From John Fay

Ryan Ludwick went with heart as much as his wallet when he re-upped with the Reds for two more years.

“He had several clubs chasing after him,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. “Two or three in particular would have good places for him to play. At least one had more money on the table. That’s a credit to Ryan.”

“Money gets brought into the game of baseball a lot,” Ludwick said. “But happiness means a lot to me. I’m extremely, extremely happy here.”

Players coming years in which they did not produce like Ludwick have gotten deals that were longer and for more money per year than he got.

“I had some offers,” Ludwick said. “I told Walt that I’d come back here if the deal was fair. I wasn’t looking for the biggest dollar. Walt stood true to what he said. I stood true to what I said. Ultimately, if you take all the teams in Major League Baseball and take the one team where I wanted to be, this was it.”

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“I let Walt know that at the end of the year,” Ludwick said. “I’m really, really happy and excited to be back.”

Ludwick has seen the other side. He was traded to San Diego in 2010 and Pittsburgh in ’11 at the deadline. He struggled both places.

“Nothing against those organizations or those cities,” he said. “But, for me, it didn’t work. I wasn’t happy. It was tough on me mentally at times. Here, it was completely different feel from Day 1.”

We are in a new era; is $15 million too much for Ludwick, yes, but in today's baseball economy it is actually a steal (supposedly Seattle was offering more). Unfortunately, players and agents today have the real power. Even pretty marginal players are getting 2-yr minimum deals. It is the world in which we now live and in order to survive in it, teams must play along. Where I believe WJ is steering the Reds is in being very cautious about who he puts on the roster. He is attempting to bring in players who are not only baseball worthy but also possess the intangibles that make for winning baseball.

On a completely different subject, I am wondering that since WJ and Boras seem to have a pretty good relationship if it is possible the Reds could be a fallback position for Bourn (perhaps a similar type deal as was given Madson). I think it is worth monitoring as most potential suitors for Bourn seemed to have already acquired their man.

kots4mvp14 wrote: I think the outfield market sort of dictated this contract. That said, I agree with you. I'm not really happy about this deal for Ludwick. I hope I'm wrong

RDriesenUD wrote: I agree with you guys.  I just think we give out contracts that are too long to these types of players.  I would much rather pay them more for one year than less for 2, for example.

TauBag94 wrote: Baseball, for all the obsession over stats, requires much more than just numbers to actually make a winning team.

Guys like Ludwick, Rolen, Hanigan, Cairo, and potentially Hannahan, are thought to contribute more than just their "stats". The hardest part, imo, for a GM is how to quantify these intangible qualities in a player -- and how to compensate the player fairly for them.

IIRC, the great recent WS winning Yankee teams (of Joe Torre era) never had a guy hit more than 25 hrs. The past 2 WS winning Giant teams certainly never held a statistical advantage over their playoff opponents.

It was always the reason I felt Adam Dunn was a losing player. Yes, he compiled stats over a 162 game season, but recall when he went like a whole friggin year without a sac fly? Give me the guy who will hit the ball to the right side of infield with man on 2nd and less than 2 outs; give me the guy who will lift a fly ball for the sac fly rather than K 3 out of 4 times in that situation.

I think the Reds have some potentially great players (Votto, Bruce, and BP to a lesser extent). I like that Jock appears to be adding winning players, or at least properly utilized role players, to surround these stars. This ain't fantasy baseball where everything is simple math -- we need guys willing to scrifice to win. I like it so far...

He had a hell of a good year, is a good dude, good in the clubhouse, good for the kids and wants to be here.  He is a winner, happy he is a red again for 2 years.http://news.cincinnati.com/art...ext|FRONTPAGE|s

DCillini wrote: 
On a completely different subject, I am wondering that since WJ and Boras seem to have a pretty good relationship if it is possible the Reds could be a fallback position for Bourn (perhaps a similar type deal as was given Madson). I think it is worth monitoring as most potential suitors for Bourn seemed to have already acquired their man.

I've been laughed at in my personal life for suggesting this very thing was possible but I think it's very plausible.  Boras has historically advised his clients to do just this and not just with Madson.  Edwin Jackson and Adrian Beltre also come to mind. Could their be a better situation for him to come into on a one-year deal?  He could be the missing link on a World Series contender and hit in front of one of the best hitters in baseball.  After that, then just go on the market next year with a high value