The Cincinnati Reds made some news this week when they signed Edgar Renteria to a one-year, $2.1 million contract. The deal also allows Renteria to make another $900,000 in incentives.
That’s a lot of boxes of ziti to give a guy who is at the end of the rope. That’s also a lot of boxes of ziti to give a guy who is going to split time with Paul Janish.
Reds manager Dusty Baker said after the Renteria signing that he and Janish would split time at SS in 2011. I know Baker loves his veterans like I love Snapple (for those of you who don’t know, I drink a Snapple a day without fail), but I don’t understand that at all.
Does Janish project to be the next Barry Larkin for the Reds? No, he doesn’t. However, Janish has made really good strides offensively over the last three seasons.
As you can see, Janish has improved in every category over the last three seasons. The guy is moving in the right direction.
I don’t see why Baker would mess with that. Janish is 28 years old; let him go out there and see what he can do on a full-time basis.
The signing of Renteria by the Reds was a factor of two things:
1. GM Walt Jocketty being familiar with Renteria from their days in St. Louis together
2. The Reds thinking Renteria has something left because of his ridiculous postseason last year with the San Francisco Giants.
And the second point is true. Renteria really did have an amazing postseason with the Giants—especially the World Series when he hit .416 with two HRs. However, he has shown major signs of slowing down offensively over the past three seasons.
Renteria’s 17.7 K Percentage in 2010 was the highest of his career and his .374 SLG wasn’t even equal or better than Janish’s. Also at this stage of his career, Renteria isn’t nearly the defensive player Janish is.
I really have no idea how Baker is going to split the playing time between Janish and Renteria in 2011, but if Renteria ends up playing more than Janish, it would be a mistake by Baker.
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