Loading ...We didn’t only take on Ramon Hernandez (and his salary, some of which is picked up this year, but is $8.5M next year) and get rid of Ryan Freel, but also traded Justin Turner (.301/.356/.374 at AAA Norfolk) and Brandon Waring.
Waring’s having a pretty decent season for the Fredrick Keys (.275/.353/.512 13 homers and 46 RBIs).
If Waring were still in our system, he’d rate ahead of Francisco, IMO.
The Hernandez and Taveras trades were completely unnecessary trades. The Reds already had comparable ball players to the two, and at a much lower cost. They took on salary just in order to make it look like they were doing something. That or they are complete idiots at evaluating player performance.
The trade reflects a total failure to accurately evaluate the ability of Ryan Hanigan to fill the regular catching responsibilities.
That’s on WJ and DB also.
The $8.5 million next year is a club option, right?
Hernandez is owed $8.5 million next year with a $1 million buyout.
Hanigan’s played very, very well so far this season, but he’s a 29-year-old rookie playing a highly demanding position. If he keeps up this pace for the rest of the year, great, but I still don’t think you can count on it. And going into the season, no way.
Getting rid of Freel’s contract for a useful player at a premium position was worth giving up two guys who could turn into Adam Rosales, at best, is still a good trade in my book. You need two good catchers to get through a season.
I would rate Waring as better than Juan Francisco if, and only if, Waring knows how to put his glove on his left hand correctly.
I’m not sure Francisco can manage that, and when he does get that glove on, he’s not sure what to do with it, I’m afraid.
“Hernandez is owed $8.5 million next year with a $1 million buyout.
Hanigan’s played very, very well so far this season, but he’s a 29-year-old rookie playing a highly demanding position. If he keeps up this pace for the rest of the year, great, but I still don’t think you can count on it. And going into the season, no way.
Getting rid of Freel’s contract for a useful player at a premium position was worth giving up two guys who could turn into Adam Rosales, at best, is still a good trade in my book. You need two good catchers to get through a season.”
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Don’t you know the first rule of RLN? Thou shalt not defend any management move the Reds make, whether it makes sense or not!
I can agree that the Reds needed a second quality catcher but the price exceeds the quality.
Dallas, I await your defense of the Hernandez trade that negates the fact that Hernandez costs so darn much and isn’t all that good.
With Hanigan being 29, I think its safe to say that before this year (or at least late last year) very few thought of him as a prospect. If management would have chosen to go with Hanigan and he fell on his face, we’d all be faulting Wj for relying on a long shot like Hanigan as hard as he did.
Hanigan’s been great. I like the kid, but 28-29 is a little late to make it to the bigs especially with catchers in so much demand these days. Something clicked for him and I’m glad it was with the Reds.
Going into this year, there was no doubt the catchers on this team needed an upgrade. They got it but Hernandez came with a huge price tag.
I mentioned on another thread the that mlbtraderumors.com had a post recently where fans were invited to cast their vote for the worst contract in MLB. At first the only Red mentioned more than once was Dusty Baker.
But then bloggers began to post their team-by-team choices. For the Reds, everyone picked Hernandez.
As for me, I thought Hernandez was playing pretty well until Dusty tired him out by playing him every day. I felt all along, however, that Ryan Hanigan should be catching more.
Hernandez is in today’s lineup but no Taveras vs. RHP. According to Fay’s blog:
Chris Dickerson cf
Jerry Hairston Jr. ss
Joey Votto 1b
Brandon Phillips 2b
Laynce Nix lf
Jonny Gomes dh
Jay Bruce rf
Ramon Hernandez c
Danny Richer 3b
Bronson Arroyo sp
The Janish banishment continues.
Who was the guy in Ball Four that Bouton said they called “Poor Devil” b/c he never got to play?
Fans were invited to cast their vote for the worst contract in MLB … For the Reds, everyone picked Hernandez.
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is king.
I really didn’t mind the Hernandez thing much. I’m glad we have had his defense at first while Joey was out. Still, you gotta play your potential ROY.
Lance, on his blog, indicates that this is Richar’s major league debut at 3B:
The AAA Bats have played 8 different guys at 3B this season….Richar is not one of them.
In 731 minor league games, from 2003 to this year, he has played 6 games at 3B.
Wonder if Dusty was aware of that? Is he even aware of it now? Will he ever be aware of it?
Dusty doesn’t care. He’s got a toothpick in his mouth.
I think some are going a little overboard on Walt for the Hernandez trade. Some of this is revisionist history. Nobody knew Hanigan would be close to this and our catching situation was dreadful last year.
Yeah trading both of those prospects look like a bad decision now. Hernandez has been alright at times, but not really worth what it took to get him or keep him past this year. They really better not pick up his option for next year…that would be almost as bad as the Taveras signing. :poke:
#19) But some of us did question the trade at the time b/c of Hernandez past history (attitude and 2 bad seasons). And Hanigan’s doing about what he did in the minors…I’d have had no problem with bringing in a different (read: cheaper) catcher and having a competition, but Hanigan did well enough last year he should have been part of a competition. B/C of Hernandez salary that didn’t (and won’t happen).