Re: ***Official 2007-2008 MLB Offseason Thread***
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Yes, I give the Reds credit for identifying their biggest weakness and then signing the best available option to strengthen that weakness. Not only was this a "good" signing by the Reds, it might go down as the best of the offseason!
The Reds don't need as much pitching as you think. Harang and Arroyo are two solid, reliable guys to front the rotation. Belisle's ERA was crappy, but his periphs suggest a close to league average starter. They've got three MLB ready young guns in Homer Bailey, Matt Maloney, and arguably the best pitching prospect in the minors, Johnny Cueto. One of those three will be a star starting in 2008, so they really only need one of the others to be solid. It might take some time to figure out who's going to fill what role, but the Reds don't need to sign a starter. In fact, I'd go as far as to say that the Reds should now focus their attention on a high risk/reward closer like Gagne or Foulke.
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They just spent $11M a year for four years on a 32 year old who will pitch 5% of their innings. If you think a team should put half their payroll into pitching, the Reds just spent 1/3 of their pitching budget on 1/20th of their pitching output. And you think they should spend some more on another 70 inning guy?
Why not instead move some of those young guns to the bullpen?
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