2018 Reds Season Thread

[CJD]

(07-15-2018, 12:19 AM)samhain Wrote: I love Scooter.  If they keep him, I won't be upset.  I just think that it might not be the best path forward.  

Starting pitching is still the biggest weakness on this roster.  It's going to get worse when Harvey is traded or lost in FA.  Disco is a ticking time bomb in terms of health.  They need more legit starters, more specifically a TOR hammer if they want to compete for a playoff spot next season.  

Senzel is the number 5 prospect in MLB.  He's a second baseman.  So is Scooter.  Why spend a truckload of cash extending Gennett when your best prospect is right there ready to fill his spot?  Spend that cash on a proven major-league starter.  Get something significant for Gennett while you can.  Senzel will be a much better defender than Scooter, to boot. 

Yea, so here's the question: Can either of these players play any other position? Because if you can create a line up where both of those guys can play at the same time, then you are going to have an extremely potent offense.

I was thinking there's a possibility that Gennett can move into the outfield at some point once his shoulder is healed. Or maybe we can send Senzel out into the outfield. Infield to Outfield is an easier transition that Outfield to Infield, after all (we did it with Hamilton most recently, as well as Trammel, I believe). It lowers Senzel's positional value if you make him a corner OF, but if it allows you to get Scooter's .320 bat and Senzel's potentially .300+ bat in the same line up, I think it'll be worth it.

As for the starting pitching, yea something's gotta give in that regard. We have some talented pitchers on this team, but they all have their warts. If we could just sign or trade for a true #1 or #2 starting pitcher (which will take more than Gennett to get anyway), then I think we should pull that trigger sooner than later. Hell, it may even cost Senzel to get that pitcher (talking a Noah Syndergaard type player, not a prospect at that point), in which case signing Scooter may be the wise thing to do.

The Reds have a lot of options and can go in a number of directions at this year's trade deadline. Hopefully hindsight will not reveal a better path when all's said and done.