Reds Deal Kearns for Bullpen Help
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The Cincinnati Reds finally traded away a piece of their outfield to help their bullpen by getting Gary Majewski and Bill Bray from the Washington Nationals.
The biggest names the Reds dealt in the eight-player deal are outfielder Austin Kearns and shortstop Felipe Lopez. The Reds also sent reliever Ryan Wagner, a first-round pick in 2004 who has struggled the last two seasons.
The Reds also picked up shortstop Royce Clayton, infielder Brendan Harris and pitcher Daryl Thompson. Clayton is likely to replace former-all star Lopez as the starting shortstop.
Majewski, Clayton and Bray are expected to report to Cincinnati in time for the game against the Colorado Rockies on Friday night. Harris will report to Triple-A Louisville and Thompson to Sarasota in the Gulf Coast League.
Facts and Figures:
- Majewski recorded a 2.93 ERA for Washington last year while leading the pitching staff with 79 appearances, a franchise record for a rookie. During the first half of this season he went 3-2 with a 3.58 ERA in 46 games.
- Bray, 23, made his Major League debut this season and has a 3.91 ERA in 19 relief appearances.
- Clayton is hitting .269 with 22 doubles and 8 stolen bases.
- Harris, 25, has appeared in 17 games for the Nationals.
- Thompson, 20, has been playing for Vermont in the Class A New York-Penn League where he is 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA in 4 starts.
- Kearns, 26, this season for the Reds hit .274 with 16 home runs and 50 RBI in 87 appearances.
- Lopez, 26, hit .268 with nine home runs and 30 RBI in 85 games during the season's first half.
- Wagner, 23, has spent the entire season in the minor leagues at Louisville, where he has posted a 6.34 ERA in 35 relief appearances.
Source
- ESPN.com
Date
Thu 07/13/06, 12:20 pm EST
