Reds Pick Up Interest in Baldelli

by Tommy Rancel on Dec 19, 2008 8:05 PM EST

While we all wait for Mark Teixeira to pick a destination, it seems that the Juan Rivera signing may have had a little impact on the Rays. After learning about Rivera's re-signing, the Reds have now zeroed in on Rocco Baldelli, Jerry Hairston Jr. and Willy Taveras. From Cincinnati.com

The Reds quest for a right-handed-hitting outfielder is now centered on Jerry Hairston Jr., Rocco Baldelli and Willy Taveras.

The Reds have an offer out to Hairston. They remain interested in Baldelli. A new report on Baldelli's mysterious ailment came out Wednesday. It makes him a much more attractive option for the Reds. He could play center or left. He's a middle-of-the-order bat when healthy.

Also Ken Rosenthal gives his guesses on where the 11 biggest remaining free agents will land. He has Bradley to the Cubs, Burrell to the Mets, Abreu to the A's, Dunn to the Nats and.....

Giambi had moments last season (mainly before the break) where he looked to be recapturing his early 2000s form. But he leveled off and put up a respectable line of .246-32-96. He's got appeal to AL teams seeking a solid power bat at DH. He'll be 38 this season, so long-term expectations have to be tempered.

Rosenthal's likely destination: Rays.

Personally, I have Giambi third on my wish list behind Bradley and Burrell, but in no way would I be disappointed in a DH with a career slash line of .286/.408/.534.

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The people in our front office are big fans of Giambi.

Tools Whore

Sign Bonds!

by Tyler on Dec 19, 2008 8:58 PM EST reply actions

Ntafley and Burrell will want

at least the three year deals Riviera and Ibanez got, so in that respect i agree

by Raymondo on Dec 19, 2008 9:05 PM EST reply actions

Ntafley?

Proof-reading comments isn’t that hard.

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 19, 2008 9:10 PM EST up reply actions

I cumpleetly uhgree

by steve-o1285 on Dec 20, 2008 1:16 AM EST up reply actions

MILTON BRADLEY!!!!

by Raymondo on Dec 20, 2008 8:43 AM EST up reply actions

Giambi is nice because he hits lefties very well for being a power-hitting lefty.

His xBABIP numbers looked encouraging, any projections RJ if his BABIP/xBABIP regressed?

by twenty5psi on Dec 19, 2008 9:17 PM EST reply actions

And Then There Was One

The Rays better hurry up and sign Rocco. Before you know it all of our top choices will have signed elsewhere and our fallback will have signed with someone else also.

by pauld on Dec 20, 2008 12:34 AM EST reply actions

Bradley, Burrell, Giambi, and Abreu are still available?

by R.J. Anderson on Dec 20, 2008 11:20 AM EST up reply actions

Yes They All Are!!

However each of them have other teams showing significant interest and each of them may command significant contracts in length and amount. Bradley has multiple suitors and may have character issues. You need to also question why the Phillies chose to let Burrell go inspite of it creating a whole that they needed Ibanez to fill. Giambi may be expensive and has interest from the A’s and potentially the Yankees if they defer with Texiera and Manny, and finally Abreau to me seems to have flaws mainly because the Yankees allowed him to go free inspite of their outfield being questionable.

I believe the Rays need to lock Rocco up because he is younger, cheaper, and fits with the Rays. Let’s take his new diagnosis, verify the prognosis with our medical staff with his, and if it sounds encouraging, take a flyer for relatively cheap money.

by pauld on Dec 20, 2008 3:17 PM EST up reply actions

They may demand such contracts

but that doesn’t mean they’ll necessarily GET them.

The market dictates what contracts they get, not their demands. Look at K-Rod. Initially, it was rumored that he was seeking a 60MM++ contract. He settled for about 60% of that over 3 years. Much, much less money.

The Giambi -A’s stuff makes very minimal sense to me. They don’t need a DH.

If the Yankees want Giambi, that’s a GOOD thing. Jeter at SS, Cano at 2B, and Giambi at 1B is a horrible infield defense. Which is good for division rivals. Although if they don’t get Teixeira, they’ll probably go with Swisher at 1B.

The Rays will get ONE of Burrell, Dunn, Abreu, Giambi, or Bradley. Any of them would make productive DHs.

"And you just don't get it, you keep it copacetic..."

by Blicks on Dec 20, 2008 3:34 PM EST up reply actions