I'm hearing Cincy wants no part of trading for a rental SP right now, and are focused on shoring up the bench, bullpen and a plan for the starting rotation. Edinson Volquez is coming off the DL sometime between this coming weekend and early next week -- he was up to 98 again in rehab Tuesday night -- and Homer Bailey has started to throw again, slated for a bullpen session before the all-star break.
If that weren't the case ... Alonso could be a soft headline name in such a deal. Toss in a Frazier, Wood or Francisco and a Junior Arias, or a Heisey/Arias combo and that would probably be a competitive package.
I'm not sure there's enough in the system to 1) warrant such a move, which is probably what Walt is thinking, too, and 2) gutting the system is never good. It's not a deep system with all the top guys either in the big leagues, on the 40-man roster or on the cusp of both.
Reds are a long shot at this point, at least without a third team getting involved to help get Seattle what it wants. If they want a starting pitcher, Fausto Carmona is a perfect match. Won't cost a ton in trade -- though he won't be super cheap -- and is signed through 2011.
Jason