Reds Trade Kearns
The Reds are going for broke. Earlier in the week they traded for “Everyday” Eddie Guardado, to compete for the team’s closer’s job. Today they traded for more relief help, acquiring Gary Majewski and Bill Bray. In exchange, they gave up big-swingin’ Austin Kearns.
Kearns, along with Felipe Lopez, is headed to the Washington Nationals, a team assembled by former Reds GM Jim Bowden. Kearns was considered the future of a young Reds team when Bowden was in charge in Cincinnati. Bray was considered one of the Nationals’ top pitching prospects. Now they’re both changing teams.
The Reds also acquired shortstop Royce Clayton, infielder Brendan Harris and pitcher Daryl Thompson from the last-place Nationals.
Is Kearns the kind of guy a team can build around? Is he even the kind of guy a team can win with? He swings a big stick and is on pace for 30 homers and 100 RBIs this season. But he strikes out a ton, too. He’s on pace for 170 Ks this season. He strikes out 30.5 percent of the time. That’s a ton. Can a team win with a guy who wiffs that much? And who has such limited range in the outfield?
And do the Reds really have enough pieces to win the NL Central? They’ve been so bad for so long. And they’re starting pitching…I mean, it’s been good, but…really? Bronson Arroyo? Eric Milton? In the Great American Ballpark? Can they really keep it up?
July 13th, 2006 at 9:16 pm
This means my pal Chris Denorfia (Reds minor leaguer of the year in ‘05, and a Jerry Narron favorite) will get a shot to play regularly aside Griff.
Denorfia and I both played baseball at Wheaton College. Nice guy.
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July 13th, 2006 at 10:05 pm
The Reds have been fading fast(9-20 record heading into the break) and they hit the panic button in a big way, making the kind of trade teams almost always regret later by trading quality major-league position players for middle relievers.
I must say when I first saw this trade I was shocked that the Reds would make such a move, seeing that Kearns is one pace for a 30 homer, 100 RBI year, Lopez is one of the better hitting young shortstops around, and Bray and Majewski have mediocre numbers at best.
But upon further consideration, it is clear that the Reds viewed this trade at least as much as who they were giving away as who they were getting. Although Kearns has always been highly touted for his potential, the Reds have long been frustrated by his nagging injuries and inconsistency at the plate, not to mention his defensive liabilities. Meanwhile, there has been a lot of talk in Cincy about the lackluster defense of Lopez, who has already made 14 errors. Also, the Reds clearly like Denorfia and have been trying to find a place for him to play, not to mention that they LOVE Ryan Freel.
Overall, it’s a bad trade for the Reds, but at least you can sorta see where they’re coming from.
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July 14th, 2006 at 12:36 pm
Bray and Majewski have bit roughed up at RFK. If they can’t post decent numbers in DC, what makes the Reds think they’ll fare better in Cincy? Also- wasn’t it like 3 months ago that Ryan Wagner was billed as the Reds’ closer of the future? How can they be so impatient with a guy who chucks 100mph, but so patient with Jim Bowden?
Anyone else remember how awful Majewski was in the WBC? I still wake up in the monring and ask myself, “Why did Gary Majewski represent my country in the first WBC?” Then I drink a shot of bourbon to take the edge off.
I think Lopez will finish his career as an 8-time All-Star and this deal will be remembered as the worst and final moment in Jim Bowden’s lousy career.
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July 14th, 2006 at 12:55 pm
Probably the most interesting component of this deal is that the Nats already have plenty of quality OFs, begging “Where does Kearns fit?”.
I bet ‘Fonzie is dealt by Thursday to the Yanks for Phillip Hughes and some A-Ballers.
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July 14th, 2006 at 8:23 pm
Jeb, it sounds like you think Jim Bowden is still the general manager of the Reds (e.g. how can the Reds be so patient with Bowden, the worst and final moment in Jim Bowden’s lousy career).
But Jim Bowden is actually the GM for the Nats, so shouldn’t you be praising him to all high heaven for acquiring the man you call a future 8 time All-star?
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July 15th, 2006 at 8:36 am
You’re right - my bad… Obviously I forgot that he was canned and rehired. Is whatshisname Krivsky the GM? I live in Boston and we don’t reallt believe in the existance in baseball outside the hub.
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