July 2016 - Cincinnati Reds Wiretap

Todd Frazier sought a contract extension with the Cincinnati Reds prior to his trade to the Chicago White Sox, according to a report.

Jon Heyman reports that Frazier and his representatives at CAA "made many proposals" to the Reds about a long-term deal. One of the deals was in the seven-year, $100 million range.

J.J. Hoover is struggling and Bryan Price says the Cincinnati Reds are considering a change at closer.

"I give it a lot of thought all the time, as you can imagine," Price said Wednesday morning. "I'd really love for him to be the closer, which is what I'd really like to see, but I do need him to perform at a more consistent level. There haven't been a lot of save opportunities out there to start the ninth inning. I'd like him to be a little bit sharper."

Through seven appearances and 5 1/3 innings, Hoover has a 15.19 ERA and a 2.25 WHIP, with 10 runs (nine earned), eight hits, four walks and three home runs allowed.

Price could potentially turn to Blake Wood or Tony Cingrani if he decides to replace Hoover as closer.

The Baltimore Orioles have offered Kyle Lohse a contract and the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers are also interested, according to a report.

It remains to be seen if the 37-year-old has received an offer from Cincinnati or Detroit.

Lohse is coming off a rough season in the final year of a three-year, $33 million deal with the Milwaukee Brewers.

Brandon Finnegan, who nearly no-hit the Chicago Cubs on Monday night, is looking more and more like a long-term starter for the Cincinnati Reds.

Finnegan was an important part of the haul the Reds received from the Kansas City Royals in the Johnny Cueto trade. At the time, there were questions about whether the left-hander would start or relieve as a Major Leaguer.

According to Jeff Sullivan of FanGraphs, Finnegan is throwing his slider harder in 2016 than he did late in 2015 as a starter for Cincinnati. He is also throwing a new, rising four-seam fastball. That isn't all.

"Finnegan is throwing his changeup with a ton of confidence," Sullivan writes, "In four starts last season, Finnegan threw 13% changeups. Through two starts this season, he's just shy of 25%."

His percentage of fastballs has dropped from 75% to 57% this season, giving hitters more of a variety to handle.

Billy Hamilton homered against the Chicago Cubs on Monday night and flew across the bases.

Hamilton rounded the bases in 16.2 seconds, the quickest trot for an over-the-wall home run in Statcast history.

"I didn't know it was a home run," Hamilton said. "If you don't know it's a home run, you can't expect it to be home run when you don't hit home runs. My motto is, 'If that ball falls, I'm trying to get an inside the park home run.' I'm going full speed all the time. If it falls at the wall, I won't be standing on first base. I'll be on second or third where somebody has a chance to drive me in."

Hamilton also had the fastest trot last season at 16.5 seconds.

The Cincinnati Reds have promoted top pitching prospect Robert Stephenson, who they plan to start Thursday against the Philadelphia Phillies.

The club recalled Stephenson from Triple-A Louisville prior to Monday's season opener against Philadelphia.

Stephenson was Cincinnati's first-round draft selection in 2011 and recently was rated as baseball's No. 31 overall prospect by Keith Law.

The Cincinnati Reds have claimed Dan Straily off waivers from the San Diego Padres.

It was reported earlier Friday that the Padres had placed Straily on waivers.

It remains unclear how Cincinnati plans to use him.