The Untouchables: Cincinnati Reds Style

Jayson Stark is reporting that when two clubs recently contacted Cincinnati Reds General Manager, Walt Jocketty, about the possibility of becoming trade partners they were given a list of “untouchables” from the Reds roster.

Jay Bruce

This one was pretty obvious.

Bruce may be, if it were up to me, the only person on such a list! Jay has done it all so far during his short MLB career.

He started out blistering every pitch thrown his way only to fall into a deep slump where he couldn’t make contact if the pitch were tossed under handed to him!

Now, it seems, he is starting to figure everything out again and it shows by the line drives he’s been spraying all over the field.

This kid is the future of the Cincinnati Reds organization and there is zero chance they’ll get rid of him.

Edinson Volquez

Again, like with Bruce, this one was pretty obvious.

Edinson was lights-out during the majority of the first half of the 2008 season and may end up being the starting pitcher for the NL in this year’s All-Star game.  The Reds picked him up in an off-season trade-involving Rule five drafts pick Josh Hamilton.

Edinson has come back down to Earth a little in his last couple of starts by getting roughed up by the Toronto Blue Jays and then not exactly dominating the Pittsburgh Pirates.

He certainly has shown the ability to be “the guy” to lead this rotation for many years and one would expect Cincinnati to hang on to this kid for as long as possible.

Johnny Cueto

After his first start of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks many fans had already started thinking, “where in the world has this kid been hiding?”

Johnny has dominating stuff and is a big-time strikeout pitcher.

In a ballpark as small as Great American, that is exactly what the Reds need. Johnny went through a little rough-patch this season, but has seemed to slowly figure things out again.

I may say that Johnny is more of an “untouchable” than Edinson!

Joey Votto

How good has this kid been?

The Reds finally have someone to play first base that can hit the ball— hard.

They have had quality first basemen; don’t get me wrong, but when was the last time Cincinnati had a power guy playing that position?

Joey isn’t going to slug 40-50 homeruns each season, but he will give you 30+ and 100+ RBI it looks like.

He tends to still looked over matched occasionally while at the plate, but his future is just as bright as the rest of the list so far and also spent time in AAA playing LF.

If the Reds decide against resigning Adam Dunn Joey has the ability to take his spot in the outfield if needed.

Edwin Encarnacion

Wait, seriously?

Don’t get me wrong, EE is a solid, respectable, up and coming third baseman, but untouchable?

Edwin has come a long way with his defense and may indeed compete for a Gold Glove at the position in the near future— combine that with the flashes of power that he shows from time to time and I could see why another team may want to take a chance on the kid.

What I can’t see is how we could possibly say no to the right deal.

If EE were to be traded and Jeff Keppinger had to slide over and play third base for the Reds, would that be so horrible?

Color me confused on why exactly Edwin is on the untouchable list!

So, that’s it folks, that’s the list.

What was that you said?

That can’t be the entire list?

I beg to differ, according to the report, that’s the whole thing.

Where is Aaron Harang on that list?

What about Brandon Phillips?

Very good questions and I wish I had the answer to that.

Aaron has not exactly looked like himself this season, but still manages to go out every fifth day and give the Reds a chance to win.  His run support has been an absolute joke this season and that has to play a part in the mental aspect of his game.

How can he be expected to go out and shut down the opposing offense when he knows in the back of his mind that if he gives up two runs he’s probably going to lose?

That’s a lot to ask out of anyone!

In my opinion, if Aaron is not an “untouchable” he is as close as it gets without actually being on the list.

I am thinking that it will take a package like the A’s received in exchange for Dan Haren for the Reds to ever consider moving Harang to another club.

As for Brandon Phillips, what does he provide the club?

How many second basemen in the NL give you the offensive threat that BP does each time he comes to the plate?

Chase Utley, Dan Uggla, and Jeff Kent— that’s about all I can come up with.

Factor that in with the fact that Brandon is probably the best defensive second baseman in the league and one must wonder how he is not an “untouchable”.

Brandon always seems to be smiling while he’s out there and seems to love the town of Cincinnati.  This guy could easily be the Face of the Cincinnati Reds right now.

Or he could be traded, I guess…