The Reds Spring (Winter) Transaction Thread

[Ravenlord]

and this thread will also include guys i would like to see the Reds go after (though there's little chance of it, as most of them would be youngish). my comments (if any) on the transactions are italicized.

10-2-05
Aaron Holbert outright to AAA Louisville.
he's intending to accept the assignment.

10-10-05
Sent RHP Chris Booker outright to Triple-A Louisville; Booker refused the assignment and is now a free agent; INF D'Angelo Jimenez and RHP Ben Weber elected free agency.
i think Booker got screwed by the Reds all year. for some reason, Weber stayed on the 15-day DL all year, meaning that was taking a roster spot all year from someone. i think he's probably done.

[Ravenlord]

10-03-05
Marlins released RHP Tim Spooneybarger
he missed the year with TJ and should be ready by the end of April. he's still young (he'll turn 26 next year) and has never had a really bad year in the game. i'd like to see him as a non-roster invitee to spring training.

10-10-05
Tigers realease RHP Jason Karnuth
he's 31, and his low K rate means he's the kind of pitcher i usually try to avoid. however, he has almost a 3.5:1 GB:FB ratio, and doesn't allow many homers. not even in the extremely hitter friendly Pacific Coast League. another guy i'd like to bring in as non-roster invitee.

[Ravenlord]

10-13-05
Toronto Blue Jays outright RHP Jason Arnold to Triple-A Syracuse.
a little rule explainaton, when you are outrighted, that means you cleared waivers and are now off the 40-man roster. i am utterly shocked Arnold made it through. his has great minor league periphials, and will be 27 next year. i would have liked to have seen the Reds claim him. yes that would automatically mean a 40-man roster spot for him, but at worst, you release him at the end of the spring.

10-13-05
Seattle Mariners activated RHP Jorge Campillo from the 60-day DL and outrighted him to Triple-A Tacoma.
Campillo was signed out of the Mexican leagues this year. he was unhit upon in 4 big league innings this year, and had a 2.71 ERA in Tacoma in 12 starts. i'm not sure what the nature of his injury was, but he's another guy i would have claimed off waivers (unless he had TJ or shoulder surgery).

[Ravenlord]

found out Campillo's injury is going to result in TJ. so mark him off.

[Ravenlord]

10-15-05
Los Angeles Dodgers
Designated LHP Ryan Ketchner and LHP Derek Thompson for assignment.
i'd love to see the Reds claim both of them. Ketchner is starter with a great K rate, but missed the end of 2004 and all of 2005 with Tommy John surgery. Thompson has a good K rate, a very good GB:FB rate, and an exceptional HR/9 rate. i have no idea why the Dodgers are DFAing him, other than htey think he'll clear waivers since he's a 5'10" tall, therefore scouts hate him.

[Ravenlord]

10/19/05 New York Yankees
Sent 2B Mark Bellhorn outright to Triple-A Columbus; Bellhorn refused the assignment and is now a free agent.
i would pursue Bellhorn for a one or two year contract, at about $800,000/year with incentives to $1.9 million. acquiring Bellhorn makes it real easy for Dan O'Brien to not excercise Aurilia's $2 million option. of course, if i were in charge, i would have given Rich his walking papers already...especially in lieu of this.

[Ravenlord]

Actual Reds Movement!!!!

10/28/05 Cincinnati Reds
Declined the 2006 contract option on RHP Ramon Ortiz; The Reds and INF Rich Aurilia mutually agreed to decline his 2006 contract option; IF/OF Jacob Cruz declared free agency; Named Jim Pransky professional scout.
that took long enough. Cruz might return. i know nothing about Jim Pransky though.

[Ravenlord]

11/3/05 Cincinnati Reds
Signed OF Dewayne Wise to a Minor League contract and invited him to Spring Training.
five tool player. probably had his development stunted by Toronto letting him play 28 big league games after selecting him in the Rule V draft (and sitting for the other136 games) he's actually a Reggie Taylor clone as far as his skill and ability are concerned. the difference being Wise actually has good instincts. not a bad pick up for depth, but God help us if he actually sees the majors next year.

[Ravenlord]

11/7/05
Reds sign OF Jason Romano to a minor league contract and invite him to Spring Training
good Lord, talk about never learning. i know he's minor league fodder, but can't DanO at least try new fodder?

[Chadwick]

The single biggest potential impact any one move could have this off-season is the sale of the team to Robert Castellini. Perhaps he could clean out the Allen/O'Brien dunce-factory and give Paul DePodesta a five-year contract and a half-decent budget?

Oh, wait!...I'm dreaming! *sigh*

[Ravenlord]

The single biggest potential impact any one move could have this off-season is the sale of the team to Robert Castellini. Perhaps he could clean out the Allen/O'Brien dunce-factory and give Paul DePodesta a five-year contract and a half-decent budget?

Oh, wait!...I'm dreaming! *sigh*

Allen probably will be fired (hoping). O'Brien will probably live out til midseason, but of course, the sale still needs to become official before anything can happen.

[sweaver]

Jason Romano? Really? Excuse me while I go beat my head against a wall.

I'd rather have Aaron Holbert than Jason Romano any day.

[Ravenlord]

11/16/05
Cincinnati Reds
Claimed RHP Mike Burns off waivers from the Houston Astros and added him to the 40-man roster
Eh.

[sweaver]

Betcha Burns gets a shot at the closer role, and ends up in middle relief.

[Ravenlord]

can't really argue against that, but pretty much everyone the Reds bring to ST will probably get a shot at the closer role.