Here we are at the trading deadline, and GM Wayne Krivsky is dealing. First, he dealt RHP Justin Germano to Philadelphia for 39 year old left-handed reliever Rheal Cormier:
Cincinnati Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky today announced the acquistion of LHP Rheal Cormier from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for minor league RHP Justin Germano.
Krivsky also announced that the Reds and Cormier agreed to a 1-year contract extension through the 2007 season, with a club option for 2008….
Cormier, 38, is 2-2 with a 1.59 ERA in 43 appearances this season and is holding opponents to a .225 batting average. His 1.59 ERA is the lowest among all National League relievers (minimum 25 apps).
Outfielder Brandon Watson was sent back to AAA to make room for Cormier on the roster.
In a second move, Krivsky’s former-Twin obsession reaches magnificent heights with the acquisition of Kyle Lohse:
The Reds also have acquired right-hander Kyle Lohse (and his Joe Mays-esque ERA) from the Twins for minor league right-hander Zach Ward.
Considering Lohse (who’s making $3.95 million this year) already has been demoted to the minors for three weeks and then shunted off to the bullpen upon returning to the majors, I don’t know that he’s the ideal solution here. But you can’t consider it a surprise, in the wake of the Joe Mays experiment.
Okay, I’m going to let these sink in before I pass judgment (I know, that’s a nice change of pace, isn’t it? 🙂 ). But at first blush, I’m very puzzled about both of these transactions. Once again, Krivsky appears to have overpaid very significantly, at least for Lohse. Ward is a good prospect.
The Cormier trade, I can live with. I don’t love it, but I’m not going to rail against it.
What do you guys and gals think?
UPDATE: In other news, our old friend Sean Casey was traded to the Tigers.
UPDATE 2: Does anyone think there is any reason to believe that Lohse would be a better fifth starter or relief pitcher than Germano? Plus, he’s more expensive. Puzzling.
UPDATE 3: According to Marc, Lohse will be staying in the bullpen. For now. But I’m worried about what happens later.
For those of you who hold out hope that Krivsky will be able to obtain a decent starter before the trading deadline, there is some indication that he doesn’t consider Lohse to fit that bill. So maybe he’s still working the phones….
UPDATE 4: We’re past the trading deadline. Looks like there won’t be any more pitching coming our way.
I’m wavering on the Lohse acquisition, by the way. More to come….