Reds scraping the bottom of the barrel for another starter?

[CincyRedsFan30]

No, signing him wouldn't bother me as long as it is for a small price and he doesn't win a spot based on nothing more than the fact that he has some sort of name recognition.

If Germano doesn't look close to ready and Astacio looked decent during ST, I wouldn't be opposed to having Astacio start the year in the rotation if Wilson isn't ready.

[redsrbetter]

I guess cheap depth does not hurt much. I was just excited for the moment we were past all this. But, it is still a live possibility that we may sign this guy. I can agree though that this could be one of those can't hurt signings.

Oh well, Ijust want to know one way or the other on this one so I can see where their focus is going to be on him. In the long run, I do not trust Narron enough to have the best guy for the job. The way the whole Aurilia/EdE/Womack/Freel situation is going, I don't like Narron having another opportunity to make a bad decision. I feel if Astacio does become a Red, he will have a guaranteed spot regardless of his how his spring goes.

[CincyRedsFan30]

If he has a guaranteed spot, we are talking a whole different game. That's a problem.

I would have a much bigger problem with the team talking of this type of signing if Krivsky had been the GM during the whole offseason and had more of an opportunity to make trades and FA signings.

Since that isn't the case, he might wait on possible major trades or signings until July to see if we are somehow still in the playoff hunt then.

Astacio would be a cheap option and he would probably be around for this year at most. It's not like we are locking him up for a long time. I think Krivsky will really getting going if we stay in the race and during next offseason. He really had little time to do anything this offseason. He already has tried to fix the scouting and changed some guys' positions, along with firing others.

Plus, if Astacio somehow did make the rotation and surprised everyone by really pitching well, he could be part of a trade if we decide to go the route of trading an outfielder for pitching if we are out of the race by July.

[redsrbetter]

I like the trade possibility he could bring. A guess we could look at him as a stop gap for a big trade in July for better pitching. That part makes it a little more desirable. But it is a big IF to hope he makes some impact on the rotation.

[Geki Ace]

Astacio's not gonna have any trade value even if he does manage to get an ERA around 4, which is the lowest he has any possibility whatsoever of going. Like Aurilia, GMs realize that he was a product of his ballpark last year, and aren't going to give anything good for him even if he manages an okay half year for us, which he won't.

It'll be a shitty pick-up, just like Womack was, just like Timo Perez was, just like Quinton McCracken was. Guaranteeing Astacio a roster spot is counterproductive, and that's what we'd have to do to sign him.

[volzok]

The way the whole Aurilia/EdE/Womack/Freel situation is going, I don't like Narron having another opportunity to make a bad decision. I feel if Astacio does become a Red, he will have a guaranteed spot regardless of his how his spring goes.

I totally agree. Its like last year with the FeLo thing. He had a better spring but Aurilia got the job. I know that was Miley but that same thing could happen again. I would rather go with the younger guys. Astacio cant steal a roster spot if hes not on the team. I just dont think Astacio would be good in GAB no matter how his spring goes. While he had some success with SD last year. He really stunk in Texas and when he was with the Mets in Shea. I just dont like him either way.

[CincyRedsFan30]

I'm not sure who all this "young talent" everyone speaks of is. We have almost NONE of that right now. This team likely won't win anything this year anyway and I don't see how at least causing some competition for those younger players will hurt anything at all. I don't think this administration is dumb enough to let someone start unless they are actually pitching well. I think Krivsky knows what he's doing.

As for his trade value, I don't know if I agree. If he is posting a good ERA at GABP at midseason, I disagree that no team who is looking for a pitcher in a better pitcher's park for a playoff push would not even think of signing him just to finish the year off to try to help out.

I see this as a no harm, no foul type of risk.

I think many were expecting way too much out of Krivsky in a very short period of time.

[redsrbetter]

I don't think it is so much that people are expecting too much out of Krivsky. At least on my part I did not and still do not expect Krivsky to have a magic wand to wave around that allows us to add Johan Santana this season.

What I do expect, though, is far better decision making than what DanO brought to the equation. I believe he will still deliver that. But I will in turn doubt some of the thinking still.

Here is my bottom line with Astacio. I like CRF's stance that he will likely be an inexpensive risk. If he still sucks (likely) and does not gain any trade value, we can't say that Krivsky did not try and make something happen with the few options he had. We absolutely cannot judge Krivsky as a GM until around the trade deadline. Once he has a view of where this team is going, he will show what he has got. So, Astacio for a stopgap inexpensive test during a season that does not have high expectations is not a bad move.

[Geki Ace]

I'd much rather have Germano, Ramirez, Belisle, or even Hudson take a spot in the rotation if it becomes necessary.

[CincyRedsFan30]

Except all of them might be awful too. If they earn it, they earn it.

[volzok]

Except all of them might be awful too. If they earn it, they earn it.

I guess the point to be made here is that any guy we have or could possibly pick up is going to stink for us so I guess it doesnt matter.

[HafDawg2003]

A little rhyme for you.

I agree, time for Jose Rijo version three!

[volzok]

Notes: Reds in hunt for Astacio
Veteran pitcher working out in Dominican Republic
By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Continuing their attempts to improve pitching depth, the Reds still believed they were in the hunt to sign free agent Pedro Astacio.

"It's still ongoing. There's still some dialogue," Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky said. "Just like the other clubs that are probably interested in him, they'd like to have him as soon as possible. I do know he's throwing in the Dominican [Republic] and getting his work in."

Besides the Reds, Astacio has been courted by the Nationals, Rockies and Padres. Washington is believed to be a long shot since it offered the right-hander a Minor League contract last week.

click here for the rest

[Wally Mo Pena]

i think the point about Kriv here is that while all of his moves (besides Dunn) haven't been that bad because they're low risk, they're also not good because they have basically no upside. Tuffy Rhodes may have potential, but all the others have proven their worthlessness, and astacio would be in this mold.

I agree with CRF and others that Kriv hasn't been given enough time to be expected to make good moves, but that doesn't mean he should make bad ones.

The guys we have in camp have more upside than astacio and they won't cost millions. The smart GM goes with one of them and saves money and roster space.

[CincyRedsFan30]

I think all he's trying to do is create competition and put pressure on some of our players to perform or you could be in trouble.

I don't have a problem with that. It seems this team needed and attitude adjustment, as they seemed to have gotten lax over the last few years.