FanHouse HomerBailey

As the Reds linger around in the NL Central race -- a.k.a. The Race No One Seems to Want to Win -- they could really use the services of last year's ace, Edinson Volquez. The right-hander who went 17-6 last season has been on the disabled list since June 2 with elbow tendinitis. Initial plans were to activate Volquez quite soon.

Those plans have now been put on hold because a recent MRI (the second one taken during last homestand) revealed muscle inflammation in Volquez's forearm, and they have completely shut him down until it subsides.

These Kids Are Alright is FanHouse's look at minor league prospects who could have a fantasy impact in the near future.

Word on the street is Homer Bailey might be recalled to start for the Reds this Saturday, as there is a hole in their rotation -- and we're not talking about Micah Owings, who actually has a better ERA than Bronson Arroyo -- with Edinson Volquez on the disabled list.

Bailey, to me, typifies the gimme-now mindset of today's fantasy owners. It's hard to blame us, because everyone wants to grab the next big thing when they are called up and see immediate dividends (a la Ryan Braun, Tim Lincecum and Evan Longoria). Sometimes, though, it doesn't go as planned. With Bailey, it hasn't.

The Reds announced today that Edinson Volquez is heading for the 15-day disabled list with a back problem and that Homer Bailey will take his place in the rotation Saturday night against the Indians. It's amazing how much can change in two years. At this time in 2007, Bailey was making his debut as the Reds' can't miss pitching phenom. Two years and two bad stints with the Reds later and with little improvement in Triple-A, and Bailey's recall is a secondary story to Volquez being placed on the DL.

It's still worth noting that Bailey got the call from the big club because he's made some pretty big strides in Louisville this year. His 4.60 ERA and 1.40 WHIP may not seem impressive, but he's struck out 43 hitters and walked just 17 in 45 1/3 innings; numbers better than any year since his 2006 season in Double-A. He's still very young (he turned 23 earlier this month), and could be a big part of the Reds' rotation in the future if he can get himself back on track.

As we've now witnessed a touch over a month of minor league baseball, it's worth it in many fantasy leagues to look ahead at who may be making a visit to the majors sometime this season. Remember, Ryan Braun, for example, wasn't yet in the major leagues at this point in his rookie season. This isn't to say that all of these guys -- or any -- will have that sort of an impact in the majors this year.

We're just giving a quick, non-comprehensive list of players who are playing relatively well in the minors this year and/or who have a chance to make a fantasy impact at some point. We'll start with the big names, but it won't be limited to just them. Dynasty league players should be paying the most attention.

Cincinnati Inquirer beat reporter John Fay is reporting that Reds manager Dusty Baker is toying with the idea of using Homer Bailey in the bullpen.

On another subject, Jocketty said, he, like Dusty Baker, is open to the possibility of Homer Bailey making the team as a reliever. "It's something we talked about," Jocketty said. "There's a possibility that (Bailey or Micah Owings) could be in the bullpen." Owings and Bailey are competing for the fifth spot in the rotation. Baker announced earlier today that Masset was out of the race. Speaking of Bailey, a scout said he was consistently at 93 mph in his last start. "He looks more free and easy," he said.

The Homer Bailey as a big league starting pitcher idea is obviously failing. He was 0-6 in eight starts last season and had 18 strikeouts and 17 walks in 36.1innings. His 7.93 ERA also goes to prove the point that running with Bailey in your rotation is a bad idea.

FanHouse continues its 2009 MLB Preview with a look at the Cincinnati Reds.

Once one of the most admired franchises in professional sports, the Reds have now suffered through nearly a decade of futility. The last time they finished above .500 was in 2000, when they won 85 games. The last trip to the postseason was in 1995. Even their gorgeous ballpark is barren for much of the summer, as the Reds finished 23rd in attendance last season. It's safe to say that the days of the Big Red Machine are a distant memory.

That's right, MLB Power Rankings. You do know that that means, right? It means we're only a few short weeks/months (depends on you how you want to look at it, you pessimistic jerk) from starting the 2009 baseball season. Spring is nearly here, everyone has a bounce in their step and there's not an illegal, injectable steroid in sight!

So without further ado, let's get down to business and rank every single Major League Baseball team right freaking now. Because baseball can't wait any longer to get going.

So far this offseason White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye has been nearly traded about 15 different times. There was that near deal during the Winter Meetings that had him going to Cincinnati for Homer Bailey, and just recently there was the deal that had him going to Texas for Michael Young. Obviously none of them ever went through, but there's a new deal supposedly on the table that makes sense.

Apparently there have been some trade talks between the Sox and Angels concerning a swap of Dye for Chone Figgins.

It looks like the 2009 Winter Meetings are going to get a little bit of a kick start tonight, as a little more than 12 hours before things are scheduled to kick off in Vegas tomorrow, the Dayton Daily News is reporting that the Reds and White Sox have agreed to terms on a Jermaine Dye for Homer Bailey trade. Nothing's official yet (Hal McCoy's source says the deal won't be announced until next week), but this isn't really a surprise since the two teams have been discussing trading Dye for about a week now and even long-sideburned bloggers were able to guess that Bailey would have to be involved for the Reds to pry Dye loose.

The White Sox are apparently serious about re-making themselves into a younger team next year and in Bailey they have a guy that's not even 23 yet with great stuff who's been absolutely maddening over the past two years, to the point that people are already wondering if he's ever going to live up to his potential. Still, Dye is almost 35 and Bailey at almost 23 is only two years removed from the end of his breakout year in the minors. If the Sox can put him back together after a rough 2008, they win this trade hands down.

The Reds, on the other hand, are apparently convinced that the time is now to strike in the NL Central with their young core, and adding Dye should help make up the power void created by losing Adam Dunn. If Bruce and Votto and Cueto and Volquez grow a little more into their projections this year, they could surprise people. Bailey was very disappointing last year and the team's frustration with him was evident. Still, cutting bait on a 22-year-old who's bad season saw him strike out 7.8 hitters per nine innings in AAA is pretty risky business. I hope Walt Jocketty knows what he's doing.

UPDATE: The Reds are, of course, denying the trade. Don't you love Hot Stove Season?

There have been several stories lately about how slow the offseason has been. It's very true and that becomes obvious when throw-away comments by general managers suddenly become full-fledged rumors.

When asked about his interest in Jermaine Dye, Walt Jocketty told the Cincinnati Enquirer, "I'm not going to comment. But we have talked to the White Sox about some players. Nothing is close," and that was all. And that's probably the most interesting thing to happen in the NL Central in a month.

It's interesting because Dye would be a good fit for the Reds, adding some real pop to a lineup that could use some, especially with Adam Dunn and Ken Griffey Jr. now departed. He would create a nice veteran presence on a young team and would be very useful to the Reds if they've decided that 2009 is the year to arm up and make a run at the top of the NL Central.

On the flip side, he'd be awfully costly to pry out of Chicago. Some of the best years in Dye's career have come in Chicago and I don't know how quickly they'd be willing to deal him, even with his hefty $11.5 million price tag. I'd guess the Reds would have to part with at least Homer Bailey and probably more to bring Dye to Cincy. Would giving up on Bailey be worth picking up a soon-to-be 35-year-old outfielder?