Laynce Nix?

[Cubswin11]

I know he isn't an everyday guy, but could provide us with some lefty pop off the bench and spot start in all 3 OF spots. He posted a .800 OPS against RH last year. The Reds might not offer him arbitration, and I wouldn't mind him on a 1 year deal for around $500,000.

What are the chances of the Reds re-signing Jonny Gomes and Laynce Nix? If they don't, who will be the everyday left fielder?

-- Riley H., Fort Loramie, Ohio

 

One of the bigger offseason decisions facing the front office is whether to offer either Gomes or Nix arbitration. Neither are locks, but I think Gomes has a better chance. As it often does, it will come down to money and what Gomes is seeking to make after he made a bargain of $650,000 in 2009. And now you have to wonder if catcher Ramon Hernandez's re-signing on Monday for one year at $3 million takes away some of the dollars for left field.

 

http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20091117&content_id=7678216&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin

[Shilzzz]

Gomes isn't bad, he's not particularly pretty in the field (in left field this year he had a 2.2 UZR/150, up from -40 and worse in years previous, but was still awful in right, sporting a -43.1). He should be non-tendered. Balentien and Dickerson will probably share time in left until Juan Francisco is ready, if he moves his walk and strikeout rates in the right direction (which may not happen... the guy has crazy pop though). I'd probably take a flyer on Gomes, though. An 18.6 VORP and that .914 OPS v LHP is pretty. As a secondary option, the Cubs could certainly do worse.