Joey Votto had his best year since 2010 at the plate in 2015. It couldn’t have come at a better time. The Canadian Slugger will make $199 MIL min over the next 8 years and will be counted on to help with a rebuild. Either that, or maybe he could create enough value to be traded and the club could gain some financial flexibility going forward. The Reds finished 64 – 98 in 2015 – and are in the same Division as the top three teams in the MLB. They should continue to trade veterans for as many young players as they can – and rebuild for 3 – 4 years down the road.
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Homer Bailey was the 1st Pitcher to have a $100 Million Dollar Contract in place and undergo Tommy John Surgery.
Carl Crawford holding onto a 7 YRs/$142 MIL deal originally signed with the Red Sox was the 1st guy to go down with the TJ Surgery as a position player.
Yes insurance will pay some of the money, but it is not a given that he will comeback and be as effective as he was before he went down with the UCL surgery.
The club is on the hook for Joey Votto to the tune of $199 MIL from 2016 – 2023 – and will jump another $13 MIL if the team picks up a $20 MIL Club Option for 2024.
The Reds are thanking their lucky stars that Votto posted his best baseball season since 2010 in 2015 with a 1.000 OPS and 143 Walks.
Homer Bailey took a long time to fulfill expectations in the Reds Starting Lineup. At age 27, he threw now thrown 2 No hitters in under a calendar year. Even though he had never finished in the top 20 for NL Cy Young Voting, or made an ALL – Star Appearance, he was able to receive the 46th best ever contract in MLB history at the time. He is the 1st Starting Pitcher to have the Tommy John Surgery while possessing a deal worth more than $100 MIL for the duration of it. At Age 29 now, he will earn at least $86 MIL over the next four years.
Maybe a thought would attempt a trade with the Canadian Slugger right now – but it would have to involve a limited amount of clubs that could even afford the guy.
The club also a combined $52 MIL aggregate for the services of Jay Bruce and Brandon Phillips. These two veterans could also hit the trade block shortly, with both of them set to be Free Agents after the 2017 year.
With the club unable to deal away Brandon Phillips, at least they did a great job in already trading the following players for a lot of prospects in the last calendar year. Mike Leake, Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman and Todd Frazier.
Jay Bruce is also a perfect candidate to be traded – as he already been in one deal that was nixed because of failed physicals to Minor Leaguer’s coming back to the Reds.
The slugger could help out his cause by producing if he remains with the club.
In a best case scenario the Reds could trade Bruce, Mesoraco, Cosart and Hoover this year mid way through. Those 4 four guys make around $25 MIL aggregate. They could fetch some more nice entry – level contracts. If they club also decided to trade serviceable lefty (Tony Cingrani), then only Billy Hamilton would be Arbitration Eligible next year. Just four guys (Votto, Bailey Phillios and Iglesias will earn about $60 MIL. At that point they could sign a few Free Agents – or at least keep payroll somewhat down.
Devin Mesoraco will make $25.5 MIL over the next three years – and it is vital that he shows signs of what he did during the 2014 season. Again, if he can play well in the 1st half, he should be made available by trade.
You could the Reds only having Homer Bailey and Joey Votto on guys that have contracts currently with the club past 2017.
If I were on the management of Cincinnati, I would take all of the veterans they have and rebuild. They made the playoffs 3 times between 2010 – 2013 – including back to back NL Central titles in 2010 and 2011. That core is past the point of being productive.
Cincinnati resides in the toughest Division in baseball right. The Cubs and Cards are forces. While St. Louis will have guys aging in the next few years like Yadier Molina, Matt Holliday and Adam Wainwright, the Cubs don’t.
Pittsburgh has about another 2 – 3 year window before they start losing players like Andrew McCutchen, and their core players become too expensive.
The Reds would stand to benefit by a rebuild right now, and then try to kick-start their contending for about 2018 or 2019 right now. Form a nucleus of guys near the same age.
Guaranteed Contracts/POS/AGE for 2016:
Joey Votto 1B (32): The Canadian Slugger makes $20 MIL in 2016, $22 MIL in 2017 – and for each year between 2018 – 2023 he will make $25 MIL per year. There is a $20 MIL Team Option for 2024 – or a $7 MIL Buyout.
Homer Bailey SP (30): Makes $81 MIL over the next 4 years that goes, $18 MIL in 2016, $19 MIL in 2017, $21 MIL in 2018 and $23 MIL in 2019. There is a Mutual Option for 2020 at $25 MIL, that also includes a $5 MIL Buyout.
Brandon Phillips may not be doing the club any favors by invoking his 10 years service, 5 years with the same club rights to veto trades, but at least he is an above average hitter for a 2B. The longest serving Red will earn $27 MIL over the next few years. Last year, #4 3 Slashed .294/.324/.398 with 12 HRs, 173 hits and 70 RBI.
Brandon Phillips 2B (35): The 3 Time ALL – Star makes $13 MIL in 2016 and $14 MIL in 2017.
Jay Bruce OF (29): Bruce will earn $12.5 MIL in 2016, and there is a $13 MIL Team Option for 2017 – with just $1 MIL for a Buyout. This should help in the trade winds.
Devin Mesoraco C (28): The Catcher will earn $5 MIL in 2016, $7.3 MIL in 2017 and will jump to $13.1 MIL in 2018.
Raisel Iglesias SP (26): The Cuban Pitcher earns $3.2 MIL in 2016, $4.2 MIL in 2017, $5.2 MIL in 2018 before he will earn $5.7 MIL in 2019 and 2020 both seasons.
Total Money for this Category – $71.7 MIL.
Arbitration Eligible/POS/AGE
1st Year
J.J. Hoover RP (28): $1.4 MIL contract. 2 more years of Arbitration and then he is a Free Agent in 2019.
Total Money for this Category – $1.4 MIL: Total Team Payroll – $73.1 MIL.
2nd Year
Zack Cozart SS (30): $2.9 MIL for this year, one more year of Arb in 2017 and a Free Agent in 2018.
Total Money for this Category – $2.9 MIL: Total Team Payroll – $76.0 MIL
Dead Money/Deferrals POS/AGE:
Burke Badenhop RP (33) – $1.5 MIL in 2016 and then he is done.
Skip Schumaker 2B/OF (36) – 500K.
Bronson Arroyo SP (39): The former Red will make $1.4 MIL in deferred money per year for several more seasons.
Total Money for this Category – $3.4 MIL: Total Team Payroll – $79.4 MI
Entry Level Contracts POS/AGE
Billy Hamilton OF (26): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2017 – 2019 and is a Free Agent in 2020.
Tony Cingrani SP/P (27): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2017 – 2019 and is a Free Agent in 2020.
Ivan De Jesus 2B/OF/PH: Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and is a Free Agent in 2021.
Tucker Barnhart C (25): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and is a Free Agent in 2021.
Jumbo Diaz RP (32): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and is a Free Agent in 2021.
Anthony DeSclafani SP (26): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and is a Free Agent in 2021.
Eugenio Suarez SS (25): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and is a Free Agent in 2021.
Caleb Cotham RP (28): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Carlos Contreras RP (25): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2020 and is a Free Agent in 2021.
Michael Lorenzen SP (24): (Super 2) Is Arbitration Eligible from 2018 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Jon Moscot RP (24): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Brandon Finnegan RP (23): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Adam Duvall PH/1B/OF (27): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Jose Peraza 2B/CF (21): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Scott Schebler OF/PH (25): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Tyler Holt OF (26): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Keyvius Sampson SP (25): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
John Lamb SP (25): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Ramon Cabrera C/PH (26): Is Arbitration Eligible from 2019 – 2021 and is a Free Agent in 2022.
Total Money for this Category – $10 MIL: Total Team Payroll – $89.4 MIL.
Get used to seeing more of Billy Hamilton swiping bases in the 2016. The club is no where near the fringe of contention as we speak. So why not see what this guy can really do with 600+ PA for the year. Maybe we can see a guy try for 100 SB for the 1st time since Vince Coleman in the 89’s do it. Hamilton will enter Arbitration next year, and is under Team Control through 2020.
I am happy to be back at the helm of the MLB Reports, after completing my record 224 Games in the MLB Trip in 2015. It was the 4th time I have seen all 30 MLB Parks since 2008.
During that time away I was fortunate to do 100 Media Interviews and be named the Baseball Blogger Alliance President.
Interview on CSN Philly during the month of July.
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Tagged: adam wainwright, Andrew McCutchen, Anthony DeSclafani, Aroldis Champman, BIlly Hamilton, brandon finnegan, brandon phillips, brian price, Bronson Arroyo, burke badenhop, Caleb Cotham, Carlos Contreras, chicago cubs, chris young, cincinnati reds, Cincinnati Reds Payroll in 2016, devin mesoraco, eugenio suarez, Ivan De Jesus, J.J. Hoover, jay bruce, joey votto, John Lamb, Jon Moscot, Jose Peraza, Jumbo Diaz, matt holliday, Michael Lorenzen, NL Central, pittsburgh pirates, Raisel Iglesias, Ramon Cabrera, Skip Schumaker, st louis cardinals, stephon johnson, todd frazier, tony cingrani, Tucker Barnhart, Tyler Holt, walt jocketty, yadier molina, zack cosart
