Reds Ink Cordero For 4 Years

According to Ken Rosenthal, the Cincinnati Reds have signed closer Francisco Cordero to a 4-year deal worth $46M. The contract also includes an option for the fifth year. Thats $11.5M annually for all the non-math junkies out there. Quite a bit of money for a sub-.500 team who is having major rotation problems, but it's at least a step in the right direction. Did they overpay? Of course, but just like the Royals and Devil Rays, they must overpay to get players to suit up in their gear. Plus, looking at the numbers, if the Reds had an adequate 8th and 9th inning man last year, the would of been in first place of the NL Central come beginning of May.

If the Big Red Machine can go out and sign another pitcher, Carlos Silva maybe, they will definitely win more games next season. It seems like a broken record, but the smartest move for Cinci's front-office is to move their aging players (Griffey Jr.) and rebuild their minor league pitching program.

Ramblings

* The Denver Post speculates that Yorvit Torrealba’s shoulder problems made the 3-year $14.4M deal with the Mets fall through. Now that the Mets are out of it, the Marlins are also getting pretty close to backing out, citing that if they sign Yorvit for what the Mets offered, he would be their second highest-paid player.
* It seems like the New York Yankees have made a 3-year deal worth $30M to Francisco Cordero, who would serve as the closer if and only if Mariano Rivera does not re-sign with the club. Cordero is much younger and would make a lot more sense for the aging Yankees to sign, but hey its Mariano Rivera.
* The Star-Tribune is reporting that the Minnesota Twins have offered ace Johan Santana a 5-year deal worth $93M. If this is the case, Johan would become the game’s highest paid pitcher, slight ahead of Barry Zito’s 7-year deal. The Dodgers, Red Sox, and Yankees have had the most interest in Johan.
* Royals’ outfielder Reggie Sanders has made it clear that he will retire next season unless a west-coast team makes an offer. He would also prefer going back to the National League. The Giants and Padres could use a veteran 5th outfielder. dismantled. (MVN.com)