From ESPN Insider today:

Reds scout Texas catchers

The Cincinnati Reds had a scout at the Texas-Oakland game on Saturday in order to take a look at catchers Gerald Laird and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.  The Rangers are apparently willing to part with one of the two, and the Reds are looking to add a catcher since none of their three catchers are under contract for next season, the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Now, I know there are always scouts at games, but isn't it nice to think that maybe Uncle Walt has noticed that Texas has a surplus of young talented catching prospects and that the Reds have no catchers signed for next year?  I'd personally like Saltalamacchia because that's a fun name to say (Tigrmetrics?).

What is the likelihood of this actually happening?  What would it take to get it done?  Would a Bailey / Thompson plus one or two marginal prospects be enough?

I know we've surmised about this before, but I just like to hope.

http://insider.espn.go.com/espn/blog/index?name=neyer_rob&univLogin02=stateChanged

I think it fundamentally comes down to what Rob mentions: Do the Reds want to win this year or 2009?  If they want to win this year, there's no reason as to why Bruce shouldn't be the everyday CF (Veteran presence and Dusty's favorites aside).  

I'm definitely in favor of the kid cutting his teeth up here from the first pitch rather than "seasoning" in Louisville.  I'm excited to see Bruce get the opportunity to play every day, whereas I'm markedly less excited for the potential Freel / Hopper show manning CF (Do we need a Hoppinger-esque mash up name for them? Fropper? Hopeel? Heel?).  

A final thing I'm glad Neyer mentioned is the reason why I let Norris Hopper pick my lottery numbers each week: "Norris Hopper's a born fifth outfielder who got incredibly lucky in the second half last season."

Yes, I only let 5th outfielders pick my numbers for me.