That’s the crux of the dilemna, I suppose.

Of course, I meant “dilemma”. Oops!

…ensuring that their own 2009 1st round pick is protected in next year’s draft

And of course, “2009 1st round pick…in next year’s draft” is humorously redundant!

I should’ve gotten more sleep last night.

The point is is there a team out there that really sees Ibanez as a starter worth giving up a 1st or 2nd rd pick over? If he’s Type B, no question you do it, but Type A is different.

That’s the crux of the dilemna, I suppose.

If Wayne Krivsky was still GM of the Reds, there would be no question that they would sign Ibanez this offseason. Even without him, would Walt Jocketty go after someone like Ibanez to hold down LF for 2 years after Adam Dunn departs via free agency?

I don’t know for certain, but if Dunn leaves(as seems likely) and he declines arbitration, the Reds are getting draft picks anyway, so maybe they don’t care about losing what would seem in all likelihood their 2nd round draft pick to the Mariners when/if they sign Ibanez in this hypothetical scenario I’ve concocted?

(2nd round since the Reds are on pace for a below .500 finish, thus (in all liklihood) ensuring that their own 2009 1st round pick is protected in next year’s draft.)

And the Reds aren’t the only below .500 team who may think about signing to a 1 or 2-year contract to hold down the fort in LF, if you ask me. I could see the Braves doing the same thing, and they’d only lose a 2nd round draft pick based on their current record being carried forward to season’s end.

The point is is there a team out there that really sees Ibanez as a starter worth giving up a 1st or 2nd rd pick over? If he’s Type B, no question you do it, but Type A is different. Now you can always trade him next season after the minimum time elapses, but then you have injury risk of a 37 year old player in addition to collapse risk.

Graffanino said there was interest among other clubs until the arb offer came, then it all dried up. Boston had to go to arbitration with him. (They offered it, after all.) They wound up dumping him through waivers at the end of 2006 spring training just to free his roster spot. They did not get a draft pick out of the experience.

Didn’t Gillick wind up doing something similar back in the spring of 2000 with the awesome left-field veteran experience that was Brian Hunter?

Graffanino said there was interest among other clubs until the arb offer came, then it all dried up. Boston had to go to arbitration with him. (They offered it, after all.) They wound up dumping him through waivers at the end of 2006 spring training just to free his roster spot. They did not get a draft pick out of the experience.

Isn’t there a danger this could happen with Raul?

Um…suck?? Or were you looking for more detail, there?

It wasn’t a question, just an example of how we avoid stockpiling prospects.

Poorly worded on my part, but it was “what we are going to do…” not “what are we going to do…”

For instance, what we are going to do when we give Raul an extension instead of taking the draft picks.

Um…suck?? Or were you looking for more detail, there?

The M’s already have a DH in Vidro. The Vidro Kool-Aid drinkers will likely re-sign him as well.

That must be Jim Jones Kool-Aid.