Cincinnati Reds looking for steam after meetings
The Cincinnati Reds have been on a run to sign some of the best players in the free agency. The only problem appears to be the dearth of resources at hand. The side that went on to the winter meetings in search of key players and didn’t fare well in the
pursuit for additional manpower. The only player the ball club was able to sign on was Miguel Cairo. The infielder had gone out of the team to enter the free agency. General Manager Walt Jocketty took the required steps to sign him on with a 2 year deal, worth
$2 million.
The Reds were one of the quietest clubs at the meetings and that meant they were not going to compete in line for players like Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Cliff Lee. While the Washington Nationals pegged Jayson Werth to a 7 year deal, the Boston Red
Sox did the same by nailing Crawford on a similar deal.
The Reds were in pursuit of Jason Bartlett but the Tampa Bay Rays’ man had a high contract line salary coming along. The deal was out of bound for Cincinnati who eventually moved out of the chase. The trade wasn’t able to materialize and the San Diego Padres
moved in with their offer.
"Clubs aren't moving much," Walt Jocketty said. "A lot of clubs seem to be holding on to their players and focusing on trying to add through other means I guess - free agency. I thought there would be more trading here."
The Reds, imminently, were not going to make progress in the meetings. They never had the financial capability to do so. The team has been concentrating more on extending contracts to club players and in recent news they have made progress with 23 year old
Jay Bruce. The club may be out of the game but there’s a lot to be desired.
Walt was able to summarize the visit to the Walt Disney Swan and dolphin resort. He said, "We had some things in mind before we came here. It didn't work out. That's all right. I mentioned the other day that I like our club the way it is. Not getting anything
done here (doesn't mean) we don't do something later. There's not a great deal we think we have to do."
With the prospect of continuing on with the same squad, the Reds may be looking to keep the chemistry flowing through original players in 2011.
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