Mike Piazza?

[redsrbetter]

Per C Trent:

Mike Piazza? Gotham Baseball Magazine says the Yankees and Reds are looking at Mike Piazza. Not quite sure he's the solution, and really don't think he'd make sense behind the plate. The Reds would have to get rid of Scott Hatteberg to make room, and maybe use Piazza with Joey Votto as a platoon at first base.

I just don't know if he is the answer to the power RHB we are needing. But at GABP, he may be a good fit.

From Gotham magazine:

Dusty Baker is telling friends that he's "confident" that Piazza will sign with the Reds because "Tommy (Lasorda) will want him to play for me". Though most of the people that are monitoring the Cincy backstop search say the Reds want a "throw and catch" guy, Baker is saying that he thinks "Piazza could hit 25 homers in the GAB."

Thoughts?

[redsrbetter]

Ponder this:

.275/.313/.414/.727, 96 OPS+ with 8 HR in 309ABs with Oakland last year.

We would have to worry about that decrease in power and the fact that he would have to replace somebody. If it were just as a PH role off the bench and Castro was the odd man out, I would be all for it. But I don't make this move at the expense of Votto.

[browntown653]

Whoever signs Piazza will be taken to the promised land

[Kingdom]

Whoever signs Piazza will be taken to the promised land

What is the promised land if uhh.. the giants sign him? HGHell?

[love_that_reefer]

Piazza will lead you to the DL and retirement.

[Doppelgänger]

Maybe at 1B to platoon against lefties if they move Hatteberg in a deal for something substantial. Any other circumstances, absolutely not.

[Kingdom]

Imagine the fan boost, especially the Italian market.

[Kingdom]

Piazza will lead you to the DL and retirement.

Which pretty much fits the giants. Perfect destination.

[NFLman2033]

yeah honestly.. if we could get scott hatteberg numbers out of him.. as a RHH.. then I am for it, but if he can't hit that well.. then forget it..

[redsrbetter]

From John Fay:

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.

[love_that_reefer]

Which pretty much fits the giants. Perfect destination.

I'm sorry, you must be confused. Giants aren't the oldest team and haven't been for a while now. Update you material please! Maybe if you want to say the Yankees that might fit.

[brewcrewrock]

Mike piazza can still play, he still has it.