Dan O'Brien, Reds
• Survival odds: 65%
This was supposed to the surprise team in the National League this year and a dark-horse candidate to challenge the Cardinals. When you increase your payroll by $17 million and have Ken Griffey Jr. healthy for most of the season, you should be a contender.
Instead, the Reds still stink. O'Brien must take the blame for giving left-hander Eric Milton a three-year, $25.5 million contract, trading for starter Ramon Ortiz, re-signing second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez for $2.87 million and releasing closer Danny Graves while eating his $6.25 million contract.
• Prediction: O'Brien stays. Yet, if they falter early next year, he'll be fired and replaced by Twins assistant GM Wayne Krivsky.Article LinkThe Mariners will pursue Ken Griffey Jr., who left Seattle when he signed with the Reds after the 1999 season, if they believe he's healthy. ...