Alonso is Cincinnati's top hitting prospect.

Walt Jocketty, GM of the Cincinnati Reds, has apparently changed his mind about making one of his young first basemen available via trade this winter. Despite reports early in the off-season that Jocketty would be holding on to both Joey Votto and Yonder Alonso, the Reds have reportedly been in contact with a number of clubs this month, dangling Alonso as trade bait. In return, Jocketty is said to be targeting a closer or number 2 starter.

First, let’s just get the obvious part out of the way; there is no way Jocketty should be trading a talented young bat like Alonso for a closer. Closers are considerably overpriced and over valued. There is seemingly always a glut of them on the open market and one can be had relatively inexpensively. The smart clubs prefer to either create their own closers or to pick up an inexpensive veteran to fill the role.

Jocketty has apparently figured that out, as he balked at potential deal with Oakland that would have brought Andrew Bailey to the Queen City in exchange for Alonso. If they were to trade Alonso for a closer, they’d be hard pressed to find a better option than Bailey given his success, his youth, and his team controlled contract.

Focusing on just starting pitching then, would the Rangers be a fit for Cincinnati as a trading partner? (more…)

A big story coming out of this game was Tommy Hunter, shortly after being named a part of the 2011 rotation was injured; Stacy is going to have more on that story on the site later. In two innings of work he gave up six hits and five earned runs, Hunter was beat up both figuratively and literally. On the pitching front there wasn’t anything too noteworthy aside from Darren O’Day having a successful inning earning zero runs on two hits.

(more…)

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Second baseman Ian Kinsler just keeps surprising us all this spring. Already he has hit five home runs during his 10 Spring Training games with his fifth being in the 5-5 tie against the Cincinnati Reds Friday as a two-run homer. He is currently leading the Major Leagues in home runs this spring. He has nine total runs batted in with a .393 batting average. He’s heading into the season as the team’s leadoff hitter and is developing his bat to complement that. Washington is pleased with Kinsler’s progress thus far.

“He’s seeing the ball well and when pitchers are making mistakes, he’s not missing,” Washington said. “When you’re locked in, that’s what happens. He’s working at it. He deserves to see the ball well because he’s working hard to see it well.” (more…)