Players let go...

[TRF]

As some of you know, I was and am an Elizardo Ramirez fan. I'd have preferred him to Josh Fogg in this year's rotation, and still think he has very good upside. He was reassigned to the Rangers minor league camp last week. His ST numbers: 8 games, 8.2 IP 1HBP, 1BB 7K's 0.00 ERA. They obviously looked at him as a reliever, and I am curious if they still see him as a starter in their organization. He was young, cheap and provided depth, and I see no reason for the Reds to not offer him a minor league contract.

Miguel Perez is going to AA for the Pirates. After his surgery to remove a rib, his hitting really came around. He was considered major league ready behind the plate. For an organization that is completely bereft of catching talent, the move to let a 24 year old catcher, who was apparently on the rise, go is a little puzzling.

Cody Ross was barely a Red, but was transitioned to the Marlins via Cincinnati for no reason or benefit to the club.

Brendan Harris was shipped to TB. I can't remember why or for what. Calvin Medlock was optioned to Durham by TB. The return for Medlock was Jorge Cantu who provided the Reds absolutely nothing.

Now we have a DFA of Cout, a guy almost certain to get claimed. While it could be a part of a larger move that won't be announced until after 1:00 today, it is again a puzzling move.

This isn't a rag Krivsky thread. Of late he's just made so many moves that I am thrilled with that I can't bash the guy. With one oft noted exception, his large moves are actually quite good, the most recent being the Hamilton Rule 5 pick/conversion to a young starting pitcher with ACE potential. But some of his moves that involve depth and the bench have me shaking my head.

Overall, I think every player i mentioned will see time in a major league uniform. I think Harris is the starting 2B in Minnesota now. Cout will either get claimed or be back in Red soon enough. Medlock in AAA means he's likely on the short list of relievers to get called up in case of an injury. All Perez has to do is hit, which he showed he can do last year.

EZ is the guy that I find the most intriguing. If his arm strength is back to 100%, the Rangers have a diamond in the rough.

[BuckeyeRedleg]

Good post. As you have mentioned before, they let Guevara go (for nothing) as well.

All were let go and Majewski, Gardner, Hanigan, and Janish all still occupy precious roster spots.

[TRF]

Good post. As you have mentioned before, they let Guevara go (for nothing) as well.

All were let go and Majewski, Gardner, Hanigan, and Janish all still occupy precious roster spots.

I'm ok with three of those. Majewski, is plain stubborness on Krivsky's part. Hanigan is needed, Janish is a defensive specialist. We'll see if he can hit. Gardner is probably getting his last shot with the org. He was dominant last year at AA. I had forgotten about Guervara. Looks like the Padres are keeping him. No word yet on the return for Brad Salmon either.

None of the guys let go except Salmon and Guervara would have cost the Reds a spot on the 40 man roster. Maybe Medlock, maybe. I'd feel better about it if they were replaced with some good players, but in every case, I'd have to say they weren't. BJ Szymanski is still in the Reds organization, offering nothing and EZ isn't?

[RedsManRick]

I agree. When it comes to fungible talent, those 23-25 guys on the roster, it's frustrating to see us constantly err on the side of the more expensive, lower ceiling, but "proven" veteran option. It eats payroll and limits your opportunity for an unexpected break-out success. Of course, the idea is that is supposedly also minimizes the downside risk, but I think that case is probably overstated.

My guess is that there's a whole lot of CYA when it comes to those spots. Better to have Josh Fogg fail and pin it on him than have Ramirez fail and have the GM look stupid.

[TRF]

Oh, and the reason I posted this in ORG and not the minors forum is I believe EZ could out produce Josh Fogg as the number 4-5 starter on this team. I think Miguel Perez would have been ideal catching Cueto and Volquez. I think Merker is probably done by mid-season. I think Salmon could have been a big help.

[BuckeyeRedleg]

I'm ok with three of those. Majewski, is plain stubborness on Krivsky's part. Hanigan is needed, Janish is a defensive specialist. We'll see if he can hit. Gardner is probably getting his last shot with the org. He was dominant last year at AA. I had forgotten about Guervara. Looks like the Padres are keeping him. No word yet on the return for Brad Salmon either.

Hanigan and Tatum seems too much to me. They already have Ross (when off the DL), Valentin, and Bako. 5 catchers just seems a bit much.

I can't see both Janish and Gardner being taken by anyone else. I think they could remain in the organization, just not occupying a precious roster spot.

And as you said, Majewski is Wayne being stubborn.

[Nugget]

Hold it - EZ was assigned by the Rangers who arguably have a worse rotation than the REDS so I don't think EZ would necessarily be better than Fogg. EZ has had two years to show that he could hold down a place in the rotation.

Cody Ross was let go at a time when there was an abundance of OFs on the 25 man roster.

As for Perez, I think this was a 40-man move on the basis that the REDS thought that he would not have been able to assist the major league club in the near future - if I understand it Perez has been assigned to AA for the Pirates while Haningan is at AAA. I would like to defer to Doug as to who is preferred between Tatum and Perez.

The guys that I don't see issues with are guys like Medlock who were not on the 40 man but were let go. Although at this point none of those guys seem to have made it very far - look at Bobby Basham.

[TRF]

EZ's was so badly misused by Narron that he may have been injured by him. If I were EZ, I'd poke needles in a Jerry Narron doll every night. Fogg's had 6 years to prove he was worthy of a rotation spot. He keeps getting one despite being an awful starting pitcher.

Ross never should have been acquired. There was no reason for it.

I think we'll miss Perez, especially if his hitting continues to improve.

Guervara, Salmon and Medlock would be some nice AAA depth. Instead we get Majewski, Lincoln and Tom Shearn. Oh wait, Lincoln made the team after being out of the game for four years.

[Caveat Emperor]

Oh, and the reason I posted this in ORG and not the minors forum is I believe EZ could out produce Josh Fogg as the number 4-5 starter on this team.

Turd Soup or Feces Ravioli -- really, I'm just skipping straight to dessert either way.

[medford]

according to C Trent, Richie was claimed by the Brewers.

[Team Clark]

EZ's was so badly misused by Narron that he may have been injured by him. If I were EZ, I'd poke needles in a Jerry Narron doll every night. Fogg's had 6 years to prove he was worthy of a rotation spot. He keeps getting one despite being an awful starting pitcher.

Ross never should have been acquired. There was no reason for it.

I think we'll miss Perez, especially if his hitting continues to improve.

Guervara, Salmon and Medlock would be some nice AAA depth. Instead we get Majewski, Lincoln and Tom Shearn. Oh wait, Lincoln made the team after being out of the game for four years.

Shearn wasn't all that bad. I like having him around as an option. Especially if he had to be called up and put in a slot behind a Cueto or Volquez.

[BuckeyeRedleg]

I guess I was wrong that nobody would ever claim Gardner.

[camisadelgolf]

Shearn wasn't all that bad. I like having him around as an option. Especially if he had to be called up and put in a slot behind a Cueto or Volquez.

I'm going to respectfully disagree with you on that. I don't have a knock on him personally, and I was thrilled that he finally got his chance, but I feel like the Tom Shearn we saw with the Reds last year was the best we could ever see him do. I'd take my chances with Jim Brower before Tom Shearn.

[OnBaseMachine]

Calvin Medlock was designated for assignment today to clear room on the 40-man roster for Dan Johnson, who the Rays claimed off waivers from the A's.

[PuffyPig]

Shearn wasn't all that bad. I like having him around as an option. Especially if he had to be called up and put in a slot behind a Cueto or Volquez.

Shearn is worse than bad.

Most admit he probaly over achieved with the Reds last year, and he still posted a 6.60 FIF ERA.

Other than an emergency start ,we oughth to forget he exists.