| Mitch Cotter. 14th December, 2005 - 9:12 pm
 Needing to eventually clear up their crowded outfield the Reds traded first baseman Sean Casey to the Pirates for 26 year old left handed pitcher Dave Williams. Williams brings with him a 17-26 lifetime record and a career 4.25 ERA. In 2005 he went 10-11 with a 4.41 ERA. He doesn't have overpowering stuff and his fastball only tops out around 88 mph but the Reds hope that he can bring some stability to their shaky rotation. He will likely be slotted as their number 3 or 4 starter.
The deal makes economical sense for the Reds. Casey, the fomer veteran clubhouse leader of the Reds, was due $8.5 million this year and will be a free agent in 2007. Casey claimed that he would have been willing to take a pay cut in 2007 but the Reds were obviously looking to get his contract off the books now. The Reds sent the Pirates $1 million along with Casey and got back Williams for $1.4 million. Tha leaves the Reds about $6 million in additional payroll. It is expected that the Reds will try to use that to add another starter. Although a solid hitter, with a career .305 average, Casey's power and RBI production remained low in 2005 and didn't justify the size of his contract. Casey's trade value was not thought to be high and it appears that the best the Red's could get for him was a subpar pitcher like Dave Williams. Casey's departure opens up the outfield for Wily Mo Pena since left fielder Adam Dunn will be moved to first.
On the final day of baseball's winter meetings the Reds made another move by trading minor leaguers Kevin Howard and Ben Hines to the Yankees for infielder/outfielder Tony Womack. The Reds will also receive $900,000 for Womack's contract. Womack, an All-Star in 2004 with the Cardinals, struggled last year with a .249 average and had only 15 RBI's in 108 games. He began the year as the Yankee's starting second baseman but lost his job early in the season to Robinson Canoe. Reds' GM Dan O'Brien believes that Womack is better suited for the NL and that he will improve on his dissapointing 2005 season. Reds' manager Jerry Narron says that he envisions Womack playing a great deal for the Reds in a utility role. However, the Reds' have offered infielder Rich Aurilla arbitration and if he again signs with Cincinnati it is likely he will be the club's starting second baseman. That leaves infielder/outfielder Ryan Freel in the utility role that Womack was signed to fill. It is possible that Edwin Encarnacion may not yet be ready top take over as the Red's starting third baseman which would leave Freel at third allowing Womack more opportunity to play. Womack does bring some speed to the Red's which was lacking last year from the Red's lineup. The acquisition of Womack may also mean that the Red's are still shopping outfielders Wily Mo Pena and Austin Kearns for more pitching.
Reds fans hope that the money gained in the Casey trade will go toward adding more starting pitching. O'Brien did announce that the Red's did make an offer to pitcher Matt Morris who just has signed with the Giants. The offer was believed to be around $25 million dollars for three years. Kevin Millwood and Jarred Wasburn are the top two free agent pitchers left on the market and the Red's interest in them remains unknown. It is likely that both pitchers will expect top dollar contracts. O'Brien has said that the Red's are looking for pitching beyond free agency.
"We're approaching it on two fronts. Free agency and trades," O'Brien said. "I wouldn't handicap which is more likely."
It is clear for Red's fans that new majority owner Robert H. Castellini sees that improvement for the Red's means improvement in pitching. It is hopeful that Red's starters Paul Wilson and Eric Milton will rebound from their horrendous 2005 seasons. Yong pitchers Brandon Clausen and Luke Hudson are expected to improve but whether they will ever become effective starters remains in question. The Red's are clearly lacking a proven number one starter and it remains to be seen if they will be able to obtain one before the 2006 season begins. |
