From WCKY-AM 1530 Homer The Sports Animal's Lance McAlister:

Things I'm told
MLB sources tell me the White Sox and Reds are involved in trade talks. I'm told the White Sox initiated the talks. The potential deal involves the Sox sending RF Jermaine Dye to the Reds in exchange for Homer Bailey and another player.
What do you think?
Dye is a right handed run producer that plays RF. He will be 35 in January.
He leads all AL OF in HR's since 2005 with 137.
He has a gun for an arm, but does not move well in the OF.
Money wise: Here is his contract situation.
20009:$11.5M
2010:$12M mutual option ($1M buyout)
He has a limited no trade clause
Homer is 22-years old and has thrown just 81.2 major league innings.

McAlister didn't name his source, but I thought some Chicago papers linked the Reds interest in him back in October.  He is an option, but I would assume he would have to be moved to Left Field.  He has a nice arm, but like Lance mentioned range is not there.  Is it me or does he seem like an older right-handed version of Adam Dunn? 

I don't mind trading Homer if we can fill a legitimate hole.  Is this the right guy for our hole?  Is there another player better Homer could bring us?  I figured Homer could land us one of the good 4 young catchers from Texas.

There is no doubt trading Homer now, would be selling low.  He could be a great safety net if the injury bug would bite Cueto, Volguez, Harang, or Arroyo.  Maybe we should hang on to him.

Thoughts anyone?

I was checkin out John Fay's Blog this morning and caught an interesting tidbit from the Reds Farm Director, Terry Reynolds:

The Hawaii Winter League wrapped up Sunday. The Waikiki BeachBoys, featuring Reds' prospects Yonder Alonso and Todd Frazier, won the title.

Both put up excellent numbers: Alonso hit .308/.419/.510, Frazier .295/.375/.547. Frazier led the league in slugging.

"They both swung the bat really well," farm director Terry Reynolds. "Frazier came back OK from the concussion. It was good to see both of them play well."

The plan for Alonso?

"He'll compete for a job with Carolina," Reynolds said. "If that doesn't work out, he'll be the first baseman with Sarasota."

Apparently, the talk of playing Alonso at third base as well as first is over.

"I would doubt that he'll play any third," Reynolds said. "If he does, it would be out of necessity. He's a first baseman." 

So if we take what we know about how good Alonso is, how well he performed in Hawaii, and how the Reds currently do have any other true 1B prospects, you can bet Alonso starts at AA.  If he performs well there, he might be able to end the year in AAA, which would make an arrivial sometime in 2010 a big time possibility.  If the Reds don't think that Alonso could handle any other position, would 2009 be a wise time to go ahead and move Joey Votto to LF?

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Andrew Baggerly is reporting the LHP Jeremy Affeldt has signed a 2-Year contract with the San Francisco Giants.  Terms have not been announced, but I would bet since he signed so quick its probably a deal worth 6-8 Million over the two years.  Maybe they gave him a shot at the rotation similiar to the Reds last year, or a shot at being the closer. Affeldt was a type-B free agent so the Reds will recieve a sandwich-round pick.

He has some nasty stuff, and should be even better in the NL West.  I was hoping the Reds could have retained him, but obviously they already had Bray and have a lot of money in Cordero, so spending 3 or 4 million a year on another lefty isn't the best use of funds.   Good luck to him in SF.

Here is another story on the signing from the SF Chronicle.

From MLB.com Press Pass:

Last night Louisville was eliminated from the International League playoffs with a 9-1 loss at Durham...tomorrow the Reds are expected to promote IF Paul Janish (#7), IF Danny Richar (#62), IF Adam Rosales (#60), RHP Jon Adkins (#64), LHP Daniel Herrera (#52), LHP Adam Pettyjohn (#63) and RHP Josh Roenicke (#65)...corresponding roster moves will be announced tomorrow to make room for Adkins, Pettyjohn, and Roenicke .

No Homer Bailey or Daryl Thompson?  I thought Homer did very well his last start.  Maybe he and Daryl are still a bit banged up.  These guys on the 40-Man did not get called up:

Pitchers:  Homer Bailey, Matt Belisle, Todd Coffey, Bobby Livingston, Tyler Pelland, Daryl Thompson

Catchers: Craig Tatum

INF: Yonder Alonso

Our 40 Man Roster is Full.  So Three from the above list or those on the ML Club right now (Patterson, Fogg, Bako, A. Phillips) will get the D-F-A or outrighted  to the minors tomorrow.

I bet we see a farewell to Coffey, Belisle, and Josh Fogg tomorrow.  Thoughts anyone on why Bailey and Thompson didn't get the call?  Why not throw Homer into the rotation and use a six-man rotation and save innings for Volquez, Cueto, and Harang?

I know a lot of people want to see Stubbs, and why I'd love to have him here the rest of the year, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to start his clock.  Plus he is signed up for the AFL.

Tuesday 9-9-08 Update:

To make room, the Reds placed Josh Fogg on the 60-Day DL, ending his season, recalled Matt Belisle, and placed him on the 60-Day DL, and designated for assignment RHP Todd Coffey.

Remember that fat contract extension Coffey pitched under this year?   I hope he saved some of that back.

From 620 KTAR

Sports 620 KTAR's John Gambadoro reports the Arizona Diamondbacks have acquired outfielder Adam Dunn from the Cincinnati Reds.

The Diamondbacks have Monday off, but start a NL West series in Colorado on Tuesday night.

Dunn is expected to start in right field.

The Diamondbacks are giving up three prospects in the deal, minor league pitcher Dallas Buck and two other players to be named later.

Dunn has 32 home runs in 2008 with 74 RBI. His average this season is .233. He has 270 home runs in his career, currently in his eighth Major League season, spending his entire career in Cincinnati.

Dunn has hit 40 or more home runs the past four seasons and is on pace to eclipse that mark again this season. He has also struck out 165 times or more in those seasons, currently with 120 this season.

The Diamondbacks will now have three of the top five strikeout leaders in the National League. Mark Reynolds is second with 147 and Chris Young is third with 122.

Throughout his career in the big leagues Dunn has played either corner outfield position while also getting some time in at first base. He has not played first base since the 2006 season and that was only in two games.

Wow. I'm stunned.  I know I shouldn't be, but for me Adam Dunn was the only reason left why I wanted to watch when I made the 3 hour drive over.  Looks like the one player we know we got hasn't played much this year.

Let's hope we got 3 good prospects.

From Reds.com transactions:

8-10-08  Returned RHP Aaron Harang from a rehabilitation assignment and reinstated him from the 15-day disabled list. Optioned RHP Homer Bailey to Triple-A Louisville. Designated C David Ross for assignment. Recalled C Ryan Hanigan from Louisville.

Ryan Hanigan will wear Mike Stanton's old #29.

I am really suprised they sent Bailey down.  Let's get him right up here and work toward to 2009.  He shows at times he is beginning to get it, and  has not been any worse than Josh Fogg.  If we are gonna eat Dave Ross Money, we might as well eat Josh Fogg, Paul Bako, AND Corey Patterson money.

Congrats to Ryan Hannigan, he deserved his promotion.  Too bad Chris Dickerson didn't come with him, but I am still not all sold on him being a MLB Ready player.

Good luck to Dave Ross, he was a good guy with fans and had a great 2005.   Injuries slowed him down the last 2 years, lets hope somewhere he can regain his '05 form.

Josh Bard, Anyone?

From MLBTRADERUMORS.COM:

San Diego is expected to activate Josh Bard from the DL this week, and will immediately place him on the trading block.

Bard struggled this year, but was pretty good the last couple of years (atleast with the bat).  He is a switch hitter, but his splits this year indicate he is better from the left side. 

Negatives are he is not that great throwing out base stealers, as he has only thrown out 19% runners on his career, but that is a bit skewed by a terrible 2007 number of only 8 %.  He is also 30, maybe older than the Reds would want to go if they are going to trade for a catcher.

All 3 of our catchers are Free Agents after this year, and I don't really expect the Reds to resign any one of them to be a starter, maybe one to serve as a back up.  (Most likely Bako).

 Of course, Texas has 3 really good young catchers on their MLB roster right now.  Taylor Teagarden, Max Ramirez, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia.   It would take atleast Homer Bailey and maybe another piece like a Chris Dickerson to make that happen.

I fear if we don't trade for one, we will be stuck with Michael Barrett next year.

From C. Trent Rosecrans at thelotd.com:

Aaron Harang will fly back to Cincinnati from Chicago to undergo an MRI following his career-high seven-walk performance on Tuesday night, the team announced on Wednesday.

Harang has struggled since throwing four innings in an extra-inning game in San Diego on May 25, going 1-5 with a 7.31 ERA since that outting.

Harang missed his scheduled start on Saturday and was pushed back to Tuesday with forearm stiffness. The team said he's still bothered by the injury.

If Harang is put on the disabled list, Daryl Thompson could step right in for him. Thompson allowed one run on six hits in six innings in Louisville on Tuesday, picking up the win for the Bats. Thompson, optioned to Louisville last week could be recalled if the Reds placed a player on the disabled list. Otherwise, Homer Bailey, who pitched well on Monday, could be recalled to start on Sunday.

I hope the injury is minor, and a couple weeks of DL time is all he needs.  Obviously the 5-inning relief appearance could be a reason, or it could be something that has nagged him most of the year.  He experienced a similar pain in 2006, and skipping a full turn remedied the problem.

I say no matter what, Harang should not make the start Sunday.   Give him the rest and hope it heals up for post all star break.

As Trent Mentioned, the Reds have several options.  If they choose not to DL Harang, they could hope Jeremy Affeldt can give them 4 or 5 innings and do a Bullpen game.  In addition to Homer or Darryl, Matt Maloney or Matt Belisle could be options. (Belisle seems unlikely)  Bobby Livingston is on his way back, but still looks to be atleast another 2 weeks off (unless there is a setback)

I was going thru the transactions on MLB.COM and noticed the Padres have Outrighted Carlos Guevara to Triple-A. 

San Diego Padres

Outrighted OF Paul McAnulty and RHP Carlos Guevara to Triple-A Portland; Purchased the contract of OF Chip Ambres and also recalled INF Brian Myrow and LHP Joe Thatcher from Triple-A Portland; Placed RHP Brett Tomko on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to July 1, with a right elbow strain.

As many of you know, Guevara was a Rule V Pick from the Reds Farm System last year, but struggled with an injury this year and posted a 1-0 record with a 5.84 ERA in 12.1 IP, allowing 2 HR, while striking out 11, and walking 9.  If I recall, his out pitch was a screwball.

Don't the Padres have to keep him all year on the 25-Man, or we get him back or a PTBNL??

http://www.thelotd.com/lance

Reds moves
Today the Reds placed on the 15-day disabled list IF Jerry Hairston (broken left thumb), selected from Class AAA Louisville the contract of IF Jolbert Cabrera (#54), placed on the bereavement list RHP Gary Majewski (wife, Melissa, is having a baby) and recalled from Louisville LHP Danny Herrera (#52).
Hairston suffered the injury in the first inning last night at Fla sliding into second base on a steal.
Cabrera (first name pronounced HOLE-bert) has spent the season with the Bats (57g, .288, 16 2b, 5 3b, 4hr, 30rbi, 5sb), where he played OF (18g), 3B (16g) and 1B (12g).

Cabrera has hit 2 of his 4 dingers in the last 10 days, so maybe he is on a hot streak.  We will see.