Reds listening as Hot Stove interest warms up
Club likely to stay out of initial free-agent fray
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Reds president of baseball operations Walt Jocketty and general manager Dick Williams have spent most of their time at the General Managers Meetings exploring their options and listening.
"It's basically fact-finding," Jocketty said Tuesday of the first two days at the Boca Raton Resort and Club. "We're talking to a lot of clubs about trades.
"We're not really going to be engaged too much in free-agent discussions -- that's not where we're at right now," Jocketty said. "We'll look at [free-agent] players who can help fill in different positions later on."
The Reds are trying to get back into contention after consecutive losing seasons, and began the makeover in July by trading pitchers Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake. Outfielder Marlon Byrd was then dealt in August. The three trades added prospects to the club's farm system.
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Jocketty, who has spent 21 years as a general manager and the last eight with the Reds, will take on an advisory role after the 2016 season.
"This year, we'll work in tandem, and next year, Dick will take over and I'll step back and watch for a couple years," Jocketty said, joking he might even try to learn to play golf again.
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However, the first order is to work on the Reds' 2016 roster.
"Basically, we're just seeing what kind of interest there is," Jocketty said. "Clubs are coming to us with interest in our players."