TODAY’S NEWS: The Reds today made a qualifying contract offer to free agent OF Shin-Soo Choo...did not make qualifying offers to free agents RHP Bronson Arroyo, LHP Zach Duke, IF Cesar Izturis, RHP Nick Masset or LHP Manny Parra...Choo has 7 days to accept or reject the club’s offer...if Choo rejects the contract offer, he still can re-sign with the Reds...if he rejects the offer and signs with another team, the Reds will receive a compensation pick in the June 2014 first-year player draft...the other 5 free agents also can re-sign with the Reds at any time.
COOPERSTOWN: Reds Hall of Fame shortstop Dave Concepcion is 1 of 6 former Major League players, 4 managers and 2 executives comprising Cooperstown’s Expansion Era ballot, featuring candidates whose greatest contributions to the game were realized since 1973...the list of candidates also includes Bobby Cox, Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Tony La Russa, Billy Martin, Marvin Miller, former Red Dave Parker, Dan Quisenberry, Ted Simmons, George Steinbrenner and Joe Torre...at the upcoming Winter Meetings in Orlando, a 16-member Expansion Era electorate will vote for the Hall of Fame Class of 2014...any candidate who receives votes on 75 percent of ballots cast will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame during ceremonies on Sun, 7/27 in Cooperstown...results of the Expansion Era vote will be announced from the Winter Meetings on Mon, 12/9 at 10:00 a.m. ET.
<
HOT STOVE: Tomorrow night’s Hot Stove League radio show, the first of the off-season, will be hosted from Holy Grail Banks by Hall of Fame broadcaster Marty Brennaman and son Thom...the 6:00 p.m. show can be heard live on 700 WLW Radio, via the internet at reds.com/hotstove and on Reds On Radio Network affiliates.
AWARDS SEASON: The Louisville Silver Slugger Awards will be announced Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. ET on MLB Network...RF Jay Bruce is the only Reds finalist...if he wins, Bruce will be available on a conference call later that evening at a time TBA...Bruce won a Silver Slugger in 2012.
CONGRATULATIONS: To Goodyear Reds trainer Clete Sigwart, who has been named Minor League Athletic Trainer of the Year...he previously was recognized as the Arizona League Trainer of the Year...the prestigious awards are presented annually by the Professional Baseball Athletic Trainers Society (PBATS).
