Loading ...Not a particularly significant series of moves, but…
Right-hander Jim Brower was traded Friday from the Cincinnati Reds to the Chicago Cubs for cash.
Brower was 0-1 with a 2.88 ERA and two saves in 17 relief appearances for Triple-A Louisville.
The Reds also sold the minor league contract of right-hander Tom Shearn to Samsung of the Korean Professional League.
The 30-year-old Shearn finally made it to the major leagues last season, going 3-0 in six starts and one relief appearance late in the year. He was 6-2 with a 4.53 ERA in 10 starts for Louisville this year.
These moves, of course, were on the heels of this one:
The Reds sold the contract of Justin Lehr to the Doosan Bears of the Korean Professional League. Lehr was 4-2 with 2.41 ERA for Triple-A Louisville.
I’m not sure how much money the Reds received in return for these spare parts. Probably less than the $3.5 million they are wasting on Corey Patterson.
The best thing about this is the Reds are getting rid of “organizational filler” and making room for young arms to move up.
I agree, Bill. For example, the sale of Lehr made room specifically for Daryl Thompson to move up.
Here is a rundown of the trickle down in the minor league rotations due to these moves.
Gone: Lehr, Shearn
To AAA: Thompson, Ramirez
To AA: Smith, Wood
To A+: Carroll, Del Rosario
To A: Ravin, Arneson
I’ve never really heard of Lehr until this move. Those are good numbers in AAA, though. Was he ever going to be a significant big-leaguer?