(Some) Wednesday links!
The stockings are hung by the GABP chimney with care, in hopes that Saint Nick Krall-as soon will be there.
If you, like me, are pining for some juicy Cincinnati Reds trade rumors this winter, I apologize for the lack of action. Yes, they got started early with the acquisition of Brady Singer from Kansas City in exchange for Jonathan India, yet they made it all the way through last week’s Winter Meetings without so much as a peep.
Speaking of Singer, he caught up with Mark Sheldon of Reds.com to discuss a number of topics, including the trade, his pitching arsenal, and the transition to his home park being GABP. The interview was part of the latest episode of the Reds “Hot Stove League” with co-host Tommy Thrall, so there’s audio for you to consume as well.
It’s not a rumor, by any means, but in spelling out the potential suitors for slugging 1B Pete Alonso, Leo Morgenstern of MLB Trade Rumors dot com laid out a pretty interesting case for the Reds being a dark horse candidate for his signature. Admittedly, the ‘dark horse’ status isn’t because they’ve got so much cash they’re willing to spend that they’re chasing everyone – it’s more that their current offense just pretty well stinks on-paper.
I wonder how Reds fans would react to giving $25 million a year to a 1B who only walks about two-percent above league-average.
Speaking of ‘signing guys in free agency because the team’s offense mostly stinks,’ that’s what the Reds did with Jeimer Candelario this time a year ago to mostly dismal results (so far). Candelario’s positional flexibility along with that of Spencer Steer is part of why the Reds are able to casually pursue free agent bats at multiple positions for potential upgrades, though Candelario is now apparently dealing with an injury. As Doug Gray of Redleg Nation noted yesterday, Candelario exited his Dominican Winter League game earlier this week after tweaking something as he legged out a grounder to 1B. There’s still no word on the nature or severity, but that’s surely not what the Reds wanted to see after injuries dogged him during the 2024 MLB season.
In NL Central news, it appears that Nolan Arenado has put the kibosh on a deal that would have sent him to the Houston Astros from the St. Louis Cardinals. He’s got a no-trade clause and only reportedly wants to be dealt to southern California or the big-money clubs in the northeast, and Houston does not qualify as either. So while the Chicago Cubs have managed to shed most of Cody Bellinger’s deal while adding Kyle Tucker (and getting way better in the process), the Cards have not been so lucky in their maneuvering (so far).
Here’s to the latter continuing all winter.