Were the Reds working on a Votto-for Bautista trade with the Blue Jays?

[SammyBirdland]

http://cincinnati.com/blogs/reds/2011/08/01/were-the-reds-working-on-something-big/

[MikeAD]

Thats intriguing...on one hand I understand the "hometown" appeal of Votto but Bautista is one of the best players in the game (from the fan perspective at least). Very interesting if this is true.

[ShaneDawg85]

Am I the only who thinks that would have been an awful deal for the Reds? Votto is three years younger than Bautista, coming off an MVP season, and if wanted Bautista so badly then why not try and move Alonso for him so you can have both? At best it would be an equal tradeoff, but give me Votto for age.

[GoldGlove21]

Am I the only who thinks that would have been an awful deal for the Reds? Votto is three years younger than Bautista, coming off an MVP season, and if wanted Bautista so badly then why not try and move Alonso for him so you can have both? At best it would be an equal tradeoff, but give me Votto for age.

Nope, it is the first thing I though of as well. Bautista is a guy who should stay in the AL where he can DH if need be. Votto is an MVP and so is Bautista. There is a good chance that Bautista wins it this year as well if Gonzalez does not. There is a very good chance Gonzalez wins it, but I can't remember any time where one leagues last MVP was traded for the other leagues MVP. That is just a crazy scenario, IMO. If I were the Reds I would have wanted an arm as well. You then could move Alonso to first and Bautista to right field. I get it on paper, but it doesn't make mush sense in terms of long term value.

[waroriole]

Am I the only who thinks that would have been an awful deal for the Reds? Votto is three years younger than Bautista, coming off an MVP season, and if wanted Bautista so badly then why not try and move Alonso for him so you can have both? At best it would be an equal tradeoff, but give me Votto for age.

I think I'd rather have Votto too.

[weams]

I think I'd rather have Votto too.

Bautista - Canadian Fresh Air < Votto

[MikeAD]

Is Alonso considered that good (by them) that they would move Votto and go with Alsonso/Bautista over Votto? I can't buy that. If they were to trade Votto they would get a huge package, I would think.

Doesn't make much sense. Votto AND a pitching prospect for Bautista seems fishy. If that happened Alex Anthopoulos really should be anointed.

[GoldGlove21]

Is Alonso considered that good (by them) that they would move Votto and go with Alsonso/Bautista over Votto? I can't buy that. If they were to trade Votto they would get a huge package, I would think.

Doesn't make much sense. Votto AND a pitching prospect for Bautista seems fishy. If that happened Alex Anthopoulos really should be anointed.

Bautista could replace Votto's production almost right away. The issue I have is long term, if the Reds do not think Votto will extend then why not deal for a bigger package of high upside players and leave Bautista out of it?

The Blue Jays have Drabek, Lawrie, McGuire, Stewart and a ton of other B/B- prospects they could deal, but it wouldn't make much sense IMO. How much lower does Bautista make the asking price for Votto if prospects were moved?

Bautista, McGuire/Stewart and one or two of their 8-13 prospects? I bet that deal was never really close to happening as there wasn't even a real peep out of any major media regarding it being a possibility.