Here's the problem with being fans. We don't know exactly what Brian Sabean has and has not talked to or about. We don't know what his plans are or have been, all we know is there hasn't been much action, which makes it look like he's done nothing.

Perhaps he's trying to be prudent and is waiting for the right moves because we're in no rush right now. In the past two years he quickly pieced together teams in an off-season and it turned into bad contracts and players.

Or perhaps not...

we just don't know. We can't judge him on moves he hasn't made

Sabean just evaluates players differently than we do.  He's not much for "statistics" or for "projection."

The Reds also just signed Jeremy Affeldt for cheap as insurance in case one of their kids isn't ready for the rotation.  They are even less likely to want Lowry now

It's easy to get excited about a guy like Encarnacion.  But I doubt the Reds don't give him up unless they A. get high value for him or B. see enough of him and give up on him...then try to play con-man.  Sabean probably has to let things play out into the season since injuries can let him unload un-need veterans.  Then once we flounder and have to let the young guys play, the real season for us will start.

i guess im one of the few who isnt real big on encarnacion.  i get that he's much better than what we have now and young and under contract for several more seasons.  but from the limited number of reds games i saw, i just dont love his lack of hustle and general attitude and i dont think he's enough of an impact hitter to make up for that (like bonds was).  if the price is much more than lowry, and it surely will be, im not real eager.

I value your opinion from having watched Encarnacion a fair amount.  

  I just think the Giants ( or us fans) need to avoid the  " how does player X replace the teams last super star trap." There will be no replacement Bonds, or Rickey Henderson, or Ted Williams  etc.  A team, or fan base, gets to into this alluring trap and the miss the next couple really good things  very easily. I  am probably picking nits here  and it not aimed at you personally as much as us  ( the fan base) as a whole.

I don't think the Reds are interested in letting Encarnacion go & although there rotation isn't strong, they have plenty of options for the back end of their rotation. So the dire need isn't really there, they have Bailey, Cueto, Volquez, Affeldt, & Belisle competing for spots & whilst i see them being interested in a Bedard or Lincecum type, i'm not sure they feel they need a Lowry type that badly

Having said that, who knows whether Sabean has even enquired about him, or what he's actually doing at the moment.