Now that the regular and postseason is now over for the Cincinnati Reds, the team isn’t putting the “Gone Fishing” sign up over at Great American Ball Park. Not by a long shot.

With the taste of postseason play fresh in their mouths, the team will obviously be clamoring for more as the taste is sweet indeed.

Probably the first task at hand is to decide which players to retain whose contracts have expired. While salary numbers are important, one must also consider which players provided the most value, as well. And that in itself is difficult to do.

Let’s look at some of the players whose contracts have expired:

Aaron Harang (2007-10, 4-yr/$36.5 million)

He has been injury riddled and clearly struggled this past season. I would suspect that he will be healthy for the 2011 season; however, is he worth signing to a muli-year deal? The Reds may try to sign him to a shorter length, less money contract. At the same time, I would not be surprised to see Cincinnati let him walk. He has a $2 million 2011 option for 2011, but the team has ample quality starting so letting Harang go wouldn’t hurt the team.

Bronson Arroyo (2009-10, 2-year/$25 million)

Arroyo enjoyed one of his better seasons (17-10, 3.88 ERA, 121 Ks) during the 2010 campaign. He, like Harang, has a $2 million option for 2011. Retaining Arroyo for at least 2011 wouldn’t be a bad idea as he would provide the veteran presence that the younger Reds pitchers need during their development. And quite frankly, $2 million a year seems like a bargain.

Mike Lincoln (2009-10, 2-year/$4 million)

It is so darned diffcult to ascertain a middle relievers worth, as opposed to a position player or even starting and closing pitchers, for that matter. As of this posting, Lincoln is a free agent, so whether the Reds retain is anyone’s guess, really. He didn’t pitch much during the 2010 season (19 games, 7.32 ERA) due to injury. His overall body of work doesn’t merit a return engagement, healthy or not.

Ramon Hernandez (2010, 1 year/$3 million)

Ramon’s has an option year in 2011. The thing is, is he worth bringing back in 2011? He caught 97 games, batted .297 with 7 HR and 48 RBI. Not bad numbers, yet I am not convinced that he is the solution at catcher as they have Ryan Hanigan and Corky Miller.

Orlando Cabrera (2010, 1-year/$3.02 million)

The 2010 season was kind of-sort of cruel  to Cabrera as he got hurt at times that the Reds could have used him the most. His numbers were not bad (.263, 4 HR, 42 RBI), yet the 2011 season could be the year that Paul Janish takes over for good at shortstop. Interestingly enough, Cabrera is 57 hits shy of 2,000. Cabrera has a 2011 option for $1 million, but I don’t sense that Orlando will take a reserve role with the Reds. I don’t like his chances of sticking in 2011.

Arthur Rhodes (2009-10, 2-year/$4 million)

I would love to see Arthur return in 2011, even if he is a free agent. The thing is, he may have to take a one-year deal with incentives. So his return in 2011 isn’t etched in stone, although Rhodes has said that he wants to return to Cincinnati.

Willie Bloomquist (2009-10, 2-year/$3.1 million)

Personally, I have no idea why the Reds claimed him. Yeah, he’s the “super-sub” as he has versatility. But he seems to me like the kind of player who doesn’t really fit the mold of what the Reds are all about. He’s a free agent and should be able to hook up with a major league club somewhere.

Russ Springer (2010, salary unknown)

He pitched a whopping two games. Two. I’ll keep this one short and sweet: let him go.

Jim Edmonds (2010, 1-year, $850,000)

It was fun while it lasted. Unfortunately for Edmonds, injury and a drop in his skills should make the decision for the Reds not to bring him back easy. As it were, the rumor has him retiring after the 2010 season.

Jared Burton (2010, 1-year/$810,000)

Burton is arnitration-eligible in 2011, so again, it is anyone’s guess whether he returns at the same or lesser salary next season. He only pitched 4 games and 3 1/3 injings in 2010, so I suspect that he will return at a lower payrate.

Jonny Gomes (2010, 1-year/$800,000)

I think that Gomes returns to the team in 2011 although it is an option year for him. I think that team management realizes his worth with the bat (18 HR, 86 RBI), yet I do not know that Cincinnati will give him a multi-year deal. A 2-year deal sounds realistic right about now. I wouldn’t be surprised if he receives an increase in pay, as well.

Corky Miller (2010, salary unknown)

He didn’t spend a lot of time with the big club, but I have this sense that he will get every opportunity to make the team in 2011 as a backup to Ryan Hanigan. Assuming that is the case, this is all temporary as the Reds are biding time until their draft pick, Yasmani Grandal, is ready for the big show.

Laynce Nix (2010, 1-year/salary unknown)

Let’s face it, Nix ia a valuable left-handed bat from off the bench. And that’s a rare commodity these days. My best guess is that the Reds will bring him back, even though Nix is eligible for arbitration. If the Reds don’t sign him, someone else certainly will.

Joey Votto (2010, 1-year/$550,000)

It is a given that the Reds first baseman will be back. IT isn’t so much if he returns, but what his next contract will look like. Rest assured, he will get paid big – really big.

Miguel Cairo (2010, 1-year/$500,000)

Because of his versatility, he is an inexpensive option as opposed to someone like Willie Bloomquist. He can swing the bat pretty well, too. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cairo return, something I wouldn’t have said had the Reds missed the postseason.

Johnny Cueto (2010, 1-year/$445,000)

He is part of the corps of young guns who are on the Reds’ starting pitching staff. And as such, I think he will return in 2011, with a payraise to go along with it.

Edinson Volquez (2010, 1-year/$445,000)

He is in much the same situation as Cueto and is also arbitration-eligible in 2011. Nevertheless, I expect him to return with a multi-year deal awaiting him.

Jay Bruce (2010, 1-year/$440,000)

I expect Bruce to be back with Cincinnati as he got hot down the stretch during the 2010 regular season (.281, 25 HR, 70 RBI). The question here is how many years the Reds put together in a contract for Bruce.

Bill Bray (2010, 1-year/salary unknown)

Bray just returned from Tommy John surgery and had an OK season. With the middle-relivers’ values really a gray area these days, I think that Bray returns under a 1-year deal as he is eligible for arbritration.

Homer Bailey (2010, 1-year/$418,000)

This next season may be a “make-or-break” one for Bailey. He barely eclipsed 100 innings this past season, with numbers similar to the 2009 season. I expect the Reds to give him a 1-year deal, although he is arbitration-eligible.

Ryan Hanigan (2010, 1-year/$415,000)

I will assume that Hanigan will be the starting catcher for Cincinnati in 2011 as I expect Hernandez to be elsewhere. A short-term multi-year deal may make the most sense here since they have catchers down the pipeline in the upcoming years.

Daniel Ray Herrera (2010, 1-year/$412,500)

Another middle reliever who may be in limbo here. Should the Reds sign him, it will probably be a 1-year tender at some undisclosed amount.

Paul Janish (2010, 1-year/$412,500)

I expect Cincinnati to retain Janish as he is very valuable both with the bat and at playinbg most of the infield positions. He definitely proved his worth in 2010 and could very well be the frontrunner for the shortstop position at 2011 training camp. IF Cabrera leaves, Janish gets a multi-year deal. If not, then perhaps a payraise and a 1-year tender is in store for Janish.

Carlos Fisher (2010, 1-year/salary unknown)

I think it is a safe assumption that Fisher is a goner in 2011. Enoguh said.

Juan Francisco (2010, 1-year/$400,000)

A tough call here. He didn’t garner much playing time with the Reds. yet didn’t embarrass himself while in the field. He plays third base and outfield, so this could be one of the hardest decisions the team makesthis offseason. I want to believe that he will get a 1-year deal.

Chris Heisey (2010, 1-year/salary unknown)

Heisey will definitely be back. the big question is whether he starts in left field or not. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get a multi-year deal based on last season’s production.

Mike Leake (2010, 1-year/salary unknown)

He was under a inning count, so it really isn’t fair to say whether he will return or not. But I will say it myself: Leake will return. The length of contract and money paid is the big issue here more than anything else.

Sam LeCure (2010, 1-year/salary unknown)

LeCure is an interesting quandry here. He pitched OK while with the big club, but it’s hard to say whether his brief stint tells enough about LeCure to merit another contract. My hunch says that he returns, but probably will be in Triple-A to start.

Matt Maloney (2010, 1-year/salary unknown)

If contracts were based solely on the previous season’s stats, then Maloney would be a lock to be with Cincinnati in 2011. but I imagine that more goes into these decisions. Yet MAloney had a decent year, so I do not see no reason not to being him back – presumably as a middle reliever.

Logan Ondrusek (2010, 1-year/$400,000)

His situation mirrors that of Maloney. He had decent numbers in his role as a middle reliever, so his return wouldn’t surprise me much. Question is wjether he gets a 1 or multi-year deal. Hw should get a pay increase, regardless of contract length.

Drew Stubbs (2010, 1-year/$400,000)

He’ll be back. Inconssistency hurt him initially, but it can be said that he was a big part of the Reds getting to the playoffs, so don’t let his stats from 2010 fool you. He has speed and power, but if he can get some consistency (i.e. a higher batting average) going. He probably gets a multi-year deal.

Travis Wood (2010, 1-year/salary unknown)

He, like Leake, were pleasant surprises during the Reds’ season. I fully expect him back with a multi-year deal in hand and a spot in the Reds’ starting rotation.