Seth's 50 Centers

Dear Mr. Krivsky,

I’m writing with just over 19 hours before the non-waiver trade deadline.

You’ve already traded starting pitcher Kyle Lohse and word is you’re looking to take more calls about potential deals to be made.

I’m OK with your deal of Lohse. He’s only good about half the time, yet his agent is sure to act as if he’s great all the time come free agency this winter.

I’d also be OK with getting something for someone like Jeff Conine, or Scott Hatteberg, although I think if you’d be willing, Hatteberg has one more good year left in him.

Other than that, please leave the team alone. If you and your predecessor have truly done your job with the draft and in fire sale trades the past few years our Reds should have an infusion of young talent in the next few seasons.

Why not accompany those youngsters with a big power hitter like Adam Dunn? He’s the only Red since 2001 to knock in 100 runs or more, in case you didn’t know. He’s also the only Red to hit 40-plus homers in that span. While he does have deficiencies, I’m sure the positives aren’t something you can afford to part with, are they?

Keep Ken Griffey Jr. He’s having as good a year as he’s had since coming home. He’s a crowd pleaser and his defense has only gotten better, even in the past month. I’d say you have two to three more years of him getting the job done in the outfield. Plus, while those in the media may not agree, Junior is a good influence on young players. Just ask Dunn or Josh Hamilton, whom he’s helped in center field even though Junior has been moved to right.

Keep Bronson Arroyo. I doubt you’re planning on moving him, but in case you’ve had the inkling, please remember how good he was last year and how well he’s pitched of late. If only we could see a few runs cross the plate when he takes the hill. Maybe he’d have more than a handful of wins to his credit by now.

As much as I complained about him last year, please keep David Weathers. I’d like to see some help for him, and Jon Coutlangus and Jared Burton seem to have given him that of late, but Weathers has been solid for much of the year. Now, if your baseball people tell you that the blown saves Weathers has suffered since the all star break aren’t something he can recover from, maybe you could send him off to a potential contender, but that’d be the only reason to move him.

If you get some sucker to take Mike Stanton, other than a retirement home, please go ahead and send him away for nothing less than a bag of baseballs. You gave Stanton, who’s 40 going on 70, a two-year deal and he’s had maybe three weeks in him, let alone two seasons.

You just acquired Jorge Cantu. I don’t know what you see him becoming as a Red. Maybe he just adds minor league depth and in the off chance he reacquires the magical bat he had two years ago when he knocked in 117 runs in Tampa Bay, he can come up to the big club.

Please just keep in mind what this offseason could mean, Mr. Krivsky. This could be the biggest one of my lifetime. With Eric Milton’s contract off the books, and now no chance of resigning Lohse, you should have some extra money to play around with after the season.

Bring in another starter, a few relievers — maybe even a closer — and do what you can at the catching position, and maybe the rest of the team will come together for a winning 2008.

Thanks,

Seth Shaner
Baseball Fan