At Least We're Not The Reds Today

by Charlie Wilmoth on Jul 13, 2006 4:55 PM EDT in News

The Cincinnati Reds overhauled their rickety bullpen Thursday, getting Gary Majewski and Bill Bray in an eight-player trade that sent outfielder Austin Kearns and shortstop Felipe Lopez to the Washington Nationals.

The playoff-hopeful Reds also acquired shortstop Royce Clayton, infielder Brendan Harris and pitcher Daryl Thompson from the last-place Nationals.

Clayton most likely would replace Lopez, who made the All-Star game last year. The Reds gave up reliever Ryan Wagner, a first-round pick in 2004 who has struggled the last two seasons.

I cannot believe what a horrible move this is. The Reds traded two very valuable commodities, plus their 2004 first-round pick, and didn't get a single really good player in return. They got two relievers, a not-great pitching prospect, a utility infielder prospect and Royce Clayton. I like Bray and Harris as much as the next guy - they're both from my alma mater - but, wow.

Baseball Primer:

Ring ... ring ... ring.

"Nationals. Bowden speaking."
"Jim, it's Wayne. Listen, I have a trade to run past you. How about Kearns for Clayton, Harris, Bray, Majewski and Thompson?"
"Ha! Only if you throw in Lopez and Wagner. Now, seriously ..."
"Done! I'll phone it in to Bud."
Click.
"Wait ... what?"

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Comments

I have full confidence

in Dave Littlefield to exceed the stupidity of this trade with the mid-season moves that are apparently coming soon.

by BillyPrice on Jul 13, 2006 5:02 PM EDT reply actions

Re: Confidence

That would be hard, both because:

a) The Pirates barely have anything worth more than Kearns+Lopez

b) Its a REALLY bad trade

Aside from Ramirez, DL doesn't usually trade valueable commodities and get very little in return - rather, he usually trades commodities of questionable value and gets absolute bupkis in return. The Ramirez trade was a salary dump, as well, as opposed to trading Kearns and Lopez.

At any rate, DL's problems as a GM aren't brain-farts of this nature. Its more the death of a thousand arrows than one quick trip to the guillotine.

by DJAnyReason on Jul 13, 2006 5:50 PM EDT up reply actions

This Was the Warmup

Seeing such things go down will inspire WeeBrain to trade Jack Wilson and Paul Maholm for Majewski and Chad Hermansen.

by psk984 on Jul 13, 2006 5:10 PM EDT reply actions

If there was any justice...

Hermansen would immediately retire after the trade was made, rather than play for the Pirates.

by calig23 on Jul 13, 2006 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions

BTW

I like the Oracle's take: http://baseballthinkfactory.org/files/oracle

by DJAnyReason on Jul 13, 2006 5:50 PM EDT reply actions

Um

It worries me a little bit that I don't mind this trade from the Cincy standpoint.

Remember that Kearns and Lopez are going from a hitter's park to a pitcher's park (and the exact opposite for the National pitchers). Kearns rather foolishly didn't help his cause by not staying in shape and for whatever reasons was not appreciated in Cincy. Lopez can hit the ball, but by all accounts was poor in the field (although Royce Clayton ain't that much better).

Kearns and Lopez are both already making 2 mil (almost 2 mil for Kearns, over 2 mil for Lopez) and are eligible for arbitration next season.

Majewski and Bray have at least one more season before they are eligible for arbitration and have more time left under team control.

I guess I can understand why Krivsky made the deal (without knowledge of any internal issues, like the owner telling him to do something). The Reds have replacements on hand that are performing as well (Phillips, Denorfia) and clearly had and still have issues in the bullpen. Krivsky may have been able to get retread bullpen pitchers (Marte or Hernandez, for example), but he went this route.

I think the keys are Brandon Harris and Daryl Thompson, and given the reputation the Minnesota front office has for finding hidden gems, I am willing to give Krivsky the benefit of the doubt.

by Greg Schuler on Jul 14, 2006 12:58 PM EDT reply actions