Because he's already sold out. Today the Astros signed him to a 6-year/$100 million contract. Says Astros.com:

Lee's contract will pay him $11 million in 2007, plus a $3 million signing bonus. He will receive $12 million for 2008 and $18.5 million for each of the last four years of the contract, which runs through the 2012 season. The agreement contains a full no-trade clause for the first four years and a limited no-trade clause the final two years, during which Lee and the Astros must agree on which teams he can be dealt to in the event the Astros decide to trade him.

It's not that I ever expected the Reds to pursue Lee--we've already got a power left-fielder to worry about--but I'm not at all pleased to see him land in Houston. This was a team that we've always counted on to be offensively anemic. If they start hitting, what's next? The Cubs meeting expectations? The Brewers failing to go entirely unnoticed? The Pirates winning??

It's a mad world, my friends.

If Gary Matthews Jr, age 32, a career .263 hitter with little power or speed and a strikeout to walk ratio of approx. 2 to 1 is worth a whopping 5 year contract for 50 million, Adam Dunn is certainly a bargain for the Reds despite his glaring shortcomings.

Coming off a diappointing .239 season with 194 strikeouts and a slew of fielding miscues, it is safe to say that Adam Dunn's stock has never been lower. And yet he is a lock to hit 40+ home runs again. Is there really anywhere but up as far as his batting average is concerned? You have to give the new batting coach, Brook jacoby, an opportunity to give Dunner some new tips, advice, perspective, philosophy -- whatever it is those guys do to earn their salary.

I believe Krivsky has every intention of waiting on Dunn, although I wouldn't be shocked if he puts out feelers just to see what the market might be offering for the Big Donkey. Unless an offer is simply to good to resist, I expect him to hold pat. Let us not forgot that Dunn was his signing, one of his very first acts as GM. It's fine and good, to dump your predecessors long term contracts (LaRue) but when you start second-guessing yourself that is another matter, and I don't expect Krivsky to hit the panic button just yet.

Dunn's power is legendary. He will be just 27 years old in 2007 and already has 198 career home runs. If he hits 40 home runs for 10 more seasons, he is right around 600 and would still just be 37 years old. A couple of big years in there and assuming he can play into his 40s and your looking at a top 5 all-time home run hitter. Of course he would probably have the most strikeouots in history as well. The point is he very well might crack his way into the hall-of-fame by sheer foce of brute power. He certainly has a much much greater chance than Gary Matthews, Jr. and they are making the same salary right now.

What I would strongly recommend to all parties involved, is that Dunn be given agility and dexterity exercises from here on out. Nothing wrong with his hand-eye coordination, I am referring to his movement. He needs to look and act lighter on his feet. There must be training drills for this sort of thing, and now would be the time to explore those options. Have him tip toe around pylons and run through those tires and all of that.

I can't tell you how many times I saw Dunn pursue a ball in the outfield to only come up just inches short of reaching it. Incredibly frustrating to witness, and the resulting hits were backbreakers that went for doubles and triples. If runners were on base they scored easily. We know Dunn can't go airborne but if he can get better jumps and get his weight moving at the correct angle from the very beginning of the play, maybe some of those extrabase hits become huge rally-snuffing outs. Part of it must be confidence (lack of) because let's face it after grossly misplaying 3 or 4 balls on opening day he probably became much more tentative in his pursuit. Maybe I am wrong about that, I don't know firsthand what the guy is thinking, but like his batting average, his fielding and range can only get better, not worse, because right now its at rock-bottom. There's only one way left to go and that is up.

Right now Dunn is pretty much the key to this team. He bats in the heart of the order and he is in his prime and next to Griffey he absorbs the most salary. As Griffey's star fades, Dunn must be the one to pick up the power slack. He is at an absolute critical juncture as far as his tenure with the Reds is concerned. A big year showing improvement in his weak areas and perhaps he stays for the longhaul. One more season like the last one and he might be traded for middle relievers and prospects in a tragic salary dump. It can go either way, and that will be the major storyline for this season.

Just put up a human league profile about Bubba Crosby. Check it out to learn up on everyone's favorite new Bubba.

Bubba's Human League Profile

Player Profile on Reds.com
Bubba Crosby on Wikipedia
Bubba Crosby on Baseball-Reference.com
Stuff posted on RHM by KC2HMZ
Stuff posted on RHM by BubbaFan

Player Profile on Reds.com
Bubba Crosby on Wikipedia
Bubba Crosby on Baseball-Reference.com
Stuff posted on RHM by KC2HMZ
Stuff posted on RHM by BubbaFan

Richard Stephen Crosby, affectionately known as “Bubba,” was born August 11, 1976 in Bellaire, Texas. Or perhaps Houston, Texas, depending on whom you ask.

Crosby attended Rice University where, as a junior in 1998, he earned All-American honors after hitting .394 with 25 HR and 91 RBI. Bubba was drafted by the Dodgers in the 1st round (23rd pick) of the 1998 amateur draft, signed June of 1998 and debuted in the majors on May 29, 2003.

For even more information about Bubba Crosby, visit All Things Bubba, a blog entirely in his honor.

Richard Stephen Crosby, affectionately known as “Bubba,” was born August 11, 1976 in Bellaire, Texas. Or perhaps Houston, Texas, depending on whom you ask.

Crosby attended Rice University where, as a junior in 1998, he earned All-American honors after hitting .394 with 25 HR and 91 RBI. Bubba was drafted by the Dodgers in the 1st round (23rd pick) of the 1998 amateur draft, signed June of 1998 and debuted in the majors on May 29, 2003.

For even more information about Bubba Crosby, visit All Things Bubba, a blog entirely in his honor.

Crosby came into the services of the Reds on November 11 when Wayne Krivsky signed him as a free-agent to a 1-year, $400,000 major league contract. He sports a career .216 average and .255 On-Base Percentage.

Bubba Crosby is currently listed as a right fielder on the Reds’ 25-man roster. However, in his four-year major league career, he’s played in only 205 games and never more than 76 in one year, so it’s sort of hard to believe that he’s going to be the everyday right fielder going into 2007. If he makes the team out of spring training, it’s more likely that he’ll split time there with Ryan Freel and (hopefully) Chris Denorfia. First base is always an interesting option as well, especially given the Reds’ traditionally nontraditional choices for first. However, since Crosby is a lefty, he would fail to provide the righty side of a lefty-righty platoon with Scott Hatteberg.

HMZ, affectionately known ’round these parts as the “Crack Hard Facts Staff,” had this to say about Crosby:

They didn’t just pull this guy’s name out of a hat, that’s for sure. For one thing, Reds’ bench coach Bucky Dent was his manager at AAA Columbus in 2004 and in 2005. For another thing, he was the Dodgers’ first round pick in the 1998 amateur draft. We can safely assume the Dodgers scouting department that year had something on the ball, based on our observations this year of another guy they drafted in 1998 – David Ross, who they took in the 7th round. So it really wouldn’t surprise me if whoever it was (presumably on the west coast) who tipped Kriv-Dawg off about Ross just threw Wayne another bone (pun intended, Bubba’s full name is Richard Crosby – if you don’t get it go read the thread about the Reds’ new pitching coach).Crosby twice made the Yankees’ Opening Day roster in spring training, which can’t be easy to do considering the Yankees are a team with deep pockets that prefers to spend big bucks on established free agents rather than taking chances with rookies. He finished last season Red hot, hitting .321 (17-for-53) in 23 September games and .345 (20-for-58) over his final 31 games of the season. He also gained postseason experience by playing in three games in the ALCS in 2004.

Crosby has committed two errors in 182 major league games, and no errors in 245.3 innings in right field, where the Reds presumably have a hole to fill if they don’t convince Griffey to move over.

I guess this move also tells us something about what the Reds think of Heartthrob, as well as of Norris Hopper.

BubbaFan, affectionately known ’round these parts as “The Guy With the Bubba Crosby blog,” had this to say about Crosby:

Bubba made quite a splash when he first came up. He homered in his first at-bat as a Yankee, then homered again in his first start two days later. He also made some exciting, crashing-off-the-wall catches in that game, helping Mussina secure his elusive 200th win. A lot of Yankee fans fell in love with him that day. It was truly amazing that he made the team out of spring training; rookies just didn’t do that in the Torre era.Bubba is never going to be a slugger, but he hits all right if given a chance to play regularly. He’s had only 250 at-bats in four seasons.

He’s a good bunter, and has great speed. He was the best defensive CFer in the Yankees system. He gives 110% to everything he does, and is well-liked in the clubhouse and by the fans. He’s a really nice guy.

Crosby came into the services of the Reds on November 11 when Wayne Krivsky signed him as a free-agent to a 1-year, $400,000 major league contract. He sports a career .216 average and .255 On-Base Percentage.

Bubba Crosby is currently listed as a right fielder on the Reds' 25-man roster. However, in his four-year major league career, he's played in only 205 games and never more than 76 in one year, so it's sort of hard to believe that he's going to be the everyday right fielder going into 2007. If he makes the team out of spring training, it's more likely that he'll split time there with Ryan Freel and (hopefully) Chris Denorfia. First base is always an interesting option as well, especially given the Reds' traditionally nontraditional choices for first. However, since Crosby is a lefty, he would fail to provide the righty side of a lefty-righty platoon with Scott Hatteberg.

HMZ, affectionately known 'round these parts as the “Crack Hard Facts Staff,” had this to say about Crosby:

They didn't just pull this guy's name out of a hat, that's for sure. For one thing, Reds' bench coach Bucky Dent was his manager at AAA Columbus in 2004 and in 2005. For another thing, he was the Dodgers' first round pick in the 1998 amateur draft. We can safely assume the Dodgers scouting department that year had something on the ball, based on our observations this year of another guy they drafted in 1998 - David Ross, who they took in the 7th round. So it really wouldn't surprise me if whoever it was (presumably on the west coast) who tipped Kriv-Dawg off about Ross just threw Wayne another bone (pun intended, Bubba's full name is Richard Crosby - if you don't get it go read the thread about the Reds' new pitching coach).

Crosby twice made the Yankees' Opening Day roster in spring training, which can't be easy to do considering the Yankees are a team with deep pockets that prefers to spend big bucks on established free agents rather than taking chances with rookies. He finished last season Red hot, hitting .321 (17-for-53) in 23 September games and .345 (20-for-58) over his final 31 games of the season. He also gained postseason experience by playing in three games in the ALCS in 2004.

Crosby has committed two errors in 182 major league games, and no errors in 245.3 innings in right field, where the Reds presumably have a hole to fill if they don't convince Griffey to move over.

I guess this move also tells us something about what the Reds think of Heartthrob, as well as of Norris Hopper.

BubbaFan, affectionately known 'round these parts as “The Guy With the Bubba Crosby blog,” had this to say about Crosby:

Bubba made quite a splash when he first came up. He homered in his first at-bat as a Yankee, then homered again in his first start two days later. He also made some exciting, crashing-off-the-wall catches in that game, helping Mussina secure his elusive 200th win. A lot of Yankee fans fell in love with him that day. It was truly amazing that he made the team out of spring training; rookies just didn't do that in the Torre era.

Bubba is never going to be a slugger, but he hits all right if given a chance to play regularly. He's had only 250 at-bats in four seasons.

He's a good bunter, and has great speed. He was the best defensive CFer in the Yankees system. He gives 110% to everything he does, and is well-liked in the clubhouse and by the fans. He's a really nice guy.

Reds.com has updated their banner and background. There's much less black now and the background has stripes of different shades of red. It looks like wrapping paper.

Hopefully that's not the best present the organization's going to give us this off-season.