The Reds sent outfielder Josh Hamilton to Texas late Friday afternoon in exchange for two pitchers. Hamilton, who turns 27 in May, hit .292 with a .922 on-base-plus-slugging average in 90 games. He also hit 19 homers and drove in 47 runs. However, with a surplus of outfielders, the Reds considered him expendable.

Still, it is interesting to see what Hamilton's market value really is. I was hoping it would be more than a pair of prospects.

In exchange for the former No. 1 overall pick and last year's Rule 5 draft pick, the Reds received Edinson Volquez and Danny Ray Herrera.

Volquez was the Rangers minor league pitcher of the year last season. He was sent to Class A Bakersfield to start the year last season under a strict rebuilding plan designed by director of player development Scott Servais. After a seven-start tutorial there, he went 14-2 at Double-A Frisco and Triple-A Oklahoma to earn a September callup. He was 2-1 with a 4.50 ERA. The Reds say that he pitches in the mid-90's, but can sprinkle in pitches as fast as 97 MPH from time to time.

Herrera was a 2006 draft pick out of the University of New Mexico. He is a small, but crafty left-handed best suited for relief and Reds' GM Wayne Krivsky said, "He is a finesse left-hander with a good screwball and a good guy to add to our inventory of minor-league pitchers."

What this trade really says is that the Reds are ready to put minor league sensation Jay Bruce in centerfield. It should be interesting to see if that actually comes to frutition.

He now probably becomes the team's center fielder, although Krivsky said, "We'll have good competition with Bruce, Dickerson, Hopper and Freel. Manager Dusty Baker will sort it all out in spring training."

Personally, I like Hamilton and being what his contract is it seems that trading Adam Dunn or Ken Griffey Jr. would have given the Reds a better opportunity to improve the roster. Both of them have much more tape to get through to make a trade. Something tells me the Reds aren't sold on Hamilton's longevity and at the end of the day that is why this deal was made.

Does this mean there's nothing still in the works for ace Erik Bedard? Not necessarily, but don't hold your breath waiting for a deal to happen. The Baltimore Sun is reporting that Bedard likely will not be dealt by Opening Day

MLB reds, trades