Lots of pitching news…
…starting with the fact that Johnny Cueto left last night’s game early with a tight left hip flexor, whatever that is.
Jared Burton returned from the disabled list to pitch terribly last night, and Micah Owings is expected to return soon (perhaps to take Cueto’s next start).
Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo cleared waivers. Let’s say one or both are traded soon, saving the Reds some money. Can anyone explain where the Reds would get five pitchers for 2010’s rotation? The money the Reds would save by moving these guys wouldn’t be enough to really reshape the starting staff, wouldn’t it?
Finally, the Reds are reportedly “far apart” in their negotiations with first round draft pick RHP Mike Leake. With only a week left in the signing window, this isn’t good news.
On the other hand, what leverage does Leake have? He was a senior at Arizona State, so he can’t go back to school. I guess he can go the Matt Harrington route and sit out a year, but that wouldn’t be a total loss for the Reds, as they’d get a compensation pick in next year’s draft in the same spot as Leake’s from this year’s draft.
I imagine this deal will get done at the last moment, like Yonder Alonso’s signing last summer.