MAD DOG Madson

[osu99jp]

Reds get the steal of the winter, signing ace closer Ryan Madson to a 1 year deal for only $8.5 million.

Love what they've done this winter - I suspected they'd be active, considering how badly they flopped in 2011 - and they've met my expectations. Stud starting pitcher, stud setup man, stud closer.

With Pujols and Fielder leaving town, and Braun out for 50 games, this was the time to make moves and potentially lock down the NL Central for the next 2 seasons.

[Franny]

With Pujols and Fielder leaving town, and Braun out for 50 games, this was the time to make moves and potentially lock down the NL Central for the next 2 seasons.

I think that's the key. The NL central's top talent is all leaving but watch out for the Cubs. Theo smells blood.

Reds also need to get the Phillips deal done.

[osu99jp]

Originally Posted by Franny

I think that's the key. The NL central's top talent is all leaving but watch out for the Cubs. Theo smells blood.

Reds also need to get the Phillips deal done.

I am not overly anxious to see them extend Phillips. I'd prefer to wait and see what he does this year. Extending Arroyo when they did really bit them in the ass. I hope they learned their lesson.

Reds fans, I think, are overreacting to BP's hot 2011 finish batting leadoff - and forgetting that for his career, he is an out-making machine at the plate. Lots of 2B's are, but lots of 2B's don't demand $12 million salaries. I would imagine Phillips' plate performance could be replaced for $3-5 million by someone willing to keep Billy Hamilton's spot warm for a couple of years. His glove would be missed.

If the Reds are truly serious about extending Votto, they can't go out and give big-money extensions to guys like Brandon Phillips.