The Reds have traded LH pitcher Jeremy Horst to the Philadelphia Phillies for SS/Utility infielder, Wilson Valdez. Mark Sheldon provides the essentials on Valdez at the plate:
Valdez spent the last two seasons in Philadelphia and batted .249 with a .294 on-base percentage, one home run and 30 RBIs over 99 games in 2011. A lifetime .243 hitter, the 33-year-old Valdez has also spent time with the White Sox, Mariners, Padres, Dodgers and Mets.
To summarize: Valdez is a poor hitter, has a low walk rate, hit one home run last year, is not a base-stealing threat, and is 33-years-old. And his fielding numbers are all over the place, with some evidence of serious deterioration last year.
Maybe Dusty Baker will be tempted to play him in only 50 games or so.
Seriously, is this really adding “depth” to the organization?