Hall of Fame baseball writer Hal McCoy has retired from the Dayton Daily News after covering the Cincinnati Reds for 37 years. Hal's blog, though, will continue to be a must-read for Reds fans. He'll share his thoughts on the team this season and will file updates from Great American Ball Park. You also can catch Hal in print every Sunday in his popular Ask Hal columnHome > Blogs > The Real McCoy | Cincinnati Reds baseball news > Archives > 2011 > October > 31 > Entry
Reds do some early minor ‘paperwork’
UNSOLICITED OBSEERVATIONS from The Man Cave, where I will sit tonight passing out Halloween candy (I’m saving the Reese’s Cups for myself).
The Cincinnati Reds did some paper shuffling Monday, nothing yet to cause conversations at the local pubs.
—As expected, they picked up the $12 million option on second baseman Brandon Phillips, keeping him under contract for the 2012 season.
Now they must negotiate with Phillips and his representatives for a new long-term contract that would begin in 2013 — and that one could get sticky. How much can they pay him? How much does he want? He says he wants to stay in Cincinnati and finish his career in Cincinnati. So…how long will he go?
—Also as expected, the Reds declined the $12 million option on closer Francisco Cordero, making him a free agent. But they can still re-sign him and he says he wants to stay. And it’s the same thing with Cordero. How much does he want to stay and how low will he go as far as numbers on a new contract.
—Ever hear of Denis Phipps? He’s the newest player on the Reds 40-man roster. He has played in the minors for seven years and the Reds placed him on the roster to protect him from the Rule 5 draft at the winter meetings in December.
Phipps, 26, is an outfielder who played two years in Dayton, hitting .238 in 2007 and .255 in 2008.
But he blossomed last year, splitting time at Class AA Carolina and Class AAA Louisville. He hit .328 in 82 games at Carolina and he hit .380 in 173 plate appearances at Louisville, with a .428 on-base average. And he combined for 12 home runs and 64 runs batted in.
The Reds lost lefthanded pitcher Matt Maloney, claimed off waivers by the Minnesota Twins. Relief pitcher Jared Burton and starting pitcher Daryl Thompson were optioned to Louisville.
THE WORLD SERIES is still a vivid memory and they just had the parade for the St. Louis Cardinals, but Las Vegas can’t wait.
They’ve already posted odds for the 2012 World Series champion. And they are showing no respect for the Cardinals, perhaps believing that manager Tony LaRussa’ retirement and first baseman Albert Pujols’ possible departure might make a difference.
The Cardinals are only 14 to 1 to repeat. They are behind Philadelphia (4 to 1), the New York Yankees (13 to 2), Boston (8 to 1), Texas (12 to 1) and equal with Detroit (12 to 1).
The Reds? They are 25 to 1, the same as — are you ready for this? — the Chicago Cubs. Highest odds belong to Houston, 100 to 1.
Gets your bets down now because these odds will change after winter trades and free agent signings.
THEY EVEN have odds on where free agent Albert Pujols will sign. The favorites are the Chicago Cubs at 7 to 4, with the Cardinals at 2 to 1 to re-sign him.
They list ten teams as possible landing sites for Pujols, but the Reds aren’t one of them.
SPEAKING OF Phillips, he and two other Reds are finalists for Gold Gloves, which will be announced this week. Also in the running is Jay Bruce and Joey Votto.
Phillips, Bruce, Scott Rolen and Bronson Arroyo won Gold Gloves last year, but Rolen and Arroyo are not in the running this year.
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By tc24
November 3, 2011 10:20 AM | Link to this
Dah? The nasty boys is NOT close games by committee.
By slag
November 3, 2011 10:07 AM | Link to this
Same ole’, In case you’re not aware we did finish 17 games out…While not every decision posters want to make on here make sense, this team better do something and not sit around waiting for more guys to blossom. From what I hear, the issue with Stubbs is far more about “not wanting” to be the player he can be “with” the talents he has. Who knows but don’t expect Votto to be here by the end of next year if this team ain’t in the race..They can finish just as easily in 3rd/4th place minus him…Rolen, the guy, at best, was going to play 110 games MAX this past year and that was if he was healthy…..Don’t expect him to play more than 75 next year. With that being said, what type of player do you really think he’ll be? Not a bad idea at all if he would fade into the wind… This team has MAJOR changes to make “if” they actually want to win. You can’t have 4 guys striking out over 150 times a year and plan to be successful. Add in a normal “bad” 8 hitter, and a pitcher and that’s 4-6 guys that don’t make contact several games a year. What they need, and at almost any expense, is another stud to go with Cueto so this team can go on the road or into any series knowing they can easily get 2 out of 3 most times or 3 out of 4 alot of times, knowing they got 2 horses throwing. Bottom line is that there are plenty of guys who could have been GM of this team last year and done exactly what WJ did..And there are plenty of “wanna be” GM’s sitting at home that could easily improve this club from last years performance with a bit more realization and ability to pull the trigger.
By same ole'
November 3, 2011 8:20 AM | Link to this
Some never change. bob4three want’s to trade away a quater of the roster. bobmac still dosen’t like Votto, turd still dosen’t like Stubbs, someone suggested sending Rolen into retirement. All I got to say is, Thank the baseball gods that some of you have nothing to do with running that franchise….
By slag
November 2, 2011 10:23 AM | Link to this
Bob, I think you’re going a bot overboard here…All players make mistakes..Everyone..You just happen to watch 8-10 plays a game at 162 games by Votto.You see a couple handful at most and label the guy…Obviously, you don’t watch other teams play and this award was voted by rather non-dubious, respected people.. There is no doubt that Votto can be quite aloof at times and also takes chances but the guy has improved every year at 1b and went from average to excellent rather quickly..
By MAC
November 2, 2011 9:32 AM | Link to this
Hate 2 say it, but I think Walt & Co. R handling the Reds correctly by giving the young guys a chance 2 improve & prove themselves? The team has too many question marks & not enough $$ 2 chase after FAs. Then again, one or 2 key FAs might make a huge difference? Coco Crisp & Josh Willingham would certainly give Reds a lot of punch & I doubt they’d cost that much? Bean is always willing to unload vets for prospects & Reds have enough prospects…there’s no way all of them make it to ML…use them 2 improve the team.
By bobmc
November 2, 2011 9:18 AM | Link to this
Slag, I see who won at 1B, but I also saw virtually every Reds game and if Votto is the best at that position, then some of the teams are in desperate straits for 1stbasemen. Many of Joey’s misplays were not errors on paper, but either weak tosses to 1st or inaccurate throws, i.e. -throw to 2nd that cost the SS a season-ending injury.
By slag
November 2, 2011 8:40 AM | Link to this
Bobmc, LMAO…See who won the GG at 1b???
By slag
November 2, 2011 7:41 AM | Link to this
This team needs a “Robin” to go with their Batman, in Cueto, more than anything at else…They need to be able to go into a series or to start a road trip with their two big guns in the same series, believing they can win that series. They have not had that. Get me another strong starter and i’ll show you a bunch of hitters that aren’t always swinging for the fences and being down 3-0 in the 2nd inning…World of difference when you got 2 studs on the mound..
By bobmc
November 1, 2011 9:01 PM | Link to this
I agree that Speier is a far better choice for mgr.than to stay with Dusty. Phillips is a definite Gold Glover. Votto looked bad all yr. at first and Bruce is not a GGer. He misplayed balls just like Cruz did in game 6. Bruce always drifts back on balls instead of going to the wall and fully extending on his jump. He is not a “gold” anything unless it’s 2nd best K king to Stubbs.
By Randyman1956
November 1, 2011 4:12 PM | Link to this
Dusty should retire and spend some quality time with his son. Give Speier a shot. Top priority is a solid experienced left fielder. Don’t waste big bucks on a Closer. The Reds can close by committee just like they did with the Nasty Boys. They need to free up big bucks to keep BP and Votto.
By Tom
November 1, 2011 1:46 PM | Link to this
I hope the Reds do more in this offseason than shuffle paper.
By bob4three
November 1, 2011 12:11 PM | Link to this
Hal—I think its a good start not to re-up Cordero. However, the Reds need much more. If I was GM for a day…..I would: 1—Trade Arroyo for Carlos Zambrano..if the Cubs eat the pay difference….he is in the last year of his contract and needs to prove his worth. 2—Trade Stubbs and Volquez to Oakland for Gio Gonzalez and Coco Crisp 3—Trade Masset, Bailey, and Votto to Texas for Nelson Cruz, Neftali Feliz, and Alexi Ogando. In both 2 and 3 prospects would probably have to be included by one team or another. 4—Give Chapman first shot at rotation and then if he can’t do it put Ogando in instead. That gives you a lineup of Phillips, Crisp, Bruce, Cruz, Alonzo, Rolen/Francisco, Cozart, Hannigan/Mesoraco Starters Leake, Cueto, Zambrano, Chapman/Ogando, and Gonzalez What do you think?
By turd fergison
November 1, 2011 10:36 AM | Link to this
can someone tell me why Drew Stubbs is not playing winter ball and bunting every time up!!!! bad management
By David
November 1, 2011 9:50 AM | Link to this
Brandon Phillips absolutely deserves a Gold Glove. Jay Bruce and Joey Votto do not. The Reds need to make at least one more roster move this winter - buy out Scott Rolen and send him off to retirement. It is time to turn 3B over to Francisco or Frazier.
By Steve F
November 1, 2011 9:12 AM | Link to this
Good move on the Phipps deal. When your a small to medium market like Cincinnati you have to stock pile good young players in the system. The only way to compete with Chicago and St.L.
By gom
November 1, 2011 7:52 AM | Link to this
Why Denis Phipps? I don’t even remember him as a Dragon. Is he another Fred Lewis? After watching the WS closers, I beginning to think Coco is as good if not better. He can walk several batters in a inning and wiggle out of self made jams just like the rest. Also read Chapman has a stiff shoulder as he didn’t throw much before AZ and then threw too much in AZ. Why am I not counting on Chapman next year? As for Yuengling, everyone knows Hal got so many cases gratis that they had to postpone the bottled beer date to mid November. Until then get it on draft in your local pub, VFW, or Legion post.
By HavaKlu
November 1, 2011 1:48 AM | Link to this
Just a “minor” correction—-the Reds outrighted not optioned Burton and Thompson meaning they can become free agents.
By Believe In Braxton
November 1, 2011 12:22 AM | Link to this
I honestly believe what the Reds need most is for those who had unexpected bad years, to turn it around and have good years next year. If Rolen is back and healthy;Volquez pitches like we thought he would;Chapman becomes the Man;Leake gets physically stronger and improves;Cueto lasts longer and stays healthy;Alonso and Heisey are no longer shackled by Baker;Stubbs future is no longer falsely predicted by Jocketty and Baker, so that Heisey and Alonso are in the lineup with Bruce, then The Reds will win the Central again!
By Mark
November 1, 2011 12:16 AM | Link to this
Get a deal done with BP. If Cordero leaves then who will close? Any pitchers on our radar Hal?
By nick
October 31, 2011 10:21 PM | Link to this
I believe the 182 year wait is over. I heard it is already here. And I hope the Reds do not resign Cordero. He sux
By Yuengling Joe
October 31, 2011 9:44 PM | Link to this
Does anybody know when America’s oldest brew comes to Dayton? I thought it was supposed to be here last week.
By Nate
October 31, 2011 8:21 PM | Link to this
I was gonna pass out candy tonight, but I was told the mask that they call my face would scare the younsters, so I am reading Hal’s blog instead and eating the candy instead.
By sam
October 31, 2011 7:02 PM | Link to this
Ha! That’s what I’m doing also Hal, as I read your column: Sorting through the Halloween candy for all the Reese’s cups (before my wife catches me. I’m giving out all the stuff I don’t like! What’s your take on what the Reds need most?