What's really interesting is that the O's fans are happier than us about the deal. It's unusual for 2 fan bases to be happy with a deal.
What's really interesting is that the O's fans are happier than us about the deal. It's unusual for 2 fan bases to be happy with a deal.
"You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."
--Woody Hayes
The OFFICIAL release from the Reds (gotta make it official, you know ):
REDS ACQUIRE CATCHER RAMON HERNANDEZ FROM O'S
Send Ryan Freel, Minor Leaguers To Baltimore
LAS VEGAS - Cincinnati Reds President of Baseball Operations and General Manager Walt Jocketty today announced the acquisition of C Ramon Hernandez and cash from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for IF/OF Ryan Freel and minor league infielders Justin Turner and Brandon Waring.
The trade was announced at the Bellagio in Las Vegas during baseball's annual winter meetings.
Hernandez, 32, last season for the Orioles made 133 appearances, including 119 starts behind the plate, and hit .257 with 22 doubles, 15 HR and 65 RBI. He hit .285 after the All-Star break.
In 10 Major League seasons and 1,118 games with the Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and Orioles, Hernandez has produced a career batting average of .263 with 137 HR and 602 RBI. He was an American League All-Star in 2003.
The Caracas, Venezuela native has 22 career post-season appearances with the Athletics and Padres and was a member of his native country's World Baseball Classic team in 2006.
Freel, 33, last season made just 48 appearances for the Reds, including 26 starts, because of a torn distal tendon in his right hamstring that required surgery on July 23. He missed the club's last 103 games of the season.
Turner, 24, last season hit .289 with 8 HR and 42 RBI in 78 games for Class AA Chattanooga and .316 with 11 RBI in 33 games for Sarasota in the Florida State League. Waring, 22, in 119 appearances last season for Class A Dayton hit .270 with 20 HR and 71 RBI.
This almost move makes me think the Jermaine Dye deal will go down. If they are willing to add an extra 3 million for Hernandez they're shouldn't be an issue with Dye's contract.
Does Hernandez hit 8th?
"Strickland Propane... Taste the meat, not the heat." - Hank Hill
The Lost Decade Average Season: 74-88
2014-22 Average Season: 71-91
Everything written has said that the O's sent enough money back to the Reds to cover the extra salary between Hernandez and Freel. Reds added no money in this deal.
I like it. If they can get Dye for Bailey + prospect would this be the lineup vs righties?
1. Dickerson CF
2. Keppinger SS
3. Votto 1B
4. Dye LF
5. Bruce RF
6. Phillips 2B
7. Edwin 3B
8. Hernandez C
I'm a fan, especially if the money is a wash. Nice upgrade.
I'm not a system player. I am a system.
I like it a lot. We get a significant upgrade behind the plate: think of it, we go from Bako-Javy-Ross in a year to Hanigan-Hernandez! And the guys we lose were, at best, pretty well blocked in the system. But moving Freel guarantees another move--either for an outfielder or a 3b with a move of EE to left. There does seem to be a plan at last. I'm still hoping the next move is for Beltre, but we'll probably have to be happy with an outfielder.
A Hernandez/Hannigan combo would be worth about 13 RC vs a Ross/Bako combo over 600 PA's.
If the Reds can upgrade 13 runs at every position, pitching remaining the same, and they'd be a 500 team.
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