Bizarro Trade: Bunch o' Reds for Bunch o' Nats

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 13, 2006 6:06 PM CDT in Transactions

Nationals acquired SS Felipe Lopez, OF Austin Kearns and RHP Ryan Wagner from the Reds for RHP Gary Majewski, LHP Bill Bray, SS Royce Clayton, INF Brendan Harris and RHP Daryl Thompson.

This is crazy. On first blush (and probably several future blushes as well) the Nationals got a steal today. Kearns is a quality player who'll be under their control for while; Wagner could be a solid reliever, especially with the change of scenery, and Lopez--despite defensive shortcomings--is a solid offensive shortstop.

Majewski: good, maybe a wash for Wagner. Bray: decent prospect, ceiling is probably Majewski. Clayton: we all know that he's not Felipe Lopez, even back before he starting decling. Harris: probably roster filler; his ceiling is Clayton-ish. Thompson: the Nats #7 prospect...in 2004. I don't know much about him.

I don't really understand it from the Reds point of view. Majewski might help shore up their bullpen; maybe they think Bray can help this year, too. Maybe they're convinced Clayton's glove cancels out Clayton's bat, and that Felipe Lopez wasn't their future at short. But I suspect that any short-term gains Cinci reaps from the relief upgrade they lose at short.

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The best part

This headline: "Reds Get Majewski in Eight-Player Deal"

...

by battlekow on Jul 13, 2006 6:13 PM CDT reply actions

excellent

I'll bet even Majewski's parents wouldn't have expected that.

by Jeff Sackmann on Jul 13, 2006 6:20 PM CDT up reply actions

Majewski is underrated

And Bray is going to be something. The Reds' pen has blown 15 leads after the 8th inning this year because few in the pen should be in an ML uniform. The Reds have addressed their greatest weakness.

Also, we had a surplus of outfielders with this kid Chris Denorfia, who was a AAA All-Star and only playing in the Majors because there was no room in the Reds outfield.

Clayton was just a throw in; he isn't expected to be a big boost.

Bottomline is the Reds are a much better team because of the deal. You should be very afraid...

;)

Come worship at the Church of Baseball with Sister Daedalus!

by Daedalus on Jul 13, 2006 7:01 PM CDT reply actions

Blown leads

The Reds will have significantly less leads to blow now, so, uh, that's something...

by battlekow on Jul 13, 2006 7:34 PM CDT up reply actions

Let me check

Nope. Not more afraid. More amused, I guess. I think you'll regret giving up on Kearns.

"C'mon, boys, let's get 'em some RUNS!" --- Daron Sutton, pretty much every game of the 2005 season.

by roguejim on Jul 13, 2006 9:19 PM CDT up reply actions

yikes

This is a bad deal for the Reds in the long run, no doubt about it. You'd better hope these bullpen changes help them make the playoffs this year, because its a deal you'll regret next season at the latest.

by Bill @ Brew Crew Ball on Jul 14, 2006 9:20 AM CDT up reply actions

Yeah, but...

When you give, you're supposed to get something back.

Heck, we would have gladly sent you two guys out of our mass of mediocre bullpen in exchange for Kearns. We'd have tried him out at catcher. ;)

by Matt L on Jul 13, 2006 8:32 PM CDT reply actions

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