Someone in the media needs to hold Walt accountable

[5TimeWSChamps]

And ask him what their thought process was in targeting Latos over Gio Gonzalez.

Because this trade is on the verge of turning into Paul O'Neill for Roberto Kelly bad.

[Red Buckeye]

I'm not going to go that far, yet, but there's no question it's been a pretty huge letdown.

[5TimeWSChamps]

It gutted the farm system of EVERY other MLB-ready prospect they had.

[OGB]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

It gutted the farm system of EVERY other MLB-ready prospect they had.

So for all practical purposes, you mean Alonso?

Because Hoover and Joseph would both be considered more major league ready than Boxberger with the year he's having.
Last time I checked, Mesoraco was in Grandal's way. If they hapen to have an injury, they have veterans in Navarro and Miller to step in for a short stretch. I'd rather have a vet come up for a few weeks than a 24 year old rookie, if one of my regular catchers had to miss a few weeks.

[5TimeWSChamps]

Originally Posted by OGB

So for all practical purposes, you mean Alonso?

Because Hoover and Joseph would both be considered more major league ready than Boxberger with the year he's having.
Last time I checked, Mesoraco was in Grandal's way. If they hapen to have an injury, they have veterans in Navarro and Miller to step in for a short stretch. I'd rather have a vet come up for a few weeks than a 24 year old rookie, if one of my regular catchers had to miss a few weeks.

Well, for practical purposes I mean trade pieces to be used in other deals. You basically gave up all your ML ready trade prospects in one move

[OGB]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

Well, for practical purposes I mean trade pieces to be used in other deals. You basically gave up all your ML ready trade prospects in one move

Didn't gut them of Mesoraco, Frazier, Cozart, Joseph, Sappelt, Villareal, Rodriguez, Corcino, Sulbaran or Soto.
If your problem is that you don't like Latos, then that is fine, but don't act as if the Reds minor leagues were depleted solely because of this trade. Also don't act as if this same package wouldn't have been the prerequisite to acquire Gonzalez, Cahill, or any of the other top flight starters available this offseason.
Just look at what Washington gave u to get Gio.

Sure, they gave up 2 of their top 4 prospects, but they included another "ML ready prospect" in the deal to get Marshall. If you think they don't have enough pieces left to get another deal done, it makes me wonder who you'd want to pursue.

Edited to add: Since you considered 2 current Padres AAA players as ML ready prospects, I figured that qualified everyone I listed above to be in that same company.

[brm7675]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

It gutted the farm system of EVERY other MLB-ready prospect they had.

We traded away what we either didn't need or had extra of for a talented still young and developing pitcher....you make that deal every day...and twice on Sunday.

[Todd Gack]

Originally Posted by brm7675

We traded away what we either didn't need or had extra of for a talented still young and developing pitcher....you make that deal every day...and twice on Sunday.

I hate this argument that we traded away guys who were getting 'blocked.' Yes guys were getting 'blocked' but we could've traded for others. I'd rather have James Shields even at his age. The fact we control Latos for multiple years at a premium is great, but this guy has to perform at some point . . .even if it's only June of his first year too.

[brm7675]

Originally Posted by Todd Gack

I hate this argument that we traded away guys who were getting 'blocked.' Yes guys were getting 'blocked' but we could've traded for others. I'd rather have James Shields even at his age. The fact we control Latos for multiple years at a premium is great, but this guy has to perform at some point . . .even if it's only June of his first year too.

I hate this idea that people think that James Shield was available. Maybe we should have gone after that young pitcher from the M's that was good and the Yankees got..oh wait he is having TJ surgery...

[5TimeWSChamps]

Originally Posted by Todd Gack

I hate this argument that we traded away guys who were getting 'blocked.' Yes guys were getting 'blocked' but we could've traded for others. I'd rather have James Shields even at his age. The fact we control Latos for multiple years at a premium is great, but this guy has to perform at some point . . .even if it's only June of his first year too.

That's what I'm saying. You had 2 big pieces to strengthen your team. You put them both in the same trade for a pitcher who has underperformed.

When you are working on a budget like the Reds are, you can't afford to miss on moves like that

[5TimeWSChamps]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

That's what I'm saying. You had 2 big pieces to strengthen your team. You put them both in the same trade for a pitcher who has underperformed.

When you are working on a budget like the Reds are, you can't afford to miss on moves like that

Especially when you have the best pitcher on the planet that you were supposedly moving into the rotation this year.

Which rotation would you rather have?

Cueto
Latos
Arroyo
Bailey
Leake

or

Cueto
Chapman
Arroyo
Bailey
Leake
(While still having your main trade pieces to improve the holes on your team)

[brm7675]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

That's what I'm saying. You had 2 big pieces to strengthen your team. You put them both in the same trade for a pitcher who has underperformed.

When you are working on a budget like the Reds are, you can't afford to miss on moves like that

OMG...its been all of 2.5 months exactly what has those we traded done for SD this year so far. Do u know what DC and the Yanks gave up to get thier pitchers? I think if u look they gave up a number of quality young players. Wonder how Yankee fan is handling thier deal...

[Wonderful Monds]

You know who else was this bad if not worse as young pitchers? Both Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay. I'm fairly certain they both got sent to single A ball after they'd been at the MLB level for awhile.

Baseball is weird, players (especially pitchers) can just have really awful seasons, and then end up bouncing back the next year. I do know one thing though, Mat Latos isn't truly two runs worse than he's been his whole career, despite what he's shown so far this season.

[5TimeWSChamps]

Originally Posted by Wonderful Monds

You know who else was this bad if not worse as young pitchers? Both Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay. I'm fairly certain they both got sent to single A ball after they'd been at the MLB level for awhile.

Baseball is weird, players (especially pitchers) can just have really awful seasons, and then end up bouncing back the next year. I do know one thing though, Mat Latos isn't truly two runs worse than he's been his whole career, despite what he's shown so far this season.

Then they shouldn't have made the trade if they are going all-in THIS YEAR, which was the point of the trade.

[Wonderful Monds]

Originally Posted by 5TimeWSChamps

Then they shouldn't have made the trade if they are going all-in THIS YEAR, which was the point of the trade.

How does that make sense? They couldn't have predicted he was going to do this coming over starting this year. Plus, literally the entire team is now locked up for long term. This year is no longer make or break.

Not to mention, the whole team is playing incredibly well.