player, and he should be even better with the amount of increased offensive production he would receive in Cincy, but we are talking about one of baseball's top prospects in Jay Bruce, along with a highly touted future phenom in Homer Bailey. Plus, the trade of Miguel Tejada displays the eagerness of the O's to rebuild, which means Bedard should be the next one to go. Quite simply, the Red's are in the driver's seat. I'd bet my left kidney if they would just wait and put a little pressure on Baltimore the deal would be done without Jay Bruce headin north.

td3mustang | 12/16/07, 09:27 PM

The Reds cannot give away Bruce AND Bailey. Those two could potentially be the Red's foundation in a couple of years. Bedard is a very good player, and he should be even better with the amount of increased offensive production he would receive in Cincy, but we are talking about one of baseball's top prospects in Jay Bruce, along with a highly touted future phenom in Homer Bailey. Plus, the trade of Miguel Tejada displays the eagerness of the O's to rebuild, which means Bedard should be the next one to go. Quite simply, the Red's are in the driver's seat. I'd bet my left kidney if they would just wait and put a little pressure on Baltimore the deal would be done without Jay Bruce headin north.

td3mustang | 12/16/07, 09:39 PM

I'm a little leery of putting too much value on Homer. He's got good stuff, but a lot of pitching prospects do and few actually pan out to what they're hyped up to be. Let's say Bailey lives up to close to his potential in a few years, he's Erik Bedard right now. Bedard is basically Bailey with a little less reward but a lot less risk.

GatorMcD54 | 12/16/07, 11:28 PM

Bedard would just be going from one loser team to another. The Cubs and Brewers will be strong again next year, and for some reason the Reds can't seem to put it all together despite the talent on their team. Bedard's a stud but I'm not sure he makes the difference for a team that went 72-90 and only won four more games than the Pirates.

JediGurl | 12/17/07, 02:01 AM

Bailey, Hamilton, Encarncion, Freel and Stubbs for Bedard and Mora...this works for both. Young in flux to Baltimore and experienced leadership to Cincinnati. This also clears up the Reds crowded outfield for Bruce, Hopper, Dunn and Griffey.

Ironfinch42 | 12/17/07, 04:34 AM

Why the love fest for Bedard? Why would you give up some of your best prospects for him? He's no Danny Haren or Aaron Harang. I would only give up that much for a #1.

laura11383 | 12/17/07, 09:30 AM

I would give him a bag of beads.

Coyote Rock | 12/17/07, 04:07 PM

laura11383, I can't comment on Harang because I've only seen him pitch twice, and one of those times he wasn't at his best...but I've watched Bedard and Haren plenty of times, and there's no doubt in my mind that Bedard has the better stuff. Still, they are both talented and they both had phenomenal seasons. so who is best is rather subjective. But they are both on the same tier, so if Haren is considered a #1, so must Bedard be considered as such. The love fest is warranted. ;-)

insidecorner | 12/18/07, 12:29 AM

The Reds can't keep holding on to prospects in hope that they develop into high quality proven major leaguers like Bedard has... Winning franchises like the Yankees always trade prospects for proven ability... get a clue reds and make the deal!

whodeyjb | 12/18/07, 07:49 AM

More or less since the Big Red Machine, the Reds have been all hit, no pitch. Keep Bailey, give up a good prospect OF that is an extra right now, and get Bedard. It does not take a superstar bat to get the ball out of the GABP bandbox. The key is finding a P who can keep the other team in the yard.

MarkeyMark | 12/18/07, 01:52 PM