This is just a simple FYI:

Where are they now?

Not surprising after a 79-win season with several free agents and a few trades, there was quite a bit of roster turnover this winter on the Reds. Here is what became of some of the 2011 Reds that moved on:

1B/OF Yonder Alonso: traded to Padres in Mat Latos deal.

RHP Jared Burton: signed minor league contract with Twins, invited to big league camp.

RHP Francisco Cordero: signed a one-year, $4.5 million contract to be setup man with the Blue Jays.

C Ramon Hernandez: signed a two-year, $6.4 million contract with the Rockies.

OF Fred Lewis: Signed a Minor League contract with the Indians, invited to big league camp.

LHP Matt Maloney: Claimed off waivers by the Twins.

SS Edgar Renteria: Still unsigned on free agent market

OF Dave Sappelt: Traded to the Cubs in the Sean Marshall deal

RHP Daryl Thompson: Got minor league deal with Twins, was invited to camp

RHP Edinson Volquez: Part of the Latos trade with San Diego. Signed a one-year, $2.23 million contract to avoid arbitration.

LHP Dontrelle Willis: Signed one year, $850,000 contract with the Phillies.

LHP Travis Wood: Traded to the Cubs in Sean Marshall deal.

*The Reds will gain a supplemental 2012 Draft pick between the first and second round for losing Cordero. There will also be a pick coming over after losing Hernandez, a Type B free agent who was signed before the club had a chance to decline arbitration.

And among other former Reds from past seasons:

OF Jonny Gomes: Signed a one-year, $1 million contract with the A’s.

OF Corey Patterson: Signed a Minor League contract with the Brewers. It did not come with a big league camp invitation.

RHP Micah Owings: Reportedly, signed a Minor League contract with the Padres, invited to big league camp.

SS Orlando Cabera: Retired

1B Jorge Cantu: Signed Minor League contract with the Angels, invited to big league camp.

http://marksheldon.mlblogs.com/2012/02/0...-they-now/

Thoughts on Roy O.
02/07/12 at 12:53pm by jfay

Update at 1:23: I just talked to Walt Jocketty. He insists that the Reds have had no recent talks to with Oswalt.

““It’s all rumors,” he said. “I’m sick and tired of it. We’ve had no serious talks. We’ve had no contact with the player.”

You know it’s a buyers’ market for starting pitching when it’s less than two weeks from the start of spring training and Roy Oswalt is looking for a job, especially when Oswalt is willing to take a one-year deal for below market value.

As the list of teams not interested in Oswalt grows — the Cardinals added their name recently — it becomes more likely that he could fall to the Reds.

Here’s what I think has happened: Oswalt’s agent contacted the Reds a while ago. The Reds made a low-ball offer, say $7 million or so. Oswalt continued to talk with other clubs but couldn’t get a deal done, so his people went back the Reds.

The problem is even at $7 million or so, the Reds would have to clear payroll to sign Oswalt. The list of expendable, tradable players who make a lot of money on the Reds roster is very short. You’ve got Homer Bailey and Nick Masset, who each make about $2.4 million.

Oswalt was 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA last year. But he basically had one bad month. He was 1-4 with 5.81 ERA in June while pitching with a sore back. He was 8-6 with a 3.20 ERA in the other five months.

It would be risky to give up on Bailey for one year of Oswalt. But there are couple of things to consider: Bailey is going to get big raises the next two years through arbitration, and Aroldis Chapman is almost certainly going to take a spot in rotation at some point.

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/02...-on-roy-o/

Jocketty: Reds not pursuing Oswalt
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 02/07/12 2:05 PM EST

CINCINNATI -- As Spring Training is set to open in less than two weeks for many clubs, including the Reds, free agent starting pitcher Roy Oswalt is still without a job.

Speculation that aggressive Cincinnati has been in talks to sign Oswalt has heated up repeatedly in recent days.

Not true, general manager Walt Jocketty claimed emphatically on Tuesday.

"The media has been putting us into it. I'm tired of it," Jocketty said. "I try to be upfront with you guys. I've gotten a lot of calls from people. I'm not saying something couldn't ever happen, but there's nothing to lead me to believe we will sign him."

Oswalt, 34, was 9-10 with a 3.69 ERA in 23 starts for the Phillies last season and was once the longtime ace of the Astros' rotation. Last month, Jocketty revealed that Oswalt's agent had contacted him. However, the GM said at the time that he didn't think it was possible financially and made no effort to start negotiations.

Besides the Reds, the Red Sox, Rangers and Cardinals have all been rumored suitors for Oswalt during the winter. Texas and St. Louis haven't really said it was unlikely they would be able to sign Oswalt.

"I don't know where he's going," Jocketty said. "We haven't had any serious discussions with him. We've had no contact with that player."

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/arti...n&c_id=cin

Speedy LaMarre rising swiftly through ranks
With eye on Majors, Reds outfield prospect gaining experience
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com | 02/06/12 1:43 PM EST

CINCINNATI -- In a year when one former Red and University of Michigan product enters the Hall of Fame in Barry Larkin, an up and coming Reds prospect and Univ. of Michigan product hopes to be in the Majors.

Or at least very close.

Taken in the second round of the 2010 First-Year Player Draft, speedy outfielder Ryan LaMarre is progressing rather quickly ... and rather well.


(Chris Martin/Bakersfield Blaze)
Ryan LaMarre batted .278 with six homers, 47 RBIs and 55 steals over 122 games in 2011.

"I think he'll continue to move rapidly through the system," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "He has great ability. He's a very intelligent player."

Promoted three times since entering pro ball in Class A Dayton following college, LaMarre spent most of 2011 in high Class A Bakersfield and finished with five games at Double-A Carolina.

Combined over 122 games, the 23-year-old LaMarre batted .278 with six home runs, 47 RBIs, 55 steals and a .350 on-base percentage. He plays primarily in center field.

"I feel like it's a process, and I still have a long way to go," LaMarre said. "But so far, I've been happy with the work I have put in. It will only get better from here. It's a learning curve, and I feel like I've adjusted pretty well."

Jocketty expected LaMarre to begin the 2012 season at the Reds' new Double-A affiliate in Pensacola.

Recently, LaMarre rode a Reds caravan bus for four days along with Jocketty, Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco and former pitcher Tom Browning. He was given advice that included making the most of his time in the Minors and using it to smooth the rougher edges of his game.

"More than anything, it's getting experience playing every day," LaMarre said. "When I do make a mistake or an out, I have to get over that quicker. I need to work on my approach. It's just little things that you can only get by playing."

LaMarre has yet to develop much power in his hitting, with only 12 homers in 190 Minor League games the past two seasons. Of his 198 hits, 46 were for extra bases.

"I feel like I am still finding out what type of player I am," LaMarre said. "In college, I hit the ball a lot harder, and some of that came with that learning curve. I changed a lot of things mid-season last year and never really found something I stuck with. This year, I'm hoping to be consistent, stay with something, and I think you'll see the power numbers go up this year."

"For a lot of guys, power comes later on in their careers," Jocketty said. "Right now, we want him to focus more on his hitting ability and getting on base. He eventually will hit with more power."

The Reds currently have a power-hitting center fielder in Drew Stubbs. And while LaMarre doesn't yet have the pop from his bat like Stubbs, he has tried to use his speed to get any ball in his vicinity defensively.

LaMarre committed zero errors in 2010 and made five errors in 258 total chances last season. Having speed has helped him get better jumps on balls and allows him to correct any mistakes in judging the ball off of the bat.

"It's a nice asset to have," LaMarre said of his speed. "I work as hard on defense as anybody, during batting practice and stuff like that. I'm trying to eliminate mistakes whenever possible.

"In Spring Training, I got to meet [Stubbs] and go over for a few Major League games. I watched how he played the outfield, how he went about his business. I asked him questions about what he looks for on defense and what he does. He's been open to it and helping me whenever he can. He's someone I hope I can see myself as one day."

At the present rate, one day might not be too many days from now.

Mark Sheldon is a reporter for MLB.com. Read his blog, Mark My Word, and follow him on Twitter @m_sheldon. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/arti...n&c_id=cin

Ludwick is one happy dude
02/08/12 at 8:29pm by jfay

Talked to Ryan Ludwick tonight. He’s more than a tad excited to be a Red. “It’s been like Groundhog Day,” he said about the delay on the announcement. Here’s the highlights:

–Happy to be a Red? “People might find it hard to believe,” he said. “But this the most excited I’ve been in my career. . . It’s a dream come true.”

–He grew up a Reds fan (his father’s family is from Georgetown, Ohio): “I was always a Reds and Bengals fan. It’s pretty cool to finally be a Red.”

–On Eric Davis: “Being left handed in Little League, it was either first base or outfield. I always played center field. I can remember my dad throwing me pop flies and diving for them like Eric. People might not remember it, but before he started getting hurt, Eric was one of the most exciting defensive players in the game.”

–On playing in Petco: “Playing in San Diego screwed me up. I’m not using that as an excuse or a crutch, but it turned me into a dead pull hitter. I got away from what I was as a hitter.”
(Over 160 games in San Diego, Ludwick hit .228/.301/.358).

–On playing at Great American Ball Park (where he has hit .276/.321/.600 with six home runs and 21 RBI in 105 at-bats): “Great American has one of the fairest right-centers in baseball. It fits my swing perfectly. I’m going from the the biggest park in baseball to one of the smallest. It’s nice.”

–On playing time: “I think it’s kind of up to me. If I play well, I’ll play a lot. If I don’t, I won’t. (Dusty Baker’s) got a lot of weapons in the outfield. He’s going to go with the guy who is hot. He wants to win. I don’t think anyone is going to sit a tremendous amount. My philosophy is I’m coming into to fight for a job. If didn’t have that attitude, I shouldn’t be playing.”

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2012/02...appy-dude/

Good stuff on Ludwick. I wasn't crazy about the signing, but reading that made me like the guy a little more with his Cincinnati-connection (that I didn't know about previously).

Aside from Damon (who might not have been even interested, or able to play the OF, or might have wanted more $$), Ludwick was probably the best choice for the Reds given his relatively low salary and the fact he had no acquisition cost. He's got a shot to be productive and obviously I like his attitude fwiw. Although I wish they'd give Dmitri Young a shot too - I'm pretty sure he's still available and would take a minor league deal.