"What Would the Outsider Do" - Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves are in uncharted territory. This is a club that, as you all know, did not miss the playoffs for 14 consecutive seasons. In 2007, the club emptied its prospect bank and brought aboard highly coveted first basemen Mark Teixeira.

Despite finishing with an 84 and 78 record, the Braves failed to make the playoffs that year, and took a substantial step backwards in 2008, falling to 72 and 90 in a very winnable National League East.

Teixeira's career with the Braves came to an end at this year's trade deadline, while things couldn't have turned out worse for the Braves and this acquisition, that is all now in hindsight.

However, looking back, we see that the Braves traded an outstanding core of prospects to the Texas Rangers, and have now come out with Casey Kotchman, Stephen Marek, and indirectly, Brett DeVall. In hindsight, we're looking at what could possibly be one of the worst trades in recent memory. A trade that parralel's the likes of Scott Kazmir to the Rays, and Grady Sizemore, Brandon Phillips, and Cliff Lee to the Indians.

It was the desperation to make the playoffs that led Atlanta to trading away five of its best prospects, including, the top 3 as listed by Baseball America that previous winter. Unfortunately for the Braves, each of the prospects traded have continued to develop and are major reasons behind the Rangers having such a stocked farm system.

This trade also marked what is bound to be a lengthy down time for the Braves. While the farm system is replenishing itself with two excellent drafts, many of the players are still at least 2 years away. When one looks at what the Braves have at the Major League level, it becomes clear that they are in for a very long road at rebuilding.

In addition to the Teixeira 'blunder', the Braves have been rather misfortunate staying healthy. Pitchers Mike Gonzalez, Rafael Soriano, Tim Hudson, and John Smoltz all missed substantial time in 2008 due to injuries. Of which, Hudson and Smoltz's injuries will carry over to the 2009 season, further handcuffing this franchise.

There is, however, a silver lining for the 2009 Braves. The club has an estimated $45M in available cash resources, that money could make Atlanta into a big player this offseason. It wouldn't hurt to take $10-15M of that money, and look at signing Kelly Johnson, Jair Jurrjens, Mike Gonzalez, and Yunel Escobar to contract extensions. It may be a little early on Jurrjens and Escobar, but the time is certainly now for Johnson and Gonzalez.

Thus, with a developing system, and a surplus of cash, I will begin looking at what the Braves should, and should not do this offseason.

What the Braves don't need:

Infield help. The Braves have one of the best hitting infields in all of baseball. In addition to this, they have some substantial Major League ready depth and a good amount of high upside Minor Leaguers. Clearly if there is a way to cheaply upgrade any of their infield positions, the Braves should jump at that, but that would certainly be near the bottom of their wish list.

Relief pitching. This isn't a bad situation to have despite what is a fairly nice free agent relief core. Much of this is dependent on John Smoltz resigning and being ready, as well as Soriano's availability. Between those two, and Gonzalez, the Braves should have no problem finishing games. In addition to some nice depth at the Major League level, there are a couple arms in the system that could make their debut in 2009-Tyler Wilson and Luis Valdez.

Prospects. Everyone can always use prospects, but the Braves aren't in a position where they need to sell, simply to acquire youth. In fact, there is an argument to be made where the Braves may look to sell, simply to open up spots for their youth.

What the Braves need:

Pitching! Although, the club has a handful of very attractive and two of which could certainly be ready for Major League action by June of this season. Righty Tommy Hanson is a name everyone will all soon become familiar with, as he will be in the center of any trade discussions the Braves enter this offseason. Kristopher Medlen is another prospect that is fairly close to beign Major League ready. Although at this point, I'm not certain if he projects out as a starter or reliever.

So what do the Braves do here? For starters, I don't advocate signing CC Sabathia. He will simply cost too much for too long. I'm even in the minority that aren't worried about Sabathia's long term health and I would stay away from him.

Ben Sheets isn't a bad idea, but my worry is that he comes at a high cost despite his current unknown injury status, so I'll steer clear of him for now. Oliver Perez? The walks frighten me. Randy Wolf? He's a beneficiary of home ballparks.

How about Ryan Dempster? While he is 32 years old, he has as many Major League innings on his arm as the average 30 year old. Four years out of the bullpen helped harness that innings total. Dempster would also be a nice replacement for Tim Hudson, who is all but done as a Brave. Would 4 years at $12M work for Dempster?

In addition to Dempster, I would look at signing a pitcher that would accept a minor league assignment, maybe Matt Clement fits the bill? Someone who is looking to jump-start their career. There are plenty of these types of pitchers that are more organizational depth then an arm that is heavily relied on.

Outfield help! There are a few options on the big league roster, however, those players are beginning to look like quad A type players and 4th/5th outfielders then everyday players. With three highly touted prospects, and Jeff Francouer at the Major League level, its hardly a position that requires a long term solution, thus, a player such as Adam Dunn, and his presumed 5+ year contract demand is a guy the Braves should avoid.

Any trade posibilities? Coco Crisp wouldn't be a bad idea, but I doubt the Sox do that trade for anything less then Mike Gonzalez. What about Eric Byrnes of the Diamondbacks? Health permitting of course, however, without an obvious spot in the lineup for Byrnes, the DBacks may be happy to simply be free of Byrnes' contract.

The Braves could package Martin Prado (who could start for Arizona) and Jeff Locke. That's a little on the cheap side, but I'm banking that the Diamondbacks would be happy with the salary relief as well as adding two youngsters to what is looking like a dreadful system. If they demanded Lillibridge, that would just mean a lesser pitching prospect-which might be preferrable.

Chris Shelton, recently became a free agent. If the right handed hitter has any ability to play a position other then first base, I'd bring him aboard giving him hacks against left handed pitchers once or twice a week.

A lot of writing with very few additions. I do, however, feel as though these minor changes would mean big things for the Braves. Not 'playoff' big, but at least some direction, which is something they ended the 2008 season without. Here's how the Opening Day hitters would look:

SS - Y. Escobar
2B - K. Johnson
3B - C. Jones
C - B. McCann
1B - C. Kotchman
CF - E. Byrnes
RF - J. Francouer
LF - J. Anderson/M. Diaz

Not a lot of changes here and potentially the only lineup with it's infield as the first five, and subsequently strongest hitters on the team. The big issues with this lineup, development and a return to form. Escobar, Johnson, and McCann all need to continue their development, Kotchman needs to take some major steps forward, and Byrnes and Francouer have to prove they can return to the form that made them solid Major Leagues during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.

This lineup isn't incredibly different then the one that right around league average in 2008. The improvements I expect do not seem incredibly unrealistic, so the loss of Teixeira, while it will be felt, won't completely ruin this team.

The bench does not offer much promise, with Clint Sammons, Chris Shelton, Omar Infante, Brent Lillibridge, and the remaining half of the Anderson/Diaz platoon. However, it also leaves the door open for some almost ready prospects to step in in the case of an injury or underperformances.

The rotation could very well be a Drekyl and Hyde situation. The top two will form a very solid duo, while the next three will be obvious question marks. Here's how I would put together the 2009 Braves rotation:

R. Dempster
J. Jurrjens
J. Campillo
JJ Reyes
J. Parr

Even with Ryan Dempster, CC Sabathia, or Jake Peavy, this Braves rotation is not pretty. It is relying on Jurrjens and Campillo to show little to no regression. It is relying on Reyes and Parr to live up to at least some of their potential. If anything goes wrong, the Braves are not only in for a long season, but a very ugly one!

Even with Hanson and Medlen nearly ready, the Braves must keep their fingers crossed that their misfortune from the 2008 season does not carry over into 2009.

Looking at the bullpen and rotation, as well as a couple of the arms that are nearly ready in the Minors, it might be a good idea for the Braves to shop Gonzalez if they can't come to terms on a deal with him. Possibly the Braves could move Lillibridge and Locke to the Pirate for Paul Maholm and give the Gonzalez to the Sox for Crisp trade a try. Their bullpen would take a hit, but not one they couldn't withstand.

However, I would prefer to try to extend Gonzalez and work on his back up plan if that doesn't work. So here's how the bullpen shakes out with Gonzalez:

CL - M. Gonzalez
SU - J. Smoltz
RP - R. Soriano
RP - M. Acosta
RP - B. Carlyle
LR - J. Bennett

The major issue here is health. If Soriano and Smoltz are not healthy and cannot pitch, or are ineffective, the Braves bullpen will look drastically worse. However, if that is the case, Gonzalez is on his way out, and the bullpen's youth movement will begin with the infiltration of the aforementioned Wilson, Valdez, and Marek.


Playing GM is typically an enjoyable task. Doing so has one looking deep into a clubs farm system attempting to build the best team for the near and short term. I am typically a big picture guy and would be fine losing 4 out of 5 years if it meant that the 5th year was going to be a wild success. The problem with baseball, however, is that everything needs to work out perfectly in order for that 5th season to be successful. The Braves went into the 2008 season with what looked like a very solid team, a possible playoff team. 6 months later, a handful of major injuries, and a major trade has the team way on the outside looking in.

For Braves fans, another year or two of looking from the outside is going to have to be tolerable. Hopefully 2011 can be a season in which the Braves give Chipper another championship to add to his Hall of Fame resume.

In the meantime, who is the next Chipper? Who am I looking out for in 2009 and beyond? Frederick Freeman and Jason Heyward are the Braves two cornerstone offensive prospects, essentially everyone knows about them. Tyler Flowers posted another quality season in the minors to add reason to believe in his future.

The hitters I will be keeping a close eye on are soon-to-be 23 year old second basemen Travis Jones. While playing at a relatively low level compared to his age, Jones has posted a strikeout to walk ratio that simply cannot be ignored. The power Jones has displayed is also a positive from a future middle infielder.

Third basemen Eric Campbell also makes my watch list after posting an equally as impressive strikeout to walk ratio coupled with a solid power stroke. His isolated power (ISO) is similar to that of Edwin Encarnacion a of the Cincinatti Reds and Mark Reynolds of the Arizona Diamondbacks. If the power continues as well as Campbell's sound eye, developing into one of those two hitters is not a stretch.

Lastly, Erik Cordier. The 22 year old has what is described as a plus fastball, and a plus plus change. Erik also has a solid curveball that he has struggled to control this season. Keep in mind, however, that the kid is coming back from Tommy John surgery. 2009 should be the season where we see Cordier put it all together and vault up the pitching prospects list.

Another guy to watch, 17 year old Julio Teheran. While still about 3 or 4 years from the Majors, Teheran is a guy to keep your eyes open for.

FYI, I didn't 'forget' Schafer, Ka'aihue, or Hernandez, they are just a little below the players I mentioned.

Up Next - Oakland Athletics (what was Mark Ellis thinking?!?)

"What Would the Outsider Do" - Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers have a very interesting situation and are the definition of why I feel there should be a cap on draft spending before a cap is placed on Major League contracts. For the last two season's Tigers owner Michael Illich has handed head of scouting, David Chadd, a blank cheque.

This is, an excellent way to build a franchise, as a team can let it be known that they are willing to spend well over slot and thus draftees can scare away teams with crazy salary demands. Case and point, 2005 6th round pick Cale Iorg signed for first round money-$1.5M.

Even with the free spending ways in recent years, the Tigers are not as stocked as one might expect them to be. However, this could be attributed to trading away 4 of the clubs top 6 or 7 prospects last winter.

The Tigers system is not in terrible shape as the club is not desperate for contributors at the Major League level just yet. However, the Major League club is also at a crossroads. With an aging core, the Central's worst team needs to decide if they are going to continue to be buyers, or go into a mini sell mode. The problem then, is that all of the pieces the Tigers have to trade, while solid contributors, have hefty price tags and are at a stage in their respective careers where they cannot be considered as valuable trade chips.

To this point in the series, the Tigers have made two moves. The first, had Detroit acquire Ramon Hernandez from Balitmore for minor league middle infielder Scott Sizemore. This trade will fill the Tigers temporary need of a catcher while they give 22 year old, dimunitive catcher James Skelton another year to prove scouts wrong.

The second move saw the Tigers move rising toolsy outfielder Wilkin Ramirez to the Texas Rangers for 21 year old left handed pitcher Kasey Kiker. This move may be out of context, as apparently Detroit only like big pitchers who throw hard. However, Ramirez is still a ways away and without a direct path to the bigs. Kiker is an extremely talented young pitcher who has more then held his own at each level in the minors.

There has also been speculation of further moves occuring on the Tigers roster. The first, has Brandon Inge moving back to third base. The 'super-utility' player will need to further develop his patience at the plate after posting the best strikeout to walk ratio of his career. The second move takes Carlos Guillen being permantently removed from the infield. Offensively, Guillen has been an excellent Major League short stop, however, as a left fielder, Guillen will need to play exceptional defense to make up for his bat at a position which has higher offensive expectations.

With these moves in mind, what more should the Tiger do, and what should they avoid?

What the Tigers don't need:

Offensive help. The Tigers had Baseball's forth highest OPS which is arguably only going to get better given how Miguel Cabrera played after getting comfortable with the American League. Also expect improvements from Curtis Granderson and Placido Polanco, as well as positional improvements in left field and behind the dish.

Starting pitching. Despite having baseball's 25th ranked ERA among starting pitcher's, there's nowhere to go but down for this club. Between a disappointing season by Justin Verlander, and devastatingly bad performances from Dontrelle Willis, Kenny Rogers, and Nate Robertson, the Tigers can anticipate a rotation wide improvement withou adding a single arm. One issue of note, the Tigers need to be healthy in 2009 to allow top pitching prospect Rick Porcello another year of professional baseball to develop.

What worries me about this rotation is that they currently stand 5 deep. However, I would like to see them bring Freddy Garcia back. I don't consider this as an acquisition and thus not a 'need'.

Going into sell mode. There have been rumors swirling about both Willis and Jeremy Bonderman. With both coming off injury plagued seasons, having big contracts, and underacheiving, it seems unlikely that a team would desire either of these pitchers enough to send anything of substance. I would classify getting rid of one of these two as a 'need', but not desperation.

The same can be said about Magglio Ordonez and Polanco, both of whom have been subject of trade speculation.

Major League ready prospects. This is another area the Tigers can do without. Given that their roster is essentially filled with high calliber Major League veterans, bringing aboard a prospect to sit on the bench is useless.

What the Tigers need:

Relief pitching, obviously. This may very well be one of the best relief pitcher free agent classes in recent memory. The issue, then, is that there will presumably be more buyers then there are quality arms. The Tigers cannot make the same mistake they did in last years offseason where they only seemed to target gambles. With 2008's worst bullpen, the Tigers need to make a move to help this bullpen-however, spending money isn't always the trick.

While there are some nice arms currently in this bullpen, and another arm I intend to push from double A to the majors, the club is still lacking enough depth to be counted on for a team hoping to make the playoffs. Thus, I suggest the club hands out a few minor league/Spring Training contracts to the likes of Joe Borowski, Al Reyes, and Keith Foulke. Each of these pitchers has experience closing and may be a lightning-in-a-bottle type. Let them grind it out in Spring Training and make a decision how/if they can make it with the big league club in April.

Short stop. The team doesn't have one. Rumor has it Edgar Renteria is done with the Tigers, and rightfully so. The major issue here, however, is that the free agent pool for short stops is shallow, and subsequently going to be extremely over-priced. One option I would seriously consider would be Adam Everett. Everett is among the best defensive short stops in baseball, and while the last two seasons represent small sample sizes, he has improved his walk rate to the point where he approaches the league average.

Everett combined with Inge would create one of the best defensive left sides in the majors. However, with that, would also be one of the worst offensive left sides in the majors. If anyone can afford Everett's bat, it is the Tigers. Having one of the worst team defensive efficiencies in the league, only furthers the need for Everett's glove.

The question then, is Everett's glove that much better then Michael Hollimon's? Both players are going to struggle at the plate, and Hollimon's 2008 DZR (Defensive Zone Rating) sat at .909, albeit in limited action. A report from Baseball Prospectus' Nate Silver suggests that Hollimon is "a little stretched defensively at shortstop". The nod then goes to Adam Everett.

Offensively, as I mentioned, the Tigers are in great shape. Here's how they look on Opening Day:

CF - C. Granderson
2B - P. Polanco
1B - M. Cabrera
RF - M. Ordonez
LF - C. Guillen
DH - G. Sheffield
C - R. Hernandez
3B - B. Inge
SS - A. Everett

With the anticipation that better performances are had from Granderson, Polanco, and Sheffield, as well as behind the plate and in left field, the hits the club will take at third and short will hardly be noticed. If the club does lose a marginal amount offensively, it will more then be made up for in run prevention.

The bench will be made up of players who could be potential starters on almost any team in the majors. They would be weak starters, but starters nonetheless. DM Ryan, R. Santiago, M. Thames, and M. Joyce provide cabable bats to help relieve an aging core.

Similar to the bats, although from a different angle, the pitching rotation can truly only get better. There was hardly any positives to take from the 2008 season and subsequently, things can hardly get worse. While this is a fairly simplistic explanation of what to expect from the Tigers in 2009, it can logically work.

Here's how I see the pitching rotation looking coming out of Spring Training:

J. Verlander
A. Galarraga
J. Bonderman
N. Robertson
F. Garcia

I initially had Dontrelle Willis as the 4th starter, however, his 8+ FIP shows that he simply was too far off in 2008 to be counted on in 2009. Give him some time out of the bullpen, and maybe he can right the ship.

Additionally, Verlander, Galarrage, and Bonderman give the Tigers a formiddable trio and could easily be one of the top 2 or 3 in the American League. However, they could just as easily be one of the worst 2 or 3 in the American League.

I mentioned that I would look into bringing in some close to expired veterans to fight for a spot in the bullpen. The only one of the trio whom I would truly give a look to would be Keith Foulke. Let's see how the bullpen works out:

CL - J. Zumaya
SU - F. Rodney
RP - F. Dolsi
RP - K. Foulke
RP - B. Seay
RP - Z. Miner
LR - D. Willis

There are a few things to keep in mind here. First, Willis is with the team, undeservedly, but because time in the minors clearly will not help him get things figured out. Second, Foulke makes the team if the club shows to need his experience in the bullpen out of Spring Training. If not, then my favorite Tigers prospect Guillermo Moscoso is on the club and given a major role out of the bullpen.

In addition to this, I keep an eye on Freddy Dolsi and see if he shows enough to move up the pecking order in the bullpen. Personally, I prefer him over Rodney and wouldn't hesitate to start him as the setup man.

This bullpen is still predominantly raw, however they are talented. Unlike the bullpen that the Tigers started 2008 with, that was both raw and untalented.


The Tigers have a few prospects with very high potential, the problem is, they are a few years away yet. Another issue of note is the lack of offensive prospects. If some of the clubs prospects (I'm looking at you Mike Hessman) were with other teams, they certainly have been given a shot, and who knows how they would perform.

That aside, it is the perfect time to be a low level, young prospect in this organization as the club will be able to nurture their prospects until they are definitely ready. Some of those prospects to watch are the obvious candidates such as Rick Porcello, James Skelton, and 2008 draftees Ryan Perry and, Alex Avila.

However, I'm also keeping an eye on second basemen Maxwell Leon, first base/designated hitter Ryan Strieby, and left handed starter Duane Below. In Leon, the Tigers have a player with Placido Palonco-type skills, he is a low strikeout hitter, with little power, but decent walks. In Strieby, a power hitter with swing and miss tendencies. And Below, whom needs to harness his control in order to take the next step, which will be a big one if he does so.

Next up - The Atlanta Braves

"What Would the Outsider Do" - Pittsburgh Pirates

This may very well be the most difficult WWOD I am going to write. The problem, there truly is nothing in the cupboards. There are some pieces which can be utilized as organizational depth, however, there are so few solid pieces, that the Pirates will need these middle to bottom of the road prospects to be contributors.

At this point I am struggling to come up with an idea of whether the Pirates should sell the few Major League prospects they have, or wait another season before selling off their 'valuable' pieces. These pieces being far and few between.

Between Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez, and Jose Tabata, the Pirates do have the makings of a nice core. McCutchen and Alvarez specifically are a duo that many teams would love to build around. In addition to this trio, the Bucs have a handful of wildcard prospects and prospects which the franchise 'bought' in 2008's first year player draft. It will be another 2 or 3 years before the rewards of this draft are fully understood.

At the Major League level, the Pirates have 'youngsters' Ryan Doumit, Nate McLouth, and Andy LaRoche to build around offensively, with Matt Capps, Paul Maholm, Ross Ohlendorf, and bounce back candidate Ian Snell as good, but not great, arms.

The question then, what should the Pirates do with pieces that do not have much, if any future with the club? Pieces such as Adam LaRoche, Freddy Sanchez, Zach Duke, and John Grabow would all have value in the trade market, but without replacements, can the Pirates afford to make these moves?

What the Pirates don't need:

Major League contracts. The object for the Pirates for the next season or two should be to absolutely tank. Grab a top five pick and take the absolutely best player available. In addition to this, all the money that would have been used on free agents can be pumped into player development, namely international signings.

Major League ready prospects. The Pirates are not one piece away. They are not two pieces away. In fact, the Pirates aren't an Albert Pujols away from being a contender. Thus, while a Brandon Wood may be an attractive piece to a team starved for talent, the club is better off acquiring higher risk, higher reward players. Jose Tabata was the perfect example of what type of player the Pirates should be looking to acquire.

Old prospects. Either the Pirates had no clue how to draft for the previous decade plus, or they simply drafted low ceiling old players. It seems as though every player in the system is already too old to be tabbed as a prospect. The few that are young, have been around forever and haven't done anything to warrant being called a prospect. Combine that with what appears to be baseball's worst international scouting department, and there is a sure fire formula for a brutal farm system-but you already knew that.

What the Pirates need:

Prospects! While there is the makings of something, there still isn't much. As I mentioned, two more years of losing, coupled with a front office willing to strip down to the bare bones and spend all of their money on player development, and the Pirates should be on their way. This is obviously easier said then done-or is it? With the pathetic cast the Pirates currently have, losing shouldn't be an issue.

Middle infield help. Currently, the Pirates have what equals to a slightly below average middle infield-this is assuming Freddy Sanchez remembers how to hit. With both he, and Jack Wilson set to come off the books after this season, the Pirates can give their top middle infield prospects a shot at the show. The issue, both Shelby Ford and Brian Friday do not project out as solid Major League infielders. In fact, one could argue this is a fairly parallel move.

Trades. While this is not of dire consequence for the Pirates, I feel the club would be better served moving LaRoche, Sanchez, and Grabow at some point this off season. Salary relief is not required, so if the Pirates need to eat part of the contracts, that is certainly an option. The major objective should be to obtain some high ceiling, low level prospects. Because the Pirates are not in a financial situation to need to make these moves, they can simply wait for the market to offer them the best trades.

Here are possible destinations for the aforementioned trio:

• LaRoche - New York (AL), Toronto, LA of Anaheim, Seattle, New York, Colardo, and San Francisco. Toronto, Seattle, and San Francisco are three teams that currently need LaRoche and have an open spot for him. The other clubs have a pending free agent to take care of and could subsequently close the first base/designated hitter spot.
• Sanchez - Cleveland, Houston, St. Louis, San Diego, and Arizona. Each of these teams could either use an upgrade, or simply have a blackhole at second base.
• Grabow - What team couldn't use the left handed Grabow?

WWOD would decide to wait the market out here. There isn't any use in making a hypothetical trade with the Yankees, who will spend the first weeks of their offseason pursuing Mark Teixeira.

Here's how the Pirates hitters should shake out:

RF - N. Morgan
CF - N. McLouth
C - R. Doumit
1B - Ad. LaRoche
2B - F. Sanchez
LF - B. Moss
3B - An. LaRoche
SS - J. Wilson

There are a couple things I want to point out with this starting lineup. The first, is Nyjer Morgan's spot atop the batting order. Morgan certainly is not a Major League leadoff hitter, afterall, he is 28 years old with 86 MLB games under his belt. However, in those 86 games, he has posted an efficient .351 OBP, nothing spectacular, but worthy of a shot.

The second issue, where's Andrew McCutchen? A very legitimate question given that McCutchen would likely be the Bucs best player and is clearly Major League ready. The reason I have chosen to not have McCutchen on the Opening Day roster is to delay his service time clock. That said, a mid-May, early June call-up is the direction I would take with McCutchen.

Next issue, where is the 2006 and 2007 organizational best prospect? There is a two-fold answer to this question, the first, if LaRoche is traded, Steven Pearce will be handed the first base job. The second, Pearce is a right handed bat and will 'platoon' with Morgan and Moss predominantly, spelling LaRoche once a week, and occassionally giving McLouth a day off. In other words, any time the Bucs are facing a lefty, he will be in the lineup.

This lineup isn't pretty. There isn't much to like about. However, we can see two potential break-out candidates in Moss and An. LaRoche. In addition to this, we can see a few strong trade possibilities to begin opening up roster spots. Putting together the Bucs 2010 Opening Day roster will be much more enjoyable.

The bench would be made up of R. Paulino, S. Pearce, L. Cruz, B. Bixler, and the re-newed option of J. Michaels. At the very least there are some platoon options on this bench. It is also quite inexpensive.

Another option for the bench would be Canadian Jamie Romak. The 23 year old right handed hitter is still fairly raw, as are most Canadian's. However, he possesses solid power and a strong eye at the plate. He could very well be an excellent platoon mate with Brandon Moss by season's end.

The rotation is a strength of the Pirates, although that is relatively speaking. The club does have a few young arms, which are a nice commodity for a terrible team, but nobody is going to be challenging for the Cy Young any time soon. Here's how it looks:

P. Maholm
I. Snell
R. Ohlendorf
Z. Duke
J. Barthmaier

With Ian Snell as the oldest pitcher in this rotation, at least the Pirates can expect some development. While that wasn't the case with Snell in 2008, Maholm and Duke both officially became 'reliable' starters. Expect a bounce back season from Snell and for Maholm and Duke to simply keep on, keepin' on.

Ross Ohlendorf was probably the best Major League ready piece the Pirates received from the Yankees in the Nady-Marte trade. He is a pitcher whom I am very high on. His stuff is excellent. The major issue may be consistently getting long outings from the 26 year old. But keep an eye on Ohlendorf, as he will surprise a lot of National League hitters in 2009.

Barthmaier isn't going to dominate, but I feel as though he can be an effective Major League pitcher. Keep in mind, when I suggest that, I am talking about an 'effective Major League 5th starter', so the bar is relatively low.

There isn't really anything else on it's way up in this system. Brad Lincoln is still recovering from 2007 Tommy John and may make a push to be on the Pirates September roster. Tom Boleska is in a similar situation although arguably further away.

Compared to the hitters, the Pirates pitching looks like a squad of all stars. This holds true for the Pirates bullpen, which features a cast of arms that would be one or two rungs down on any playoff team. However, their roles may be enough to boost their current value on the trade market.

Here's how the bullpen shakes out:

CL - M. Capps
SU - J. Grabow
RP - J. Chavez
RP - C. Hansen
RP - T. Yates
LR - P. Dumatrait

Maybe it was a stretch to call this group 'comparative All Stars'. However, with a core of hard throwers, if these pitchers can keep the walks down, they could be a scary group to face. Adding promise to this group, 23 year old Eric Krebs, and 22 year old soon-to-be-converted Daniel Moskos.


After approaching the clubs best record in a decade, the Pirates made some good choices for what feels like the first time in two decades. The club added pieces for the future and took care of what they had. Fortunate for the Pirates, the Pedro Alvarez situation worked itself out and the front office can begin to look to the future. With a fairly bleak outlook immediately, acquiring high-ceiling youngsters should be the #1 goal of this team.

While having a currently weak farm system does not give the fans a lot to cheer about, it could also represent some pleasent surprises. A couple players on my watch list are Eddie Prasch, Jamie Romak, and Tom Boleska.

Next up - The Detroit Tigers

"What Would the Outsider Do" - Texas Rangers

With one of baseball's best young players to build around, the Rangers simply need to put together a supporting cast similar to what the Cardinals have put around Albert Pujols. Add in some nearly league average pitching and an adequate bullpen, and you have yourself a playoff contender.

The problem with this formula, however, is that the Rangers have not been able to even come close to being a league average starting rotation. In fact, over the past 9 seasons, the Rangers rotation has not once been higher then 25th in the league in ERA. During this time, the rotation's ERA has been as low as 5.04 and as high as 6.24, averaging .98 higher then the league median.

In other words, we are talking about a team that is desperate for run prevention. The sad part about this, is that the Rangers have spent money trying to prevent runs, it simply has not worked out for them. Another disturbing trend are pitchers having success outside of Arlington. Between Armando Gallaraga, Edinson Volquez, and Robinson Tejada, the Rangers have moved three quality pitchers whom they could build around.

Alas, the news has not been entirely negative. From having league hero Josh Hamilton, to an immensely deep and talented farm system, from being relatively set offensively, to a 'useful' bullpen. The Rangers 2007 trades paid major dividends in 2008 and are certainly players to watch towards the end of 2009 and certainly for 2010.

The Rangers may also have some trade 'candidates'. Both Vincente Padilla and Kevin Millwood have what should be expiring contracts. Padilla's contract has a club option with a reasonable buy-out, and for Millwood's contract to expire he needs to be held under 180 innings pitched this season. While neither pitcher looks necessarily attractive as I write this, Millwood could be a decent 'buy-low' candidate for a team with money that isn't looking for a long-term commitment. Unfortunately, even I can't come up with a legitimate home for Millwood this season, and will instead write him in as the de-facto team 'ace'-how does that feel Rangers fans?

What the Rangers don't need:

Offensive players. Certainly the Rangers could afford to go after another Milton Bradley, the Rangers are set offensively for the forseeable future. Thus, the idea here should be some cheap, high-ceiling veterans. I'm thinking a Nomar Garciaparra for a similar one year, $5.25M contract. Nomar could (when healthy) play third base, as well as handle some short stop in place of the dreadful Michael Young.

Starting pitching. For a team that has finished no better then 25th in the majors in starters ERA, it is certainly a surprise that I am not advocating going hard after starting pitching. However, I already 'completed' a trade in a previous edition of WWOD that netted Luke Hochevar for catching surplus Maximilano Ramirez.

In addition to this move, I would test the waters in Boston with Jarrod Saltalamacchia. There was a rumor reported which would send one of the Sox top young pitchers (presumably Clay Buchholz or Justin Masterson). I can see why both sides would take this trade as well as understanding why both sides would balk at this deal. If I were running either club, this is a trade I would look hard and long at and a trade I will make 'official'.

I suppose that is quite the rotation overhaul afterall...

Despite having what turned out to be a dreadful bullpen, the Rangers have some nice pieces. While an upgrade would be optimal, that I figure the Rangers to struggle in 2009, there isn't a lot of reason to add expensive bullpen arms. Sadly, I do figure the Rangers to be a player for Francisco Rodriguez.

What the Rangers need:

First and foremost, this club needs to get rid of Michael Young. Young currently has one of the worst contracts in all of Major League Baseball and is quickly becoming one of the worst regulars in the league. With 5 years at $16M a year remaining, there is NO way the Rangers can move Young without eating the majority of his contract. Even then, the prospects the Rangers would receive would have such little value, the club would be just as well letting him walk altogether.

At this point, sitting on Young until Elvis Andrus is ready is what they are forced to do. However, there isn't a need to send Young out there everyday simply because he is being paid to do so.

Second, the Rangers need to figure out exactly what they've got in the system. On paper, the system looks very strong, however, we have all seen the difference between 'paper' good, and 'on-the-field' good. That said, it would be ideal for the Rangers to have Derek Holland, Neil Ramirez, and Neftali Perez all in at least triple A at some point during the 2009 season. Holland and Perez, in my opinion, are both ready for the majors, and if they manage to win a job out of Spring, I would be hard pressed to keep them down.

In addition to this trio, the Rangers have a sack full of other very highly regarded pitching prospects, as well as players with incredibly high ceilings. My favorite, Omar Poveda, keep an eye on this kid in 2009.

Lastly, the club could use an additional high-ceiling outfielder. While Nelson Cruz and David Murphy both performed at a high level in 2008, it would be ideal for the Rangers to go into 2010 with somewhat of a competition. Engel Beltre will eventually work his way into the equation, the best route for him would be a 2011 debut. Julio Borbon is another interesting prospect, but we're again looking at 2010 as truly pushing it.

That said, if either Kasey Kiker or Richard Bleier, both very young with a solid amount of potential could go to Detroit for Wilkin Ramirez.

Here's how I see the Rangers Opening Day shaking out:

2B - I. Kinsler
RF - D. Murphy
CF - J. Hamilton
LF - N. Cruz
DH - H. Blalock
1B - C. Davis
3B - N. Garciaparra
C - T. Teagarden
SS - M. Young

David Murphy in the two hole would be on a very short leash, either Nomar or Young could easily slide into that slot. Davis, Blalock, and Cruz are also interchangeable dependent on the matchup and who provides Hamilton with the best protection. That is, keep in mind how much of an impact Bradley had on Hamilton and vice versa.

The bench for the Rangers is deep enough, although lacking a legitmate experienced bat. However, as I mentioned, this team is going to struggle to compete and subsequently are not desperate for a quality bench. The only issue may be keeping youngsters down in the case of an injury. That said, the bench will have G. Laird, M. Byrd, F. Catalanotto, and Joaquin Arias.

Aside from the hitters mentioned previously, the Rangers have a couple additional hitters to keep an eye on this season:

• 20 year old short stop Marcus Lemon;
  
• 21 year old corner infielder John Whittleman; and
  
• 23 year old catcher/designated hitter Chad Tracy

The problem for the Rangers, as I mentioned, will be their 2009 starting rotation. I did, however, outline some minor moves which could certainly improve the rotation and give them plenty of hope for the future. Here's how it looks:

K. Millwood
L. Hochevar
C. Buchholz
B. McCarthy
V. Padilla

Aside from having a high ceiling, Hochevar and Buchholz also have strong ground ball tendencies in common and working in their favor. Both are pitchers that any team would love to build around.

The 2009 season will also represent two other shifts in the rotation. The first, would be the final years of the Millwood and Padilla tragedy's. Both are overpaid, and the Rangers should invest that money in Kinsler and Hamilton.

The second shift, is a look at what they've got. Brandon McCarthy is still young enough to break out, although being a flyball pitching in Arlington certainly doesn't work in his favor. Replacements, however, are nearly ready and should not be held back because of the overpaid duo of Millwood and Padilla, nor should the McCarthy for John Danks mistake lead the Rangers to pressing that issue.

Lastly, the Rangers bullpen. The 'chair thrower' has finally done enough ball throwing to prove he is ready and capable to take over as the full time closer. Last year's Opening Day closer is being moved into a LOOGY role and the rest will simply be 'mud' against the wall.

Here's how it looks:

CL - F. Francisco
SU - J. Benoit
RP - CJ Wilson
RP - W. Madrigal
RP - B. Garr
RP - K. Loe
RP - Elizardo Ramirez

Garr is the club's closer of the future that really does not need any additional time in the minors. He does not project out as a top 5 closer, but has provided a fairly strong strikeout rate, coupled with an adequate walk rate in the minors to be given a look at the big leagues in 2009. Madrigal is another youngster to watch in 2009 as his 93.5mph fastball is strong enough to limit home runs in Arlington.

The bullpen is an area that we will begin to see pieced together as pitchers fail to become reliable starters in the minors. There are a lot of bodies in the minors and clearly, not each one will develop into a big league starter. Thus, the current state of this bullpen would be defined as 'liquid'-easy to move.


2009 will be an interesting season for the Rangers. While the big league club will not give fans a lot to cheer about, following the hoard of top prospects in this system will undoubtedly be an exciting and full time job. At this point, I would say the Rangers need another two years of 'building' before they can begin making aggressive free agent moves.

The club has a very strong core and should not hesitate being active in the trade market. Another Volquez for Hamilton type deal would be incredible, and with the clubs lower level, high ceiling pitching depth, it may be a reality.

Next up - Pittsburgh Pirates

"What Would the Outsider Do" - Kansas City Royals

Despite having another active off season, the Royals again failed to take a step forward in the wins column. In fact, according to expected wins, the Royals took a step backwards in 2008. With a young core, and several moves on the free agent market that have worked out, the Royals still hold the keys of promise.

One of the things holding the Royals back is lack of starting pitching. The club is thin at the major league level and has very few legitimate candidates coming through the system. Maybe new Royals General Manager Dayton Moore goes out and buys another arm, or he acquires a 4th/5th starter hoping he pans out.

Nevertheless, it is an interesting situation in Kansas City. The club promoted Alex Gordon and Billy Butler fairly quick (although, to be fair, both Gordon and Butler earned their respective promotions), however this is a new front office, and if the treatment of 2007 first round pick Mike Moustakas is any indication, 2008 first rounders picks Eric Hosmer and Mike Montgomery will have to prove they are ready for the next level before being promoted. If the 2008 draft is any indication of how things will be run in KC going forward, we can simply take a look at how things were done in Atlanta. That is, highschool heavy drafts, active in trade talks, and a watcher in free agency.

There is one problem with the 'Atlanta'-way; the Royals want to be a winner, and sooner rather then later. High-schooler traditionally take longer to develope, and the Royals aren't one piece from contending. Thus, the plan in KC is presumably to buy low in trades.

What the Royals don't need:

Offensively, the Royals are fine. While they are lacking that one true big bat, the club has enough youth on its side to envision an improvement offensively. Given that Billy Butler and Alex Gordon are likely to take major steps forward as they enter their third Major League seasons, the Royals should surprise a few pitching staffs next summer.

With modest improvements from Butler and Gordon, one can expect the Royals to shift from the bottom third of the league offensively, into the middle third.

Corner infielders. I always dislike having these positions locked up early in a teams building process. Corner infielders always seem to come available and should be a teams final pieces. That being said, if you find yourself with corner stone corner infielders, you are in a fortunate position. The Royals should have that between Gordon, Butler, Kila Ka'aihue, and the aforementioned Eric Hosmer.

The Royals are also set up the middle in what can be one of the most difficult areas for a franchise to fill. The club has that filled between Alberto Callaspo and Mike Aviles-good for them!

Lastly, the Royals have the least important facet to cover for a losing team-the bullpen. The club has the makings of a franchise closer-although WWOD is going to suggest he be moved to the rotation. Between Ramon Ramirez, Leo Nunez, and Carlos Rosa, the Royals have enough in their pen to be comfortable in 2009 and going forward.

Not only that, but the franchise has a stable of 23-26 year old reliever whom if not ready now, would be ready for 2010.

What the Royals need:

There are a couple glaring holes within this organization, although not one appears impossible to fix. Those holes are within the organizations catchers, right fielders, and starting pitching. The following will be WWOD's idea to fill these holes.

Starting Pitcher - With the aforementioned trio of Cortes, Duffy, and Montgomery, the Royals have the beginning of what could be called organizational depth. The problem is, by the time these three are ready, the current Royals starters are all but gone.

Without going out and breaking the bank, the Royals could potentially add one of the best new pitchers in the league. Joakim Soria has been an absolute god-send since being acquired in the Rule V draft two years ago. While he has not started since his days in the Mexican League, Soria has four pitches, all of which are above average, bordering on 'plus'.

There inlies the problem. If the Royals stand pat, they have a franchise closer. If they move him to the rotation, not guarding him as he increases his workload, he is an injury waiting to happen. My suggestion is to use Soria in 2009 as a starter, but limit him to 3 or 4 innings per start beginning on Opening Day. While innings will be monitored, more important will be pitch counts, where Soria would start at around 35 and slowly work his way up to 70 or 75, even occassionally skipping him in the rotation.

In addition to this, Brian Bannister would be put on a short leash and forced to compete for his roster spot against some Spring Training invitees. I'm looking at Jon Lieber or an out of options youngster, maybe the Rox are done with Franklin Morales?

Catcher - Make a deal with a club that has a surplus of young catchers. I'm thinking that Texas would be the perfect fit here with the thinking that the Rangers are just desperate enough for cheap, young pitching to make a move.

When I first came up with this idea, I pictured moving one of Luke Hochevar, Kyle Davies, or Brian Bannister. This, however poses a problem. Bannister would be the ideal candidate to move, as he is the oldest of the trio, however he is also the worst. His 2008 season left much to be desired and presumably wouldn't be on anyones wish list.

Hochevar and Davies are both 25 years old and both profile as at least middle of the rotation starters; fine #3's, solid #4's. It would be difficult to give up either one for a catcher, however this is the situation the Royals have placed themselves in, and this move must be made. I would prefer giving up Davies, due to his fly ball tendencies, the Rangers would probably prefer Hochevar, due to his ground ball tendencies. Done deal, Hochevar to the Texas Rangers for Maximiliano Ramirez.

Right/Left Fielder - The Royals are said to be interested in Atlanta's Jeff Francoeur. Frenchy is fresh off of the worst season of his career, and is a player that would fit perfectly in with the Royals young roster. A change of scenary may do it for the impatient righty. This is a trade I would make, offering up 22 year old minor league right handed starter, Blake Wood.

This would certainly be a 'buy low' scenario that certainly is not gaurunteed to happen. If the Braves as for Cortes, Duffy, or Montgomery, the Royals should walk away and call up Cleveland where there are too many options without enough slots. Shapiro is sitting in his office with Dellucci, Francisco, Choo, and Gutierrez, not to mention minor leaguers Trevor Crowe and Matt LaPorta waiting in the wings.

I've got Franklin as the cheapest player on that depth chart, one whom the Indians may move for double-A middle infielder Marc Maddox or Irving Falu. In fact, Gutierrez may be a superior target to Francouer not only because of his price tag, but also because of his still high ceiling.


With those moves in mind, here's how a youthful Royals batting order shakes out:

CF - D. DeJesus
SS - M. Aviles
DH - B. Butler
3B - A. Gordon
LF - J. Guillen
1B - K. Ka'aihue
C - M. Ramirez
RF - F. Gutierrez
2B - A. Callaspo

This is a lineup that will certainly be streaky. DeJesus and Aviles will be sound table setters, while the Royals will have to endure the growing pains Butler and Gordon go through as the heart of the batting order.

The bottom of the batting order has potential, but could also benefit from a fair amount of days off. That's where a veteran bench will come in handy. A bench made up of J. Buck, R. Shealy, M. Teahen, E. German, and J. Gathright provides adequate substitutes all over the diamond, save for the middle infield. Shealy, in this scenario, would be utilized in a super-utility role, playing nearly six days a week between the corner outfield and infield spots, and at designated hitter.


When one looks at the rotation today, they cannot be overly impressed. When one looks at it with Soria in the #3 spot, it takes an entirely new shape. Here's how I envision the rotation for the 2009 season:

Z. Grienke
G. Meche
J. Soria
K. Davies
B. Bannister

Bannister will be put on the shortest of leashes. If he struggles in Spring, take a seat. Despite not having any other 'on roster' options, Bannister has been given enough of a chance to be a Major League regular, there isn't a need to keep running him out there simply because there aren't any other options. That is, the Royals should make options, which should force Bannister to step up.


The removal of Soria will not decimate the bullpen to the extent that one would think. While it will certainly tire out the bullpen, due to the 3 or 4 inning, per start maximum that I placed on Soria, there are arms ready to move into a more important role.

Here's how the bullpen shakes out for the 2009 season:

CL - R. Ramirez
SU - L. Nunez
RP - R. Mahay
RP - J. Gobble
RP - R. Tejada
LR - C. Rosa

For the time being, Carlos Rosa will be the link between Soria and the bullpen, being the pitching equivalent of a 'utility infielder'. Rosa is a young and live arm, whom most experts agree, has a very bright future. One of the issues hindering his development has been health, and I see him as a future reliever anyways. This Soria-handcuff will give Rosa experience out of the bullpen, while still treating him as a starter.

Robinson Tejada is another interesting arm. The former top prospect truly came into his own as a Royal reliever in 2008, and looks to build on the most impressive stretch of his Major League career.

Why the Rockies gave up on Ramirez I'm sure we'll never know. However, what we do know, is that Ramirez excelled as a Royal, and I am confident he would transition nicely into the closers role.


The 2009 Royals are a team of promise. They could be this year's Tampa Bay Rays, or they could be the 2005, 2006, 2007 versions of the Milwaukee Brewers. Either way, there is a glimmer of hope that appears to be shinning through in Kansas City.

Aside from the aforementioned moves, the Royals should look into locking up Gordon, Butler, Grienke, and Soria into their free agent years. For a small market club, having four sound building blocks that are 'cheap' is the way to go, look at the Cleveland Indians.

"What Would the Outsider Do" - Cincinnati Reds

With a handful of promising Major League ready youngsters, the Reds are poised to build their roster into a contender in the near future. However, 2009 will not be that season and the Reds should simply be content with development and health.

The Reds are stocked with a lot of very nice prospects. However, many of the prospects are getting old for their level of competition which could lead to some misleading numbers.

Even with that in mind, the Reds have had some solid drafts in the last couple of seasons. Thus, despite being 'old', the club has a fine minor league system with a lot of major league ready depth. Not only that, but they also have a surplus of players that could be utilized in trades.

Interestingly, this is one of the first seasons in recent memory where the Reds are looking as if pitching may be their strength. With the era of Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. in the clubs rear view mirror, the Reds have more financial flexibility then they may know what to do with. Hopefully that doesn't send them off on an unfounded spending spree as it did during the 2004-05 off season en route to signing Eric Milton.

What the Reds don't need:

Surprisingly, starting pitching. The Reds have a capable core of Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, Edinson Volquez, Johnny Cueto, and Micah Owings. Let us also not forget that Homer Bailey is still too young to be labelled a 'bust'. Additionally, the club has Ramon Ramirez, Daryl Thompson, and Matt Maloney who are all Major League ready and are fine options for the #5 slot in the pitching rotation.

In fact, because of this pitching depth, the Reds should find themselves testing the trade market with Harang and/or Arroyo. I'll get to that in a moment.

Relief pitching is another area the Reds can afford to hold off on. Not because I buy into the fact that the team's relievers had one of the 10 best ERA's in all of baseball, rather, because the Reds shouldn't have too many meaningful games that they need to win. It would also be beneficial of the club to use the 2009 season as an open tryout for 2010 and beyond.

Any big contracts. There really isn't a player available that the Reds need. Therefore, the Reds shouldn't be looking to overspend, as so often happens on the free agent market. Instead, the Reds should be looking to unload big contracts (as mentioned with Harang and Arroyo) giving them financial flexibility going forward.

What the Reds need:

The club enters this offseason with some enormous financial flexibility. They should be looking to create more while keeping their ears to the ground regarding any available young studs. I'm thinking Matt Holliday or Prince Fielder here. Players that fit the Miguel Cabrera mold as a player approaching a price point which their current clubs cannot afford.

Despite Jay Bruce being the obvious face of the franchise for the foreseeable future, the Reds are in a spot where they can afford the financial commitment that Holliday or Fielder would require. The acquisition of Fielder would move Joey Votto to left field, a position he has played, although it is not the most desirable location for the kid.

Keep in mind, the acquisitions of Holliday or Fielder are only worthwhile ideas if the Reds can get them at a discount. This is most likely improbable, so I won't account for that.

The next move the Reds should make is to lose either Arroyo or Harang. At this point, I would imagine Arroyo would bring the greater return and thus be a more sought after pitcher. One team that jumps out as an interested suitor would be the Milwaukee Brewers. With CC Sabathia and Ben Sheets ready to jump ship, the Brewers could be looking to acquire a dependable veteran starter. There are a few ideal chips within the Brewers roster, but I would aim for shortstop JJ Hardy, who is said to be available due to the emergence of youngster Alcides Escobar. The Brewers may get into desperation mode and accept a trade like this if they feel their rotation is not coming together.

As I mentioned, the Reds have quite the stable of 'old-for-their-level' prospects. Each of whom had a nice 2008 season and could be valued trade chips. As it stands, the Reds have four young outfielders, only one of whom has a truly high ceiling (Jay Bruce). Chris Dickerson, Drew Stubbs, and Danny Dorn all have potential, but none truly profile as franchise player and could easily be expendable if the right offer came about. The Angels, for example, could use some youth in their outfield-maybe a straight up swap of Dorn for Jeff Mathis?

A final move WWOD would look into is the acquisition of Willy Taveras. Willy T has had a pitiful season en route to essentially losing his job in Colorado. This, the year in which Taveras posted the highest K/BB rate of his career, as well as his highest line drive rate. At 27 years old, Taveras still has some room to grow and sounds as if he will be available for pennies on the dollar.

With those moves in mind, here is how the Reds should shake out offensively:

CF - Willy Taveras
RF - Jay Bruce
1B - Joey Votto
3B - Edwin Encarnacion
2B - Brandon Phillips
SS - JJ Hardy
C - Jeff Mathis
LF - Chris Dickerson

One of the major transitions the Reds are encountering is that of a team lacking plate discipline and patience. Encarnacion and Phillips are excellent hitters, but are allergic to free passes. This will be a powerful bunch, that will score a majority of their runs utilizing Great American Ballpark's cozy dimensions.

The club does, however, have the benefit of a fairly sound bench, starting with Ryan Freel and Jeff Keppinger, with Norris Hopper, Ryan Hanigan, Alex Gonzalez, and a player whom I can see being an excellent bench option Tonys Gutierrez.

Gutierrez is a 25 year old left handed infielder with limited power but an outstanding eye. Since 2006, Gutierrez has had a walk rate hovering around 15%, albeit, playing at a level well below his age.

Additionally, I wouldn't hesitate to platoon Freel with Dickerson as well as utilizing Freel as a super-utility player.

Keep in mind, the Reds have Yonder Alonso who was considered one of the most major league ready hitters in the 2008 first-year player draft. His 6-game performance in high-A only furthered his reputation, and despite a relatively low ceiling, should be close to the majors by the end of the 2009 season.

The rotation would be measured based on their ability to stay healthy. With up to four starters at 26 or younger, the club is poised for a long run as one of the league most promising rotations. Here's how I see them shaking out:

Aaron Harang
Johnny Cueto
Edinson Volquez
Micah Owings
Daryl Thompson

It may come off as an interesting move that Thompson makes the rotation over Homer Bailey, and I can understand any justification for an opposite approach. However, hear me out. Bailey has been thumped in his short tenure as a Major Leaguer, there is no way the kid can be taking the bump with any confidence. To build it, I try him out in the bullpen for a couple of months, letting him reer back and get things done in an inning or two of work.

Thompson on the other hand should not have those same confidence issues and can be a dependable #5 starter for this club.

The Reds bullpen has been impressive throughout the 2008 season and looks to build on that success in 2009. Here's how the core looks for 2009:

CL - F. Cordero
SU - J. Burton
RP - B. Bray
RP - H. Bailey
RP - C. Fisher
LR - R. Ramirez

Carlos Fisher is certainly a 'wildcard'. The 25 year old has done an excellent job as a minor league reliever, and it would be nice for the Reds to give him an opportunity to show what he's got in the bullpen this year. Aside from that, the bullpen looks much the same as how it completed this season.

The Reds have a handful of other arms that appear destined for the bullpen. Similar to the outfield depth, many of the arms are getting old for their level and are rather replaceable with one another. One arm to watch, it 2008 draft pick Zach Stewart. The 22 year old right hander had zero issues transitioning to the pro game and pitched 32 successful innings between A and high A ball. Somewhat of a worry, although in a small sample size, is the fact that while Stewart's strikeout rate rose considerably in his stint of high A ball, so too did his walk rate. This saw Stewart's K/BB rate drop from an impressive 4.33 in A ball down to 2.09 in high A.

Considered as an arm that should fly through the system, Stewart should find himself as a September call-up in 2009 strengthening an already deep bullpen.


The Reds are built around power and pitching. With the current depth they appear to have in their minor league system, the club is poised to be a buyer at the trade deadline, possibly going after a Bobby Abreu-2006 type with the extra cash at hand. Their pitching depth also presumably has the Reds regretting the Josh Hamilton for Edinson Volquez trade of last off season.

Despite being young, this club cannot be counted out for the 2009 season. While there are holes to fill, WWOD would sit out of The 2008-09 Hot Stove League to discover what it is the club has, and what they do not have. Consider the 2009 season as an open tryout, albeit a very exciting one given the roster that I have assembled.