Odds & Ends: Reds, White Sox, Shimizu

More Thursday linkage... MLB.com's Mark Sheldon guesses the Reds will buy out Ramon Hernandez's option for $1MM, but then try to re-sign him.  Sheldon also runs through the upcoming important hot stove dates. White Sox GM Ken Williams wouldn't reveal much about his offseason plans, talking to MLB.com's Scott Merkin.  "I'm always looking at all the possibilities," said Williams. WEEI's Rob Bradford talked to Tim Wakefield, who is aiming for 200 victories.  He's 11 shy, so he could pull it off in 2010.  The Sox figure to exercise his $4MM option once again. Ryo Shinkawa of NPB Tracker says 33-year-old righty Naoyuki Shimizu has MLB aspirations.  Shimizu posted a 4.42 ERA this year in 144.6 innings for the Chiba Lotte Marines, striking out only 88. Cot's Baseball Contracts informs us that Ryan Howard will earn $50K for his NLCS MVP award.  Tack that on to his $15MM salary.