Chances slim of club adding quality starter; Expos' Vasquez too expensive
It's the offseason and, of course, Reds fans are thinking about player moves. Here's what they had to say.
Q, from Brad in Connersville: What are the Reds' chances of landing a top-level pitcher like Javier Vazquez? Montreal is leaking money and with no new home will be looking to drop some salary. The Reds could send a package of Brandon Larson or Russell Branyan along with Ruben Mateo. The Expos always need outfielders to go with Vladimir Guerrero. With Vazquez in the rotation, the Reds' foursome of Danny Graves, Vasquez, Elmer Dessens and Ryan Dempster would, on paper, be very competitive with the rest of the division.
A: Just like last year, what the Reds do and don't do will be affected by money. Vazquez made $4.75 million last year, so chances are slim unless the Reds could send salary to Montreal. Remember, the rotation could be Bartolo Colon and the three you mentioned, but the Reds didn't get him because of payroll. Now, he's the best $6 million man in baseball.
Q, from Brian: What was that guy thinking when he suggested we go with "Error on" Boone at shortstop instead of Barry Larkin? Boone's numbers that led the team were a direct result of his dad playing him every day. He hit worse than Larkin, and his fielding was far worse. And let's not forget he also led the team in popouts to the first baseman with runners in scoring position. It's a good thing his dad put him second in the batting order so he could get more chances to hack at the first pitch and pop out. As for his extra-inning "heroics," those home runs came in situations when a single would have won it, but Aaron was swinging for the fences.
A: Guess I'll hold off on sending you that Aaron Boone Fan Club application, Brian. Boone did make too many errors (22), but he made an equal number of spectacular plays.
Q, from Mark in Atlanta: After all the "players to be named" were named, what did the Reds end up giving up in the trades for Shawn Estes and Brian Moehler? I heard Gary Varner was one of these players. How do you rate him and the other prospects they gave up? If I could ask one more, do you know of any really good Cincinnati Reds Web pages? I'm looking for an up-to-date 40-man roster.
A: For Estes, the Reds gave up Raul Gonzalez and Brady Clark as the players to be named later, along with LHP Pedro Feliciano and outfielder Elvin Andujar. For Moehler, Varner and right-hander Jorge Cordova were the players to be named later, along with David Espinosa. Varner, who goes by "Noochie," was having a big year at Single-A Dayton. If any of the prospects turns out to be good, the deals will look bad, because the Reds got Estes and Moehler for the stretch drive and they hurt more than they helped. As for the Web, the Reds' site - www.cincinnatireds.com - has a 40-man roster on it.
