New acquisitions cost Reds $20 million

By MARC LANCASTER
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
The official acknowledgement Monday of the two worst-kept secrets in Cincinnati baseball probably did little to alleviate the sticker shock felt by the Reds' bookkeepers.

In committing nearly $20 million to shortstop Alex Gonzalez and left-hander Mike Stanton, the Reds addressed areas of need on their in-flux roster while also facing up to the realities of the economic climate in which they find themselves this winter. The bean counters at Great American Ball Park know there's more to come, too.

Gonzalez, 29, gets a three-year deal worth at least $14 million, starting with a $3.5 million base salary in 2007. The contract also includes a mutual option for 2010 at $6 million that can be negated with a $500,000 buyout.

Stanton, 39, is in the books for two years at $5.5 million. He'll make $2 million in 2007 and $3 million the following year with an option for 2009 at $2.5 million or a $500,000 buyout. That option kicks in automatically at $2.75 million if Stanton appears in 140 games over the next two seasons. Stanton appeared in 82 games last season for Washington and San Francisco.

Both contracts became official when the players passed physicals Monday in Cincinnati. That stipulation also brought an end to general manager Wayne Krivsky's self-imposed gag order on discussing the new acquisitions.

The Reds hope the light-hitting Gonzalez (.255, 9 HR, 50 RBI in 111 games last year) will eat up enough outs with his glove to offset a likely drop in run production at the shortstop position, though Krivsky said he doesn't exactly consider the infielder an offensive liability.

"We'll take the .260 and 15-20 home runs and 60-70 RBIs with Gold Glove-caliber defense and be real happy," said Krivsky.

He expressed excitement at the prospect of watching Gonzalez and Brandon Phillips develop as a double-play combination in the coming years, expecting their range and arms to aid the Reds' pitching staff more than the team's defense has recently.

That pitching staff remains a work in progress, but Stanton will slot into the bullpen role held down by Kent Mercker and Scott Schoeneweis last year _ a well-traveled lefty capable of retiring right-handed batters. Stanton had a stint as the Giants' closer last season, but it doesn't sound as if the Reds plan to use him in that role.

"He's shown he can close games, but he hasn't done it over a full year," said Krivsky. "I'm not going to get into projecting roles and all that type of thing. He's an accomplished guy that we like on the team and whatever role shakes out, I don't have a crystal ball to be able to tell you who's going to close more times than not. We've got a long ways to go to spring training and we'll let that play out. The fact that he has closed some in his career is a bonus."

Stanton said the Reds didn't give him a specific job description, and he isn't concerned anyway.

"I don't know if it's going to be to close, I don't know if it's going to be to set up," he said. "And to tell you the truth, I really don't care that much about it. I'm not a big roles guy. All I really want to do is get the ball every day and go out there and pitch."

He'll definitely get a chance to do that, building on his career total of 1,108 appearances that ranks third in major league history behind Jesse Orosco (1,248) and John Franco (1,119).

Stanton said "six or seven" teams made an offer to him, but the fact that the Reds were able to guarantee two years helped put them over the top. Being closer to his home in New Jersey also was a significant factor.

The Reds still figure to be in the market for a closer, perhaps someone like Joe Borowski or Danys Baez, as they continue to scroll through their shopping list. The Gonzalez signing likely ends any chance of Rich Aurilia returning to Cincinnati, and Krivsky said the team probably would look for a right-handed hitter capable of platooning with Scott Hatteberg at first base.