The Reds continued to retool their roster on Monday by pulling off a surprising trade, sending outfielder Adam Dunn to the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for three prospects.

Dunn, who is currently tied for the major-league lead in homeruns with 32, will provide some much-needed pop for the Diamondbacks. Reports say that he could be moved to right field. That is a a scary proposition, but it is a risk that Arizona apparently is willing take.

In exchange for Dunn, Cincinnati will receive minor league pitcher Dallas Buck and two other players to be named later, according to ESPN.com.

Buck, 24, this season went 1-4 with a 3.94 ERA in 9 games and 8 starts with Class A South Bend. Last Monday he was promoted to High Class A Visalia and made one appearance, pitching 5.0 shutout innings Thursday vs San Jose. He will be assigned to Class A Sarasota.

Dunn was sent to be a free agent at season's end and apparently the two sides didn't feel they were in each other's future. The Reds technically could still attempt to bring him back in the off-season, but it seems less unlikely now.

The move comes just 10 games after the team dealt Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox.  The Reds have gone 1-9 since then and now without Dunn in the line-up the team is looking pretty weak.  Cincinnati is currently 19 1/2 games behind the Cubs in the NL Central at sit 15 games under .500 at 52-67. It's not too far fetched to think that the Reds could be headed for a 100-loss season. As it stands, they are staring at their eight straight losing season.

Had the Reds not traded Dunn, they could have been rewarded two high draft picks next year if they at least offered him arbritration. 

Dunn is frustrating. He is a defensive liability and is naturally lackadaisical. Still, he is a mortal lock for 40 HRs for every season. No player in MLB has more homeruns or walks over the past five years. 

The Reds are expected to make a 25-man roster move prior to Tuesday's game. The real question is who the heck is in the outfield for the rest of this season?

Jay Bruce, Corey Patterson, and Jolbert Cabrera are not going to cut it. 

MLB reds, diamondbacks, adam dunn, dallas buck, jay bruce, corey patterson, jolbert cabrera

The radio media is coming around.  It took two and half months for them to realize what most of us on the internet have been preaching since October:  Dusty Baker is the worst manager the Reds could have hired and is the worst manager in the Major Leagues including the two brand new interim managers.  The local print media still drool and fawn over Baker, but the rest of us are clued in.  No rational baseball person ignores statistics and plays Corey Patterson at all (much less bats him leadoff), bats Paul Janish or Jolbert Cabrera second, and bats Ken Griffey Jr. third. 

How do we know he ignores statistics?  After Tuesday night's game, a game in which he left Patterson in to bat in a one run game with runners at second and third and a left handed pitcher on the mound, he was asked why he let Patterson stay in and, predictably, ground out.  He said that, "Corey historically has had better success against left handed pitching."  This is a lie or is and example of a manager who does no preparation.  In his career, he is batting .240 against lefties and .264 against righties.  This year, he is batting .167 against lefties and .197 against righties. 

More Reds thoughts...

• I am going to disagree with Marty Brennaman and Jeff Brantley (this is a rare occurance) and state that Joey Votto is just what the scouts say he is- a below average defensive first baseman.  When receiving a throw from an infielder, he bends at the knees  and catches the balls at his chest instead of stretching properly.  His arm is inaccurate and he rarely make any scoops in the dirt.
  
  
• It is time to start worrying about the long term future of Homer Bailey.  His low 90s straight fastball can blow most minor leaguers away, but that cannot carry him in the big leagues.  He needs much better off speed stuff to keep hitters off of his hittable fastball.  He has also developed a nasty reputation that he is stubborn and uncoachable.  We may have to start hoping he develops into a #4 or #5 starter instead of an ace.
  
  
• What do you think Griffey's reaction would be to a move to the number six or seven slot in the lineup?  If management has the guts to do it, I applaud them because I bet that does not go over well.
  
  
• There is a sabermetric theory in baseball that you never give a large contract to a reliever.  They are a dime a dozen and do not appear on the field in enough innings compared to the rest of the team.  Francisco Cordero is proving theory to be correct.  He has barely pitched over 30 innings.  The Reds' fifth starters will combine for around 200 innings.
  
  
• There is nothing left at Triple A Louisville except pitchers Darryl Thompson, Daniel Herrera, and Josh Roenicke.  There is no more position player help on the way for at least a year, maybe more.  By the way, Matt Maloney cannot help the Reds.
  
  
• The Reds need to look into why they play so poorly on Sundays.  They seem to be just going through the motions while they get smoked each Sunday.
  
  
• Coco Crisp would look nice in a Reds uniform.  He is a switch hitter, can bat leadoff, is fast, has some pop (as shown last weekend at GABP) and can cover a lot of ground in centerfield.  The Reds badly need all of those qualities- he is a great fit.
  
  
• Speaking of looking good in a uniform... have you seen ex- Red Dmitri Young lately?  He looks anyting but good because he is resembling Cecil Fielder.
  
  
• The Austin Kearns, Felipe Lopez and Ryan Wagner trade to Washington back in 2006 is not looking so bad for the Reds.  Those three players have turned out below average production while Kearns and Lopez have collected big paychecks.  Meanwhile, Bill Bray and Gary Majewski are having solid 2008 seasons and Darryl Thompson has become the Reds' #1 pitching prospect.
  
  
• Have you seen the seven picks Jim Bowden and Reds took in the 2001 amatuer draft before the Red Sox took Cincinnati product Kevin Youkilis in the 8th round?  Here they are in order:  1.  Jeremy Sowers (went unsigned, just like he promised before the draft)  2.  Justin Gilman  3.  Alan Moye  4.  Steve Kelly  5.  Daylan Childress  6.  Scott Light  7.  Bobby Basham.  Pathedic.  Jim Bowden actually caused more harm to the franchise than anyone else with the exceptions of the ex- owners Marge Schott and Carl Lindner.  Give Dusty Baker some more time though and he may catch him.

More next week...

MLB reds, dusty baker, corey patterson, paul janish, jolbert cabrera, ken griffey, marty brennaman, jeff brantley, joey votto, homer bailey, francisco cordero, darryl thompson, daniel herrera, josh roenicke, matt maloney, bill bray, gary majewski, darryl thompson

Today is a great day for Bob Castellini and Walt Jocketty to blow things up and they need to begin with the Reds' bench. There is too much dead weight on this team.  They are getting no production from various washed up veterans.  It is time to replace them with more youthful talent which should also rid them of this losing atttude. 

We have seen what the kids (Votto, Volquez, Janish, Cueto) have done when given the opportunity. They play with passion and heart, like they actually care about winning.  The Reds need more of that and with a core group of younger players the time to start rebuilding the attitude of this team is now.  So today Mr. Castellini and Mr. Jocketty suck it up, eat some payroll, and bring up some fresh faces for Tuesday's game against the Pirates - COMMIT!

SEND 'EM PACKING
Corey Patterson - After Sunday's 0-8 performance (in the lead-off spot) he is hitting .201.  The only complimentary thing the team's announcers can say about him is that "he has got a great arm".  Let him use it to hitch a ride out of town to Mendozaville.  Replace him with Jay Bruce it's time.

Scott Hatteberg - Votto has proven he can hit lefties and play everyday.  Hattie is done.  Batting .173, he can't contribute coming off the bench.  This team needs a RH bench bat. Why not bring up Jolbert Cabrera? He is just a better fit for this team.

Matt Belisle - He never could put together two quality starts in a row. At 1-4, a 7.28 ERA and WHIP just under 2.00 ERA, it is time to part ways.  Bring up LHP Matt Maloney and start him. Maloney is 3-0 w/ a 1.32 ERA in his last four starts.  Friday is his rotation day.

Josh Fogg - Fogg is just too much of a liabilty and his 9.00 ERA can't help anymore.  Bring up Daryl Thompson and start him Thursday.  Thompson has been senstional at AA Chatanooga (3-2, 1.76 ERA) and was recently promoted to Triple A Louisville.

That's four fresh faces on Tuesday that will be a good place to start.

MLB corey patterson, jay bruce, walt jocketty, bob castellini, scott hatteberg, josh fogg, matt belisle, daryl thompson, matt maloney, jolbert cabrera

The Reds' roster continues to dwindle closer to the mandatory 25-man limit it must be at by Monday. The team reassigned three more players on Saturday. Jim Brower, Jolbert Cabrera and Jerry Hairston Jr. are now out of the mix. That leaves the number at 28, but Mike Stanton has already been told he will be cut and catcher David Ross is likely to start the season on the disabled list which means one more pitcher will likely be moved.

Cabrera had the best spring of the bunch, hitting .296 while driving in 14 runs. Hairston was signed after camp broke, but the veteran played well in his limited as he also hit. 296 with 6 RBI's. Brower, who has played with the team in previous stint, was hoping to make it back at 35. He will have to get it done in Louisville now, and hope an opportunity arises.

Alll of these moves also are just another inidicator for how good the Reds' depth this season, particularly in the bullpen.

MLB reds, jim brower, jolbert cabrera, jerry hairston jr., david ross, mike stanton