Today's Cincinnati Enquirer -

[Scribo]

But if only team is in it for Bedard, they likely won't give up as much.

SG, I don't think so. Interest from other clubs might help a deal get done faster, but in the end it comes down to how much a team wants Bedard and what they are willing to give for him.

The fact that we can keep Bedard is leverage by itself. From the perspective of the Mariners, for example... As long as he doesn't get traded within the AL West, it doesn't matter whether we keep him or trade him. If they don't have him, they don't have him.

[O's Young Guns]

Also, Sheets might be on the block and Silva is still available. I'm all for getting top dollar for Bedard, but I think we might have to cave on our demands a little.

I second this, I fine without getting Jay Bruce. I don't get why we are so hell bent on him, I much rather get some more prospects. BTW A's will probably ask for the moon for Blanton and Silva doesn't impress me. Sheets could be a problem if he is one the market, but why would the Brewers break up one of the better rotations in baseball?

-Grant

[LAOSfan]

SG, I don't think so. Interest from other clubs might help a deal get done faster, but in the end it comes down to how much a team wants Bedard and what they are willing to give for him.

The fact that we can keep Bedard is leverage by itself. From the perspective of the Mariners, for example... As long as he doesn't get traded within the AL West, it doesn't matter whether we keep him or trade him. If they don't have him, they don't have him.

Plus, we should not take less than we what think he is worth, regardless of how many teams want him. They need him more THIS YEAR than we need to trade him this year. We have the bargaining power.

[ChaosLex]

I second this' date=' I fine without getting Jay Bruce. I don't get why we are so hell bent on him, I much rather get some more prospects. BTW A's will probably ask for the moon for Blanton and Silva doesn't impress me. Sheets could be a problem if he is one the market, [b']but why would the Brewers break up one of the better rotations in baseball? [/b]

-Grant

Just to screw with us.

[Scribo]

Here is an interesting possibility from the Reds' system:

Danny Dorn 23 YO (next year) LH OF, 2006 draftee out of Cal State Fullerton. Nice jump to AA at the end of 07 (1.089 OPS in 105 PA). Knows how to take a walk.

Probably a year off, and not a major piece, but I like what I see.

[TheBee]

The reds have 3 SS prospects in their top 10. Why does no one want Loo, Janish, or Valaika?

Does anyone have any scouting reports on these three?

Loo just gave up baseball out of the blue. The Reds still have his rights but he didn't play at all last year

Janish -quotes from Baeball America "major league caliber ss with expert positioning and flawless footwork, soft hands and a plus arm." Also "He may not do much more than make contact and likely always will be a bottom of the order hitter."

Valaika "Quick hands a short stroke to spray liners to all fields." "Compared to Bobby Crosby as an offensive ss." They say his below average speed limits range and he may be a 2b someday.

[srh523]

Here is an interesting possibility from the Reds' system:

Danny Dorn 23 YO (next year) LH OF, 2006 draftee out of Cal State Fullerton. Nice jump to AA at the end of 07 (1.089 OPS in 105 PA). Knows how to take a walk.

Probably a year off, and not a major piece, but I like what I see.

Hmmmm this guy does look pretty good!

[El Gordo]

Loo just gave up baseball out of the blue. The Reds still have his rights but he didn't play at all last year

Janish -quotes from Baeball America "major league caliber ss with expert positioning and flawless footwork, soft hands and a plus arm." Also "He may not do much more than make contact and likely always will be a bottom of the order hitter."

Valaika "Quick hands a short stroke to spray liners to all fields." "Compared to Bobby Crosby as an offensive ss." They say his below average speed limits range and he may be a 2b someday.

How does Keppinger compare to these two?

[Camden_yardbird]

The reds have 3 SS prospects in their top 10. Why does no one want Loo, Janish, or Valaika?

Does anyone have any scouting reports on these three?

Don't worry, I got it covered:

Milton Loo

Year  Age Tm  Lg  Lvl Aff   G    AB    R    H   2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB   SO    BA   OBP   SLG   OPS   SB   CS  SB%  SH  SF IBB HBP GDP+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+2006   20 RDS GCL Rk  CIN   14    43   10   16   6   0   1    7    1    5  .372  .413  .581  .994    0   1   0%   0   0   0   2   1 

Source: Baseball reference

SS Milton Loo, a 2005 ninth-rounder who signed as a draft-and-follow last spring, appeared in just 14 games in the Gulf Coast League, hitting .372 before his season was ended by an elbow injury. He could start the year at Dayton but may begin in extended Spring Training. He’s a great athlete who may project at third or the outfield eventually.

Source: redleg nation

Chris Valaika

Year  Age Tm  Lg  Lvl Aff   G    AB    R    H   2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB   SO    BA   OBP   SLG   OPS   SB   CS  SB%  SH  SF IBB HBP GDP+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+2006   20 BIL PIO Rk  CIN   70   275   58   89  22   4   8   60   24   61  .324  .387  .520  .907    2   2  50%   2   6   0   8   8 2007   21 TOT              136   517   64  147  29   4  12   79   30  114  .284  .335  .426  .761    1   7  13%   2   9   0  14  16           DTN MWL A   CIN   79   300   38   92  20   3  10   56   17   72  .307  .353  .493  .846    1   4  20%   0   6   0   8   9           SAR FSL A+  CIN   57   217   26   55   9   1   2   23   13   42  .253  .310  .332  .642    0   3   0%   2   3   0   6   7 +----+----+---+---+---+---+----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+1 Season          Rk        70   275   58   89  22   4   8   60   24   61  .324  .387  .520  .907    2   2  50%   2   6   0   8   8 1 Season          A         79   300   38   92  20   3  10   56   17   72  .307  .353  .493  .846    1   4  20%   0   6   0   8   9 1 Season          A+        57   217   26   55   9   1   2   23   13   42  .253  .310  .332  .642    0   3   0%   2   3   0   6   7 +-----------------+---+--------+-----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+2 Seasons                  206   792  122  236  51   8  20  139   54  175  .298  .353  .458  .811    3   9  25%   4  15   0  22  24 

SS Chris Valaika likely will start at Sarasota, though Dayton is not out of the question, especially if Milton Loo is not ready for a full-season assignment. The 2006 third-rounder out of Santa Barbara quickly got on people’s radar charts in his pro debut when he posted a league-record 32-game hitting streak at Billings. He won Pioneer League MVP honors after batting .324 with eight homers and 60 RBIs to go with a .520 slugging percentage. A gap hitter with doubles power, he eventually could move to second base to pair with Janish up the middle but stays at shortstop for now.

Paul Janish

Year  Age Tm  Lg  Lvl Aff   G    AB    R    H   2B  3B  HR  RBI  BB   SO    BA   OBP   SLG   OPS   SB   CS  SB%  SH  SF IBB HBP GDP+----+----+---+---+---+---+----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+2004   21 BIL PIO Rk  CIN   66   205   39   54  11   0   2   22   45   45  .263  .396  .346  .742    7   3  70%                     2005   22 DTN MWL A   CIN   55   208   30   51  10   2   5   29   29   38  .245  .346  .385  .731    5   2  71%   8   4   2   5   1 2006   23 TOT              121   448   73  136  24   2  14   75   46   54  .304  .371  .460  .831    8   2  80%   7   9   0   7   9           DTN MWL A   CIN   26    98   19   39   6   0   5   18    7   10  .398  .435  .612 1.047    0   0        0   2   0   1   0           SAR FSL A+  CIN   91   335   53   93  17   2   9   55   38   39  .278  .355  .421  .776    8   2  80%   7   7   0   6   8           CNG SOU AA  CIN    4    15    1    4   1   0   0    2    1    5  .267  .313  .333  .646    0   0        0   0   0   0   1 2007   24 TOT              143   523   66  123  29   3   4   39   64   85  .235  .329  .325  .654   12   3  80%  16   4   1  11  12           CNG SOU AA  CIN   88   324   46   79  21   2   1   20   50   54  .244  .358  .330  .688   10   3  77%   5   3   0   9   5           LOU INT AAA CIN   55   199   20   44   8   1   3   19   14   31  .221  .278  .317  .595    2   0 100%  11   1   1   2   7 +----+----+---+---+---+---+----+-----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+1 Season          Rk        66   205   39   54  11   0   2   22   45   45  .263  .396  .346  .742    7   3  70%                     2 Seasons         A         81   306   49   90  16   2  10   47   36   48  .294  .373  .458  .831    5   2  71%   8   6   2   6   1 1 Season          A+        91   335   53   93  17   2   9   55   38   39  .278  .355  .421  .776    8   2  80%   7   7   0   6   8 2 Seasons         AA        92   339   47   83  22   2   1   22   51   59  .245  .356  .330  .686   10   3  77%   5   3   0   9   6 1 Season          AAA       55   199   20   44   8   1   3   19   14   31  .221  .278  .317  .595    2   0 100%  11   1   1   2   7 +-----------------+---+--------+-----+----+----+---+---+---+----+----+----+-----+-----+-----+-----+----+---+----+---+---+---+---+---+4 Seasons                  385  1384  208  364  74   7  25  165  184  222  .263  .355  .381  .736   32  10  76%  31  17   3  23  22 

Source: Ibid

Paul Janish a 6'2, 180 lbs, right handed shortstop who was drafted by the Reds in the 5th round of the 2004 draft. He was born in October of 1982, which makes him 23 right now. He was drafted out of Rice University where he helped win the College World Championship in 2003. He has hit 93 mph off the mound, but will stick at shortstop. He was ranked 74 out of the top 100 college players coming into the draft. He started out great with the Reds rookie league team in Billings, where he was named Reds MVP of the Instructional League and was ranked the 10th best prospect in the 2004 Baseball America Prospect Handbook. He was promoted to low-A Dayton, where he started in a slump and just as he was starting to come out of it he slid in to first and tore his elbow ligament. He has to have Tommy John surgery and was shut down for the rest of the year. The 2005 handbook also ranks him the best defensive infielder and the best infield arm in the system. He dropped to 14 in the 2006 handbook due primarily to the injury plagued season that he had in 2005. He was still ranked the best defensive infielder, but Adam Rosales was ranked the best infield arm. More on that later. He has been compared to Adam Everett. His bat will never be his strength, he has good plate discipline, but his swing tends to get long and lacks power. He is a very fluid, solid defender.

Source: Raising Reds

I don't really like any of these guys and don't think Loo should be included as any sort of trade chip given he has <100 pro AB's. Doesnt look the Reds have a solid blue chip SS prospect to trade us. All of these guys have major questions.

EDIT: Thanks Bee for answering while I was making this post.

[CrimsonTribe]

Here is an interesting possibility from the Reds' system:

Danny Dorn 23 YO (next year) LH OF, 2006 draftee out of Cal State Fullerton. Nice jump to AA at the end of 07 (1.089 OPS in 105 PA). Knows how to take a walk.

Probably a year off, and not a major piece, but I like what I see.

Is that Roger's son?

[TheBee]

How does Keppinger compare to these two?

JEFF KEPPINGER, 2B

Proper Name: Jeffrey Scott Keppinger

Born: April 21, 1980 in Miami

School: Georgia Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180

Bats: R Throws: R

Individual Batting Stats

Club (League) Class AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS SH SF IBB HBP GIDP OBP SLG OPS

Sarasota Reds (FSL) Hi A .333 3 12 1 4 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 .308 .500 .808

Louisville Bats (IL) AAA . 368 57 228 31 84 15 1 2 18 23 14 1 1 6 3 1 1 2 .424 .469 .893

Cincinnati Reds (NL) MLB .332 67 241 39 80 16 2 5 32 24 12 2 1 6 1 0 4 11 .400 .477 .877

MAJOR LEAGUE TOTALS .332 67 241 39 80 16 2 5 32 24 12 2 1 6 1 0 4 11 .400 .477 .877

MINOR LEAGUE TOTALS .367 60 240 32 88 17 1 2 19 23 14 1 2 6 4 1 1 2 .418 .471 .889

[YardBirds13]

Is that Roger's son?

How do you he's not actually the Wild Thing's son???

[pactman12]

JEFF KEPPINGER, 2B

Proper Name: Jeffrey Scott Keppinger

Born: April 21, 1980 in Miami

School: Georgia Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180

Bats: R Throws: R

Individual Batting Stats

Club (League) Class AVG G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI BB SO SB CS SH SF IBB HBP GIDP OBP SLG OPS

Sarasota Reds (FSL) Hi A .333 3 12 1 4 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 .308 .500 .808

Louisville Bats (IL) AAA . 368 57 228 31 84 15 1 2 18 23 14 1 1 6 3 1 1 2 .424 .469 .893

Cincinnati Reds (NL) MLB .332 67 241 39 80 16 2 5 32 24 12 2 1 6 1 0 4 11 .400 .477 .877

MAJOR LEAGUE TOTALS .332 67 241 39 80 16 2 5 32 24 12 2 1 6 1 0 4 11 .400 .477 .877

MINOR LEAGUE TOTALS .367 60 240 32 88 17 1 2 19 23 14 1 2 6 4 1 1 2 .418 .471 .889

I've seen him about a dozen times in person, he can flat out hit.

[RShack]

There are still people who tell you that draft position doesn't matter.

Exactly right.

Just ask the Rangers. They got stuck with Teixeira because they were down at 5th, when if they'd drafted 2 slots higher, they could've grabbed this guy instead. If the O's had been smart and lost more ballgames a few years ago like some folks were hoping they would do this year, instead of having to settle for Nick at 7th, they could've drafted higher and grabbed their choice of this guy who went 6th, or this guy who went 5th, or this guy who went 3rd. Dumb Orioles, they weren't even smart enough to lose more to get better talent, so now we're stuck with Nick.

[Camden_yardbird]

I've seen him about a dozen times in person, he can flat out hit.

Too old for us to trade for, but he clearly indicates someone is redundant, probably Encarnacion, who I wouldn't mind back as the 3ed or 4th player in a trade.