One of the “minor league players” in the Travis Wood and Sean Marshall exchange turns out to be young outfielder Dave Sappelt, according to John Fay. This puts the trade in a new light, in my view.
Sending Travis Wood to the Chicago Cubs was an understandable trade. The Cubs needed a starter and the Cincinnati Reds needed a reliever. Good deal, right?
I don’t think so. Sappelt played 38 games for the Reds last season. That was after a tremendous run at spring training and a very good season with Triple-A Louisville. It is my understanding he was still in the running for the left-field position.
The Reds’ young outfield corps of the Reds is being depleted. They waived Jeremy Hermida earlier in the year and then let Fred Lewis go.
The farther we get into negotiations, the more it seems the Reds are focusing on Chris Heisey as the everyday left-fielder. They already shipped heir apparent left-fielder Yonder Alonso to the Padres for Mat Latos.
In further transactions, the Reds have apparently grabbed pitcher Josh Judy off waivers, according to MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian.
There is very little to be said about Judy, who has only one big-league year under his belt. In 12 games with the Cleveland Indians in 2011, he had no decisions and ERA of 7.07. He has given up four home runs in only 14 innings.
His one endearing quality that I can see is that he strikes out almost seven in nine innings.
What the Reds have in store for the young man is yet to be determined. With the crowded pitching staff, I see him spending some time with the Bats at Louisville.
So far this offseason the Reds have traded Edinson Volquez, Travis Wood, Brad Boxberger, and have added Mat Latos and Sean Marshall.
The need of a closer still remains—whether the management decides to re-sign Coco Cordero or try to make a deal for Brad Lidge, Brandon League or Ryan Madson. In-house closing candidates would include Marshall, Nick Masset, Bill Bray, Aroldis Chapman and Logan Ondrusek.
Snatching up players like Judy does not bode well when you are giving up outstanding young talent to make room for him.
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