Press Clippings January 28, 2015

CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Bullpen arms are still out there for Reds By John Fay / Cincinnati Enquirer / [email protected] / @Johnfayman

There are still plenty of interesting names out there if the Reds decide to try to bargain shop for free-agent relievers.

The list includes three closers from last year: Francisco Rodriguez (44 saves for Milwaukee), Rafael Soriano (32 saves for Washington) and Casey Janssen (25 saves for Toronto). They are extremely unlikely to fall into the Reds' price range.

Everything the Reds have said this offseason indicates they do not have a lot of money to spend. But with three weeks away, players are often willing to drop their asking price for opportunity. The Reds can offer that. The bullpen had the second-worst ERA in the National League last year, so spots will be open.

Related: Reds' bullpen still awaiting attention

Related: Reds hope bullpen bounced back from rough 2014

Also: Better bullpen a high priority for Reds

Here's three intriguing names still out there that might fall into the Reds' range:

-- RHP Burke Badenhop. He put up a 2.29 ERA in 70 games for the Red Sox last year.

-- RHP Joe Thatcher. He's held lefties to a .230 average in his career. Had a 3.86 ERA last year, but he struggled after being traded from Arizona to the Angels. From Kokomo, Ind.

-- RHP Alexi Ogando: Has started and relieved. Wasn't very good last year (6.86 ERA), but he was good in his previous years with Texas.

I don't know if the Reds are a) interested in any of the above or b) could afford any of the above.

So far, the Reds have tried to address their bullpen problems by adding a couple of minor-league free agents with big-league experience.

Left-hander Jose Mijares and right-hander Nate Adcock have a decent shot at making the club. Mijares has a 3.23 ERA over 324 big-league games. He did not pitch in 2014 after getting cut by Boston in the spring. He put up a 1.71 ERA in Winter Ball in Venezuela.

Adcock, 27, has spent time in the big leagues three of the last four seasons. He was 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA for Texas last year.

The Reds could also use Jason Marquis in a bullpen role.

The other thing the club needs to do is look at all of the young arms in the organization. That can work out. Scott Williamson, who was part of the Reds Caravan this year, is a living example of that. He came into camp in 1999 as a non-roster invitee who had spent most of the previous year at Double-A as a starter. He went 12-7 with a 2.41 ERA and 19 saves in '99 to win the Rookie of the Year award.

Doc’s TML: Does everyone like Reds’ Devin Mesoraco deal? By Paul Daugherty / Cincinnati Enquirer / [email protected]

The Reds got proactive with their , announcing yesterday a four-year, $28 mil deal that buys out all three of D. Mesoraco's arbitration seasons and gives him $13 mil the first year he would have been a free agent.

The bigger part of me says this is a smart deal for The Club, and about what it did for Bruce and Cueto. The five-year Cueto deal that expires after this season has been bargain basement. If Bruce rebounds this year, his six-year contract was also wise.

Mesoraco?

There are advantages to locking up a player before his initial run at arbitration: He avoids the occasional ugliness of the arb debate. He gets security; the team gets cost certainty. Each has peace of mind.

There are disadvantages, mostly for the team: The money is guaranteed, so if the player is injury prone, you're up the creek. Plus, the three arb years are there to provide the team a measure of control. The player can't go anywhere. You might have to pay him more than you'd like – arbitration is rigged toward the player – but he's yours. You don't have to sign him, in other words.

A case could be made that the Reds could have waited another year. It's a little harder to make that case when you see that Mesoraco's money this year is $2.4 mil, which is close to what he'd have made in arbitration. And of course, every year you wait comes with the possibility the price will go up.

Enquirer Reds beat writers John Fay and C. Trent Rosecrans offer some of the latest Cincinnati Reds news.

And yet, here's what makes you nervous:

Mesoraco has had only one very good year, last year.

Cueto had three years and 32 wins when the Reds locked him up. Bruce had 68 homers. His RBI totals and his OPS had risen in each of his three major league seasons.

What matters most to me – and what I think tips the scales – is Mesoraco's head. It's firmly atop his shoulders. He's a conscientious player, to whom the money won't matter, at least not on the field. He's gained respect in the clubhouse. This will give him more. Locking up a rising star is good business when the rising star isn't a head case.

That leaves T. Frazier and Chapman. Frazier is as deserving a deal as Mesoraco is, for all the same reasons. But what agents call "the comparables'' make him more expensive. As for Chapman?

I doubt the Reds will spend lots of money to retain a closer, even one as good and theatrical as The Missile. They've proven me wrong in the past (Votto, Phillips) so we'll see.

Meanwhile. . .

A PET PEEVE, ONE OF ABOUT A MILLION… W.Jocketty referred to our town as a "small market.'' It's not, unless you define the market as the Tristate area. This is a regional team, with lots of big places no more than two hours away. Gas prices have taken a pleasant freefall; it will be interesting to see what effect, if any, that will have on attendance.

Regardless, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Minnesota, Pittsburgh and Oakland would love to have Louisville, Lex, Dayton, C-bus and Indy within commuting distance.

The Reds are small-money, not small-market, and actually, they're not even small-money anymore.

Now, then. . .

I DIDN'T WATCH THE ENTIRE PRO BOWL (I know, what a missed opportunity on my part) so I had to go back to the DVR to watch A. Dalton's attempt to lead Team Carter to victory. And to hear the boos rain down when he didn't.

(This was a feisty crowd for a Pro Bowl, BTW. No leis-n-alohas in Glendale.)

The 4th-and-10 pass Dalton threw from the Irvin 19 was ridiculous, and not in a good way. A quacker off his front foot, because he saw a rusher in his face. It had no chance. Fans booed a lot.

I know it's a make-believe game. I know no one wants to risk an injury being a hero. But the other QBs had nice days. Dalton looked like he does here, even as he had all that high-flying talent around him.

Mean anything? Probably not. As I said in December, I've made my peace with this issue. Average is as average does. The challenge that remains for The Men is to build a team that can compensate for their quarterback.

BECAUSE TV IS MY LIFE (AND I READ A LITTLE, TOO). . . I'm watching the three-night Sons of Liberty on History, which is sort of a prequel to the RevWar. At the same time, I'm reading a book called American Spring, which follows the same path. All of which means I can sound really smart while explaining what's going on in the show. Samuel Adams for $2,000, Alex.

XAVIER TAKES TO THE ROAD TONIGHT, for a big test at Georgetown. It's past time for the Musketeers to play a solid 40 away from home. This team has better talent than its record shows, partly because it considers playing defense to be something of a hobby.

UC HOSTS UCONN Thursday night, in better shape. You can see leadership emerging from T. Caupain. The Bearcats still need serious consistency from Clark and Ellis, and for Johnson and Cobb to be snipers from the wings. But they've played well recently. Avenging an L at Connecticut would continue the trend.

TODAY IS MEDIA DAY AT THE BIG BOWL. . .

YES, BUT WILL HE HAVE ALL HIS TEETH?… ESPN's golf experts weigh in on what to expect from Tiger at the Waste Management Open (nice name) in PHX this week.

I, ROBOT… Interesting piece on ESPN.com from a veteran Boston columnist, on the ways of Belichick. And of course, he knows nothing about the air pressure of footballs:

"You're sitting in a meeting and Bill will announce, 'We've traded Richard Seymour' or 'We've traded Mike Vrabel' so you think, 'Well, golly, they'll do it to me, too,'" (former tight end Ben) Watson said. "There's this built-in fear and trepidation. I've talked with a lot of guys who played there, and it's not always the funnest place to be. There's a cloud over there at times.

"And, when you finally leave, you realize, 'Wow, I found my voice. I do have an opinion.'

"At the same time, I understand why Bill does it. Not everyone understood where the line was. When I played there I didn't just walk the line, I stayed away from the line.

"I might have been thinking, 'I can't believe Richard Seymour is gone, this is so ridiculous,' but I knew Bill would think that was hurting the team.

"So I didn't say anything. We were robots.''

THE TRUTH HURTS. REALLY. From The Big Lead:

Robert Allenby, you're officially busted. It took a little over a week, but the truth has finally starting to come out: The golfer spent $3,400 at a strip club according to the Golf Channel, and there was no robbery. Witnesses said over the weekend that Allenby was so drunk he simply fell down and smashed his face on some rocks.

ANYBODY BEEN TO ST. GEORGE ISLAND? It's a little place across a bridge or causeway from Apalachicola, on the Florida panhandle. Had lunch with a guy yesterday who says it's the perfect spot for J. Thinwallet to hide out for a week of Fabulous Nothing. What say you, Mob?

HI, I'M AND I THINK ELIMINATING SHIFTS IS A GREAT IDEA. From sportsonearth:

Every time a team employs a shift, it is gambling that the ball will end up in covered real estate. Yet, there's still just as much empty real estate available to hitters as before.

Simply put, defensive shifting adds another strategy wrinkle into what is already one of the world's great strategy sports. As long as we're not sacrificing entertainment value, it's a worthwhile part of the game.

Amen and amen. You wanna beat the shift? Change your plate approach and learn how to bunt. More runs? Lower the mound. Make hitters realize that a K is a wasted at-bat. Not everyone can be Ichiro. Everyone with major-league talent can learn to shorten a stroke and protect the plate when the count isn't in his favor.

My work is done here.

CBSSPORTS.COM Infield shifts have become an issue for players like Reds’ Bruce By Michael Hurcomb / CBSSports.com Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is not going to use infield shifts as an excuse for his low batting average, but he admits it does play a factor, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer.

"That's definitely taken some hits away from me," Bruce said. "I don't use it as an excuse. But the bottom line is it takes hits away. You smoke a ball up the middle and you think it's a hit. But the shortstop is playing right behind second base.

"It's definitely cut down on average. You look at a player like Mark Teixiera. He was a .300, .280 hitter. You put the shift on him. He's a guy who drives the ball, pull hitter. He uses the other side of the field some. But guys like that are hitting in the .250s."

Bruce added that beating the shift is difficult.

"Everyone's like, 'Hit a ground ball to shortstop or hit one down the line.' Like you can do whatever you want." he said. "A lot of times, pitchers pitch to the shift. And shifts are getting more sophisticated. In New York, (shortstop Derek) Jeter was playing third, in on the grass. So you can't bunt. Ideally, you want to get a hit. It's hard to do."

Reds hitting coach Don Long said eventually hitters will be taught in the minors to beat the shift.

"Not everybody's going to be the perfect hitter and be able to do everything," he said. "But I think you're going to find guys who want to have the ability to hit to both sides of the field."

ESPN.COM Devin Mesoraco: Is he the real deal? By David Schoenfield / ESPN.com

The Reds and catcher Devin Mesoraco have agreed to a four-year, $28 million deal. Like a lot of these multiyear deals with young players, it buys out one year of free agency.

Mesoraco had been a highly rated prospect, although he struggled in his first full season in 2013. He broke out in 2014, hitting .273/.359/.534 with 25 home runs, leading all in home runs and slugging percentage. He wasn't just taking advantage of Great American Ballpark either, as 11 of his 25 home runs came on the road and he posted nearly identical OPS splits (.896 at home, .890 on the road). Using the ballpark-adjusted wRC+ (weighted runs created), Mesoraco ranked as the best-hitting catcher in the majors with a 147 wRC+, just ahead of Buster Posey and Russell Martin.

Is there anything in the numbers that says fluke season? Not that I can see. He hit right-handers (a big improvement from 2013) and left-handers nearly equally as well. Among players with at least 250 plate appearances, he did rank seventh in the majors in his percentage of home runs per fly ball. Is the power legit or did he luck into a few extra home runs? Mesoraco's average distance of 390 feet isn't anything special but according to the ESPN Home Run Tracker, his total of "just enough" home runs was five, which is way below the league leaders in that category.

Mesoraco didn't have many "just enoughs" because nearly every home run he hit was pulled -- he hit one homer to center field; the other 24 went to left or left-center, including 14 to the "far left," making him one of the most extreme dead pull hitters in the majors. Mesoraco wasn't shifted much in 2014, but I suspect that will change in 2015, although that shouldn't affect his power output.

That doesn't answer the question of whether it was a fluke season. I thought it would be instructive to see how many catchers even had a year like Mesoraco, so I found all catchers with at least 400 plate appearances since 1969 who posted a wRC+ of 140 or higher (via FanGraphs). We get a list of 51 seasons from 29 catchers. Ten of those 29 posted more than one 140 wRC+ season, led by Mike Piazza's seven. Of the other 19 catchers, I'd say five could be classified as flukes:

Dick Dietz, 1970 Giants: .300/.426/.515, 152 RC+. It wasn't a completely fluke season, as Dietz posted a 132 wRC+ in 1971, although his average fell from .300 to .252. Dietz's story gets even more interesting. Even though he was one of the best-hitting catchers in the majors and even though the Giants had won the NL West in 1971, the Giants placed him on waivers three days before the start of the 1972 season. Why? Dietz was the Giants' player rep and the players had gone on strike during spring training, delaying the start of the season. The Dodgers picked up Dietz, he broke his wrist and then played well in a part-time role with the Braves in 1973 (.474 OBP in 191 PAs), but the Braves cut him the next spring and nobody picked him up. Bruce Markusen has the story of the possible blackballing of Dietz here.

Rick Wilkins, 1993 Cubs: .303/.376/.561, 144 wRC+. A stone-cold fluke. Hit 30 home runs but never posted a 100 wRC+ the rest of his career.

Paul Lo Duca, 2001 Dodgers: .320/.374/.543, 140 wRC+. A lot of silly things happened around this time. Lo Duca's season was one of those as he hit 25 home runs, 12 more than he hit in any other season. Later cited in the Mitchell report as a user of steroids and human growth hormone.

Alex Avila, 2011 Tigers: .295/.389/.506, 140 wRC+. Driven by a .366 BABIP, he hasn't come close to hitting like this again as his BABIP normalized and his strikeout rates increased.

Carlos Ruiz, 2012 Phillies: .325/.394/.540, 152 wRC+. The second-best mark of his career is a 127 wRC+ the season before, but he added more power in 2012 to his on-base skills. After the season, he tested positive for amphetamines and was suspended 25 games for 2013.

I don't believe Mesoraco is another Wilkins or Avila, but it's also likely he won't produce the same triple-slash line again (in part, because he may get an extra 100 PAs or so, which could create some fatigue). I'm guessing he'll have to make some adjustments as pitchers change their patterns against him. He hit .313/.460/.687 on inside pitches as opposed to .191/.271/.312 on pitches on the outer third or off the plate.

As for the contract, it should be a good deal for the Reds. Mesoraco is entering his age-27 season so the Reds will get him through his prime years and if he hits anything like he did in 2014, he's going to be a bargain the last couple of seasons of the deal.

Reds fans may have wanted to see a deal for Johnny Cueto, but they should happy about this one.

VAVEL Devin Mesoraco Signs 4-year Extension With Cincinnati Reds By Tyler Milliken / Vavel

According to MLB Fox reporter Ken Rosenthal, 26-year-old catcher Devin Mesoraco has agreed to a four-year extension with the Cincinnati Reds worth at least 28 million with 2 million in possible incentives he could earn.

The extension covers all three of Mesoraco's arbitration seasons along with his very first year of free agency keeping him in Cincinnati until the end of the 2018 season. Devin was originally drafted by the Reds 15th overall in the 2007 amateur draft and was regarded as a top catching prospect while rising through their minor league system.

2014 was a breakout year for Mesoraco who didn't get a chance to become a full-time starter for the club until last year. In 114 games Mesoraco would put together a solid .273 batting average while launching 25 homeruns and knocking in 80 RBI. Along with that he played solid defense behind the plate where he continued to improve bit by bit as the season went along. The biggest concern for Mesoraco currently behind the plate is allowing too many baserunners to steal on him, last year he only threw out 18 out of 69 who attempted to do so.

This all led to Devin being named to his first all-star game at the major league level and finishing 21st in MVP voting. Even though it took a while for Mesoraco to develop into what many scouts envisioned he would, he's learned to hold down a position that many teams struggle to fill from season to season. After struggling a bit in his time in the majors from 2011-2013, Mesoraco finished the 2014 season leading all MLB catchers in slugging percentage, homeruns, and OPS even after landing on the 15-day disabled list twice early on.

If Mesoraco is able to replicate this same production throughout the 2015 season he'll quickly have his name established among the top catchers across the league. This current extension works out pretty well for Mesoraco who will be able to become a free agent for the first time at age 30, possibly setting him up for another good contract if he continues to produce like he did in 2014. It will be interesting to watch this season if what we saw in 2014 was the start of Mesoraco's all-star career, or just a good year during a time in which things weren't going too well for the Reds.

The extension has the possibility to be a really good bargain for the Reds if he continues to produce and stay healthy over the next four years, but if Mesoraco proves to be closer to his 2013 form Cincinnati could end up looking pretty stupid by the end of the contract.

EXAMINER.COM Reds avoid arbitration with Mesoraco By Kevin Pool / Examiner.com

The Cincinnati Reds have ensured that Devin Mesoraco have come to an agreement on Monday that avoids arbitration and gives the Reds catcher a hefty pay raise.

Cincinnati initially will pay Mesoraco what they had originally exchanged, $2.4 million, with the former first-round pick, but only for the first year of the contract. The Punxsutawney, Pa., native will then make $4.9 million in the second year, $7.2 million in 2017, before watching that nearly double to $13 million in the final season of his four year deal.

He currently joins Joey Votto (2023), (2019), and Cuban prospect Raisel Iglesias (2020) as the only players signed through at least 2018. Brandon Phillips is signed through 2017 while Jay Bruce has an option to be picked up that year as well. and Aroldis Chapman may also have long term roles in the Reds future depending on how negotiations continue before their arbitration hearings in February, something the Reds have avoided for over 10 years.

As for Mesoraco, there was no doubt that the slugging catcher would be signed to a multi-year deal. Before the start of last season the Reds had traded away and officially passed the torch to Mesoraco as the everyday catcher in Cincinnati. The Reds also lacked depth in the catching department before acquiring Chad Wallach in the Mat Latos trade. Wallach and will have to wait their turn if Mesoraco continues to put up the offensive numbers he did in 2014.

Last season he was honored as an All-Star along with Frazier for filling the offensive void left by the injured Votto. Mesoraco hit .273 with 25 homers and drove in 80 runs despite playing in just 114 games. He did battle injuries in the first half of the season allowing Barnhart to get some Major League playing time and gave Brayan Pena a chance to get into the Reds lineup. Pena would go on to play a career best 115 games and will serve as Mesoraco's backup, as well as Votto's at first.

Mesoraco, Pena, and Barnhart will all be headed out to Goodyear, Ariz., along with non-roster invitee catchers Wallach, Kyle Skipworth, and Ramon Cabrera on Feb. 18 when pitchers and catchers report for Spring Training.

BLEACHER REPORT Cincinnati Reds’ 5 Non-Roster Invitees to Watch in Spring Training By Tyler Grote / Bleacher Report

The Cincinnati Reds are just 21 days from when pitchers and catchers report, and 27 days from the start of spring training.

And while the popular questions surrounding the health of superstars Joey Votto, Jay Bruce and Homer Bailey will dominate the majority of headlines, there are several notable names listed on the Reds' non-roster invitees list worthy of your attention.

Five of the 20 non-roster invitees are currently listed as top-10 prospects for the Reds by .

Because the Reds could still use pitching depth—both in the rotation and in the bullpen—these non-roster invitees in particular have a chance to not only impress and inspire confidence about the Reds' future, but possibly even make the MLB roster.

The following list of five non-roster invitees will begin with those least likely to actually make the team and end with someone who should have a legitimate opportunity.

1) Robert Stephenson, RHP

As a first-round draft pick in 2001 and the No. 1 prospect in the Reds organization, Stephenson's performance is notable whether he's ready to join the major league roster or not.

Stephenson finished 2014 in Double-A with the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. His ERA at the end of the year was 4.74 with a 7-10 record in just over a 136 innings.

While not the most encouraging, his minor league portfolio in three years is still impressive. He's 17-21 with a 3.79 ERA and 9.91 strikeouts per nine innings. That's probably how Stephenson retained his spot atop Baseball America's top-10 list of Reds prospects.

Still, don't look for Stephenson to fill the back of the rotation any time soon. Despite a fastball that can touch triple digits, he's having issues with command. Steve Gardner of USA Today wrote:

“Stephenson has a big-time fastball that can touch 100 mph, but his control was a bit erratic as he walked 4.9 batters per nine innings. “He just needs a little more command and experience,” GM Walt Jocketty says. Stephenson will likely return to Pensacola to start the season, but should move up to Class AAA in short order.

2) , OF

Perhaps the most anticipated arrival from the Cincinnati farm system, this high-profiled prospect has done nothing but succeed at every level thus far.

The right-handed slugger was a popular choice to fill the void in left field, but with only three years of professional minor league experience, it's probably best he continues to grow and succeed in the minors first.

And that he's done. In three years, Winker is slashing .297/.401/.489. He did struggle in his brief Double-A stint, slashing .208/.326/.351 in just 21 games for the Pensacola Blue Wahoos. But his rebound in the once again generated anticipation among Reds fans. In 19 games, he slashed .338/.440/.559.

Steve Engbloom of Blog Red Machine adds the following in his recent evaluation of Winker and his ability to reach base: "He gets on base. One reason: He will take a walk. The lowest BB% he has posted at any level is 13.0 percent. That was in 2013 when he spent the entire season in Dayton. For his MiLB career, his BB% is 14.2 percent."

3) , RHP

Another first-round draft pick of the Reds (2014), this right-hander has just one year of experience for the Single-A , so there should be no expectation for Howard to be in uniform come Opening Day.

Howard pitched in 11 games, starting five of them. In 33.2 innings of work, Howard went 2-1 with a 3.74 ERA and an impressive WHIP of 1.16. Because there isn't a lot of professional data on Howard, here is some scouting information featured by Bleacher Report's Mike Rosenbaum:

“Control: 45/55

Projects for above-average control of at least two pitches out of the bullpen; trusts his stuff and attacks opposing hitters; consistently around the plate with fastball but too often works up in the zone; athleticism aids future control profile in either role; good overall feel for pitching with plenty of room for improvement.

Command: 40/50

Development of command will be crucial as a starter but is less important as a late-inning reliever; walks have never been an issue for the right-hander; both fastball and breaking ball command is slightly below average at the present; potential to be average with refinement in minor leagues.”

According to this same scouting report, Howard stands a chance to crack the MLB roster in a late-bullpen capacity. Considering how terrible the bullpen was last year, I think that's plausible.

4) Michael Lorenzen, RHP

Lorenzen accounts for another right-handed arm dominating the top end of the Reds prospects list. Baseball America lists him as the No. 4 prospect in the Reds organization.

Lorenzen has two years within the Reds system, and he's impressed in both. He finished 4-6 with an ERA of 3.13 in 120.2 innings pitched at Double-A Pensacola. He sports a 5-7 record and a 3.11 cumulative ERA in about 141 innings of minor league work.

According to Manny Randhawa of MLB.com, he has a fastball with movement: "Lorenzen has a fastball that can reach the upper 90s with movement, a decent breaking ball and a changeup that he hasn't used much, but could become a larger part of his repertoire."

5) Felix Perez, OF

Felix Perez is not a first-round draft pick, but he is the most intriguing non-roster invitee. Perez may have a low profile now, but, per Rotoworld, he lost a $3.5 million deal with the New York Yankees for reportedly falsifying his age when he first tried entering MLB.

He's now 30 years old, and he has most certainly impressed in his time within the Reds system. Last year, the left-handed-hitting Perez slashed .280/.325/.450 in Triple-A. In now five minor league seasons, he's slashing a career .281/.329/.404. He had 12 home runs last year and 10 the year before.

The Reds clearly need depth on the bench, and Perez has been demonstrating for a while now that he's deserving of a look. Yet this will be the first time he's been invited to spring training.

TRANSACTIONS Date Transaction 01/27/15 Cleveland Indians invited non-roster CF Tyler Naquin to spring training. Cleveland Indians invited non-roster SS Francisco Lindor to spring training. Cleveland Indians invited non-roster RF Jordan Smith to spring training. Cleveland Indians invited non-roster CF James Ramsey to spring training. Cleveland Indians invited non-roster C Jake Lowery to spring training. Cleveland Indians invited non-roster RHP Will Roberts to spring training. Baltimore Orioles designated C Mike Ohlman for assignment. Pittsburgh Pirates traded RF Travis Snider to Baltimore Orioles for LHP Stephen Tarpley and Player To Be Named Later. Boston Red Sox traded RHP Anthony Ranaudo to Texas Rangers for Robbie Ross Jr.. Joc Pederson changed number to 31. Miami Marlins signed free agent RF Ichiro Suzuki.