Crazy thought how about Ryan Freel

[erbacaine04]

Ryan Freel of the Reds..... has been shopped around, had that bad injury last year but I think he has recovered from it.

 

Has Played third 671 innings since 2004....6 errors....

 

is an OBP machine...2007 a down year his OBP was 60 points higher than his batting Average, from 2004-2006 his OBP was a 100 points higher than his Batting average(each year had around a .270 average and got on at a .370 rate)....he would be a perfect 2 hitter behind Weeks.

 

Plus he can play 2nd and CF if need be as well

 

Call me crazy but I think if the Reds strike out for a pitcher we could have him by trading Dave Bush

 

Allows us to keep Cappy until the Allstar Break to get his value higher(usually has a good 1st half 7-0 start last year), leave Parra in triple A until we deal cappy and then Parra takes his spot in the Rotation...

 

Vargas is our Elmer Dessens of last year...lol

[JohnBriggs12]

I think trading Bush for Ryan Freel has a lot more upside for the Reds than it does for the Brewers.

[Tbadder]

I'd agree. I'd want a much better player than Freel for Bush, but I think your idea has real merit as a back up plan. I feel the same way about keppinger.

[erbacaine04]

Yeah your probably right....then Vargas...lol... Having Vargas in that hitters park...lol..

 

But yeah there are still so many options out there I think that could help the Brewers...especially when you are not really looking for that much Offense...you want more OBP and Defense then anything else... HRs is a plus... being a Lefty is Icing on the cake...Just wanted to throw another possible name out there... one that is not mentioned alot.. and one that actually fits in the DM can play multiple postions book of Bench players...lol

[Big Reed]

looking at the reds, freel seems to be a player without a position for next year. They have Hamilton, griffey and Dunn in the outfield. They have Encarcion at third and Phillips at second. freel is kind of a luxury. in his best years, his OBP was higher than his slugging %. Having sombody like freel or Figgins manning third would definitely be a change of pace. I guess you could point out that Pete Rose was never a big home run hitter and he played third.

[RU Rah Rah]

I dunno. He has a career OBP of .358, and the league OBP over that span is .342. And, obviously, he doesn't really have much in the way of SLG. The upside is that he could be the new, speedier "super-sub" -- but I wouldn't necessarily deal a competent SP for that.

[Ennder]

I dunno. He has a career OBP of .358, and the league OBP over that span is .342. And, obviously, he doesn't really have much in the way of SLG. The upside is that he could be the new, speedier "super-sub" -- but I wouldn't necessarily deal a competent SP for that.

 

Well Bush has a career ERA+ of 100 as in completely average. I'd like this idea a lot more if Freel could stay healthy, seems pretty risky bringing in someone who has been hurt almost every season of his career.

[JohnBriggs12]

"Well Bush has a career ERA+ of 100 as in completely average"

 

A "completely average" starter on the Reds is a rather significant upgrade over their usual 4th and 5th starters. Why solve one of your rivals main weaknesses for guy who at best is a nice complementary player?

[DrWood]

freel for vargas is a no-brainer.

freel is not an everyday anything, though, so you still have to have someone to replace him in a year or so.

[Big Reed]

The reds are in talks with the orioles for bedard and the A's for joe blanton. the orioles wanted bruce and the reds said No. if the reds don't get bedard, they may be willing to trade freel for somebody like vargas. I realize there is a big difference between the two. i think the reds would make a good trading partner. We almost acquired Dunn last year. Maybe we could revisit that trade.

[ILuvDaBush]

We already let go of Matt Wise.

[RU Rah Rah]

I dunno. He has a career OBP of .358, and the league OBP over that span is .342. And, obviously, he doesn't really have much in the way of SLG. The upside is that he could be the new, speedier "super-sub" -- but I wouldn't necessarily deal a competent SP for that.

Well Bush has a career ERA+ of 100 as in completely average. I'd like this idea a lot more if Freel could stay healthy, seems pretty risky bringing in someone who has been hurt almost every season of his career.

I see your point, and I don't necessarily disagree. It raises an interesting question: Which is more valuable, a basically average SP or a basically average position player? I can see arguments both ways.

 

[Fatter than Joey]

Which is more valuable, a basically average SP or a basically average position player? I can see arguments both ways.

 

For the Reds -- I think an average SP. I think if they got guys like Cappy/Bush into their rotation -- they'd move up in a large way. Their biggest hole is SP, if they had average pitchers to round out their rotation -- They would be pretty formidable.

[reillymcshane]

I've always liked Freel, but he looks like the kind of guy that's ready to break down. He's only 31, but he plays pretty recklessly. He ended last year with knee surgery. He was on the DL twice last year, and has always seemed banged up (maybe that's just my perception - I don't for sure).

 

He'd be a perfect 9th regular, super subbing type of guy. I think Bush is too much - Bush still has solid upside, while Freel is pretty much topped out - he'll be 32 before the season starts. His value rests with how much he stays healthy.