What Should the Cincinnati Reds Do With Drew Stubbs?

The Reds are starting to get to the end of the bat stub with their starting center fielder. Drew Stubbs is currently going through the worst stretch of his short major league career. In his last 36 at bats, he has just one hit and 17 strike-outs. Ewww...

That's a monster-sized slump that can't be tolerated on a team in a pennant race. Going back even further, in 52 games since June 1st, he's sporting these numbers: .222 BA/.271 OBP/.634 OPS with seven HR, 24 RBI and 58 K.

Bottom line, a .229 overall batting average is not going to cut it for a team 12 games above .500.

But it's not as if Stubbs is completely useless. He plays a great center field and has 18 stolen bases. Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman called him the fastest player he's seen in his 20 years covering the game.

The speedster has pop as well. Stubbs has 13 home-runs and 49 RBI. Hitting out of the seven-hole, 49 RBI isn't shabby.

The problem? There is another option down in the farm system. His name? Chris Dickerson.

Dickerson is on fire at AAA. He collected three more hits last night. He's hitting .421 in 12 games on his rehab assignment. He's drawing walks (.511 OBP) and stealing bases (five of six). Remember, he was the guy patrolling CF on Opening Day.

His wrist is healed and he is ready to go. What's the harm in sending Stubbs down to AAA for a few weeks and letting him get his stroke/confidence back? A fresh Dickerson, along with Chris Heisey, can man the CF spot for the next month and allow Stubbs a chance to clear his head.

Normally, the Reds wouldn't touch Stubbs during this time of year. "Give the young guy reps" is always the mantra when a team is well out of the play-off race.

This year is different. The margin for error is very slim when the competition (St. Louis) is much more experience in a pennant race. The Reds can't afford the young Stubbs time to work out the kinks in his swing.

For now, why not roll the dice and see what Dickerson can do in pressure ABs? The oft-injured California kid has never had this opportunity in three big league seasons. If he doesn't work out, Stubbs can be vaulted right back up to the Reds line-up.

But for now, Dusty Baker needs to do something. Shake up the order a bit and let Stubbs figure his swing out at the AAA level, not for a team trying to make the post-season for the first time since '95.

The Reds Hot Stove Finally Heats Up

It's the end of January and that means the Reds start their Christmas shopping.

The majority of players left are at least 50 percent off. Everything must go! Agents are beginning to sweat as they look at their list of clients that are jobless with less than a month to go before pitchers and catchers report.

The Reds are finally making noise—albeit a very hard to hear sound. This is what a team with a payroll in the bottom third of baseball has to do. A-Rod and Manny would never even give the Reds the time of day. But a washed-up Willy Taveras will. Buy low, don't expect much, that's the Reds way.

The Dusty Baker era has provided two last minute signings gone horribly wrong. Corey Patterson signed for 3M to be the Reds '08 lead-off hitter. After putting up a gaudy .205 average with only 14 steals, he was toast. Last year Taveras was the 4M bust. The Reds are on the hook for another exhilarating year of Taveras grounding out to short 200 times.

This year the Reds already made a splash by signing left handed rocket-arm Antonio Chapman to a fat contract. But his salary will only be 1M towards the cap this year. So he isn't gobbling up a Scott Rolen size chunk of the payroll. So the Reds do have a little bit of cash to work with.

Many fans are calling for a 35 year-old Orlando Cabrera to take over at shortstop. Paul Janish and his .214 average is currently slotted in as the starter. He covers a lot of ground on the field but has a minuscule 22 RBIs in 381 major league ABs. He is a great back up, but certainly not a starter for a play-off caliber team. It remains to be seen how much Cabrera is asking for at this point.

The outfield's only certainty is Jay Bruce in right. Chris Dickerson and Drew Stubbs are projected to fill left and center. That threesome doesn't exactly scare any teams. Dickerson is constantly battling injuries and Stubbs only played in the majors when the Reds were miles away from first and winning wasn't too important.

What player could bring leadership, plate discipline and excitement to Cincinnati?

Jerry Crasnick at ESPN.com reports that Scott Boras is targeting the Reds as a possible location for free agent Johnny Damon.

If they can get him for under 5M—this would be an excellent move. But considering the Yankees claim he was asking for too much money, this might all just be smoke and mirrors.

Is Boras just creating fake rumors to scare big markets teams? Would Damon ever want to play in Cincinnati after being in New York and Boston?

He would be a great fit for the Reds. If a salary cap was involved, Damon might play for a small market team like the Reds. Instead fans of financially starved teams are left dreaming.

Walt Jocketty announced the signing of RHP Jose Arredondo to a minor league deal. Arredondo, 25, went 10-2 with a 1.62 ERA in 52 games in 2008 with Angels. He led both leagues’ relievers in victories, and opponents batted only .190 against him. He was considered a lights out future closer.

So how did the Reds sign him to a minor league deal? In 2009 he went 2-3 with 6.00 ERA in 43 games. Hmm that's not going to get it done for the Nationals. He battled elbow problems all season and had surgery to fix it. Problem is, the surgery will require him to miss the ENTIRE 2010 season. The Reds are hoping that '09 was a anomaly and when healthy, Arredondo can boast the Reds 2011 bullpen.

And yes, already talking and thinking about the 2011 season is not a good omen for your 2010 chances.

Johnny Gomes is still out there. So is Jermaine Dye. There are 93 unsigned free agents looking for jobs. As a frosty January comes to an end, the Reds, and other small market teams hot stove is just beginning to heat up.