Reds Trade Chick to Mariners for Guardado
By
Amanda
Posted at 7:00 pm
Thanks to our buddy over at Rain Delay for bringing to my attention the fact that the Reds have traded Travis Chick to the Mariners for left-handed pitcher Eddie Guardado and cash.
Chick was the more loudly touted of the pitching prospects that we got in exchange for Joe Randa in July last season. The other player gotten in that trade Justin Germano is currently rocking a 4.20 ERA with the AAA Louisville Bats.
There was so much hype about Chick; I'm sorry I won't get to see him in action. What's up with this Guardado character? Is he the answer to our prayers or Krivsky's revenge against Shackelford for embarrassing the organization so?
The official site has a little more to say on the matter:
“I know him well,” Krivsky said from Sarasota, Fla, where he was watching the club's Class A team. “We've got a really good relationship. I feel he's got a lot left. We feel that he can go into the closer's role and we're excited to have him.”
In 28 relief appearances this season, Guardado was 1-3 with a 5.48 ERA and five saves. Earlier this season, he lost his closer's job to J.J. Putz and was unhappy in a setup role.
Much as I like Todd Coffey, he hasn't been putting it together as our closer lately. I don't know if it's the pressure of being the only decent one in the bullpen or what, but he might benefit from a little time in the setup role.
Even more interestingly:
According to a source with knowledge of the deal, the Commissioner's office had to approve the trade because Seattle is picking up a majority of Guardado's remaining $6.25 million salary for 2006. He signed a three-year, $17 million deal with the Mariners in December 2003 after spending 1993-2003 with the Twins.
You go, Krivsky.
Eddie’s a good clubhouse guy.
But his days as a effective closer are pretty much in the tank. Maybe the change of venue might put a bit of punch back into him and he can be effective. Right now, I wouldn’t want him in any high leverage situations. He’s given up a ton of game loosing gopher balls.
He lost his job because he couldn’t get anyone out, and JJ Putz has a devistating splitfinger..that Eddit taught him this spring. Maybe Eddie would be suited for a LOOGY roll, though he’s better at getting Rightys out than Lefties. I honestly think he has should issues as well, that’s not being spoke about. But that’s just my speculation on why after 36 saves he could fall off the cliff like this.
Shoulder Issues** that’s what I get for typing fast.
Yeah, they just interviewed GM Wayne Krivsky on t.v. during the game and he called Eddie a “good veteran prescence.” I’m not sure what he’s smokin’, but I want some. Apparently he forgot that we’ve already got veteran presence coming out our ears. Many would say that our veteran presence is the problem.
Kriv-dawg is already calling him the closer before he’s even donned a Reds’ uniform. Todd Coffey could justifiably be upset. But if Eddie’s as cooked as you say, Coffey may be back at it sooner than later.
Yeah I’d be shuddering at the idea of him closing. Right now, peeps are hitting a cool .309 against him, he’s got a 5+ ERA as well.
Just last year, Guardado had a 2.72 ERA and saved 36 games. His ERA in April was awful, but since then he’s posted sub-4.00 numbers. He has been allowing a lot of home runs this year, but it seems pretty early to claim that his days as an effective closer are “pretty much in the tank.” -j
[url=http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/news;_ylt=AqK7ov0fnmdUWYuYXLzFI9sW0bYF?slug=ap-reds-guardado&prov=ap&type=lgns]From the AP[/url]:[quote]The Mariners also picked up just under $2.6 million of Guardado’s salary of $3.3 million for the remainder of the season.[/quote]I’d say this trade was definitely worth it. Even if Guardado is completely washed up–which seems unlikely–the Reds investment is very small.
Go Kriv-dawg!
I guess he looked pretty good last night, though I didn’t see it for myself. I’m more inclined to trust the opinion of a person who has actually watched the guy play than just a bunch of numbers, but the opinion of Kriv-dawg has to trump all. Especially for that price.
I just hope he turns out to be a Brandon Phillips and not a Joe Mays.