I guess the Reds have been talking to the Jays about Rolen
Cincinnati.com | Cincinnati Cincinnati Reds | Cincinnati.Com
This is a first. This blog missive comes from a moving train. I'm on my way from Philly to New York. The train is the only way to go. Walk up, buy your ticket for $64, 10 minutes later you're rolling. Lots of room. A plug for your laptop.
I saw the Scott Rolen thing from the Toronto Sun. Here's a
link. I don't think the Reds have the money to pull it off. Rolen's health is an issue, although the Reds should have all the reports on him. Dr. Tim Kremchek did his surgery.
The Reds have to win two of three this weekend to even think about being buyers in my estimation. You don't add a 34-year-old making a lot of money (almost $6 million for the rest of the year), unless you think he gets you over the top. The Reds are in fifth place right now -- albeit 4 1/2 games back.
Rolen is Bob Castellini's kind of guy. He may be one of the players Castellini would bend the budget for. Rolen will make $11 million next year.
This could be nothing. The Reds have had internal discussions about a lot of players and they have scouts at a lot of games. But it's an interesting one to consider.
Red-hot Rolen on Reds' radar | Baseball | Sports | Toronto Sun
The Cincinnati Reds have talked internally about obtaining third baseman Scott Rolen from the Blue Jays.
The trade would re-unite Rolen with general manager Walt Jocketty. The two were together in St. Louis when the Cardinals won the 2006 World Series over the Detroit Tigers.
The Jays are looking to dump payroll and Rolen earns $11 million US this year and in 2010, the final two years of an eight-year $90-million contract he signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2002. Rolen has been the Jays' best hitter this season, batting .330 with six homers and 34 RBIs and is working on a 25-game hit streak.
The Reds had a scout in St. Petersburg to watch Rolen this week as the Jays played the Tampa Bay Rays.
Besides dumping cash, the Jays are looking for prospects in return.
The Reds, however, have dangled third baseman Edwin Encarnacion, 26, who started 143 games at third for them last season, hitting .251 with 26 homers and 68 RBIs.
This season, he has appeared in only 25 games after breaking his wrist in April, and is hitting just .150 with one homer.
He earns $2 million this season and next season will earn $4.75 million.
Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Dodgers had scouts Vance Lovelace and Lee Elia, a former Jays coach, watching Roy Halladay's start against the Rays yesterday afternoon.
Also on hand were Jay Wetherby of the Detroit Tigers and Joe Sparks of the Oakland A's. Both clubs are possible Halladay suitors. The Boston Red Sox also had a scout there.
