Mike Piazza Rumor

[GMBurchfield]

MLBTR is talking about Mike Piazza as a Yank or Red


What do you guys think?

My feeling is sure if we can move Hatteberg for something solid.

Pizza could still catch every now and then and also platoon with Votto against lefties.

[jonnyl05]

I think we need a better game caller for our young guys.

He can still hit a bit but he can't catch.

[blee2525]

Apr 15, 2008 17:19:27 GMT -5 GMBurchfield said:

MLBTR is talking about Mike Piazza as a Yank or Red


What do you guys think?

My feeling is sure if we can move Hatteberg for something solid.

Pizza could still catch every now and then and also platoon with Votto against lefties.

My thoughts exactly. This would be a fantastic move so long as you have the roster space. And, with some of the deadweight the Reds maintain on their 25-man roster, I'd be more than happy to bring him on.

And, to johnnyl above, Piazza actually has a reputation of being a great game-caller. He's not particularly mobile behind the plate, and he can't throw runners out for anything, but his game-calling is not in question.

[Lark11]

At this point, I'm not sure what Piazza would bring to the table. He's a defensive liability, he can't run, and his bat isn't what it used to be. Last year, in fact, he hit a paltry .275/.313/.414/.727.

At this point, I think we've got better options in our own system than Piazza.

[schellis]

I agree with BLee on this one. WOuld be fine with it as long as he's not the starting catcher and Hatteberg was moved. I don't like locking down the roster with a bunch of guys that really are 1Bs.

Scary thought is that if he were to sign with Cincy it would be the first time in his entire career that his home stadium would be a hitters park. Be interesting to have seen what he could have done at the start of the decade.

[schellis]

I'd take Piazza over Ross. It would depend on the price though.

If the Reds could move Ross and Hatteberg and use a Piazza/Bako catching platoon and start Piazza at 1B against some lefties I really wouldn't have major issues against it.

Mind you I rather have a different right handed 1B. I believe there are probably plenty of quad A types that could do the job just as well.

[tmil23]

Fay on the Piazza rumor:

Tuesday, April 15, 2008
On the Piazza rumor

I think there's something to the Mike Piazza rumor. That is not to say it's going to happen. I've got a call out to his agent but haven't heard back.

A person I talked to said the Reds are looking at lot of possibilities to get some more right-handed pop. Piazza could provide that. But it sounded like the Reds hadn't gotten very far in talks.

I asked Dusty Baker if he would like more right-handed power in his bench.

"Good question, John,” Baker said. "Pittsburgh was pretty evident of that. We've talked about it many times."

Jorge Cantu's name has come up a lot on the blog recently. Our buddy CSA asked what my opinion was on why they let him go. They said the time it was to clear a spot of the 40-man to make Rule 5 pick. That turned out to be a bad reason because Sergio Valenzuela was sent back to Atlanta before he ever pitched in a game.

But that's only part of the reason. Cantu was arbitration-eligible. That means the Reds would have had to pay him at least $1 million. They didn't think he was worth it evidently.

[dukecrunchybagel]

John Fay seems to think their might actually be some truth to the rumor. It is a Krivsky kind of move if we could get Piazza cheap enough.

I can't see Piazza going back behind the dish, period. He doesn't have the knees or the ability any more. Which means that if we do sign Piazza, the only place he can reasonably play would be at first, in which case he'd be platooned with either Hatty or Votto.

So how goes down? Not Castro, he' still our only backup at SS. Votto & Hopper are both hitting well enough to warrant staying.
That leaves Freel or Hatty, and both are too many dollars to DFA. When Ross & AGon are ready to come back, it will only be worse.

As a result, I just don't see it happening.

[Lark11]

Reds have mild interest:

The Reds have shown "mild" interest in Mike Piazza.
The Reds are looking for a right-handed bat that can add some pop to their lineup, which has struggled against lefties. The Yankees are also thought to be interested in the veteran free agent.
Source: Cincinnati Enquirer

[powerofcincy]

Marty Brennaman apparently talked to Baker about it and it's all completely unsubstantiated. That's what Thom said in the broadcast anyway.

[The Duke]

No way do I see this happening.