Baseball Opinion - Trade Bait: Reds need a Catcher

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Trade Bait: Reds need a Catcher

Christopher Solberg, Editor
3/19/2008

According to John Fay of the Cincinnattii Enquirer, via MLBTR, the Reds are in the hunt for some catching help. David Ross' back seems to be in pretty bad shape and, although he seems to be coming slowly along, it could flare up again during the season. His .203 batting average last year is also of concern. The team doesn't seem to be sold on Javier Valentin being in a full-time role and they are wanting a little more offense in their lineup.

Now for the rampant speculation....

Although the Texas Rangers seem to have an abundance of catching with the spring resurgence of Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, the team seems interested in taking Laird into the regular season to see if they can build his trade value before trading him. Since Salty has options left, the team can afford to send him down for a little seasoning before they trade Laird.

This brings me back to "old dependable", the San Francisco Giants. They are going to be my main charity case for the year as I will offer up many scenarios to improve the team through an "Extreme Baseball Makeover".

With the Giants likely to be one of the worst teams in baseball this season, it makes catcher Benji Molina a likely trade candidate. Trading the team's cleanup hitter...yeah, he's projected to be their cleanup hitter...would make a pitiful offense even worse. But sacrifices will need to made to remake the Giants into something respectable down the road.

Molina supposedly does have no-trade protection, but I think he would waive that protection after spending the spring carrying the offense mostly on his shoulders, outside of Aaron Rowand.

Additionally, Molina's 19 home runs in AT&T Park may translate into 25 in the Great American Ball Park.

Although the top four prospects in the Reds' system are almost untouchable, can the Giants get something decent from the Reds? With Jay Bruce, Homer Bailey, Joey Votto, and Johnny Cueto off the table, they may push for talented outfielder Drew Stubbs. Stubbs has power, speed, and good defense. But he is still untested at the upper levels and recorded 142 K's last season in 497 at-bats. Could the Giants ask for him and possibly 1B/3B Adam Rosales (13 HR in 255 at-bats with a .926 OPS at Double-A last season) or catcher Craig Tatum (.320 AVG with a .525 SLG last season at High-A)?

Ahhhh speculation, isn't it great?

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