So, those Reds traded Ryan Freel, eh? Might actually be a decent move, I suppose, but against the backdrop oft he cluster that is Dusty Baker’s management, it’s hard to see this move as anything other than more of said cluster.

In any event, the massive level of annoyance that it aroused in the Red Hot Household was enough to shake us from our three-month long podcasting malaise. This ought to motivate us for at least a couple months, at which time I guess they’ll have to trade Brandon Phillips to the Nationals in order to raise my ire enough to create more audio content.

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Warning: The word “fuck” appears in the following quip about three dozen times. If you’re offended by such language, well, that’s your own fault for coming to Red Hot Mama when the Reds trade Freel.

You’ve got to be fucking kidding me. You’re telling me that Ryan “Adored by every woman in Cincy” Freel was traded, and his name didn’t even make it to the motherfucking headline on Reds.com?

But other than that, spot on trade, idiots. Dusty Baker never liked Freel, and if theres one thing we’ve fucking learned this year, it’s that Baker fucking knows best. And halleluja that they sent him off to get another fucking catcher. God knows that the Reds can’t do without sixteen fucking catchers at a time. Just can’t fill the fucking void after the Cardinals salvaged LaRue. Just can’t seem to bounce back after the fucking Bench years.

Not to worry, though. David fucking Weathers will be back next year to keep things interesting. Gary Majewski will be there to put butts in the fucking seats. I can’t wait to tune in to see fucking Alex Gonzalez be injured. It’ll be fucking compelling baseball.

Overall, though, I like the trade. I bet Hernandez is going to be a real fucking asset.

You’d probably like the details. Here’s the important parts of the story on Reds.com:

LAS VEGAS — The Reds on Tuesday completed a trade in which they acquired catcher Ramon Hernandez from the Orioles for utility player Ryan Freel and two prospects.

Baltimore will also receive Reds infield prospects Brandon Waring and Justin Turner. Cincinnati is believed to be receiving $1 million in cash from the Orioles in the deal.

Hernandez is slated to make $8 million in 2009, with a 2010 club option worth $8.5 million and a $1 million payment.

Freel is scheduled to make $4 million next season.

Dammit. This sucks.

There’s not a whole lot going on in baseball right now, unless you find who received arbitration offers exciting. Which I don’t, or I would have written about it.

To tide you over, here’s an interview Ken Broo did with Joey Votto.

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…you notice this headline on your Reds feed:

Reds could bring back Weathers

Considering that he did about as well in the closer spot a couple years back making $2.5 million as Cordero did this year pulling down $10 million, it may be a thrifty approach. Makes it hard not to roll your eyes, though. Same old Reds.

No Adam Dunn next year, though, unless they sign him as a free agent. Boy, that would be a great move on his part, wouldn’t it? Out of the frying pan and back into the frying pan. What’s the speculation on where Dunn will end up next year? And what’s the whole draft pick situation with him? I’ve always been a little confused by that one.

Even Griffey remains in the Reds headlines, as he was named a “public diplomacy envoy” by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice and charged with spreading “the values of the United States” by helping to spark “interest in America and in our culture.” He’ll go to Panama in January to begin this mission while his agent is working out where he’ll sign, seeing as he’s a free agent this year too.

Award Non-rookie 4th Place in Rookie of the Year Voting

See that little table just above here? That’s the results of the 2008 Rookie of the Year voting, as performed by the Baseball Writers of America. The writers did manage to get the top two correct, as there was no doubt the Cubs Geovany Soto was the best rookie, with the Reds Joey Votto a close second. Congratulations to both of those players who had breakout years in the bigs.

However, see that little asterisk next to the name of Edinson Volquez in fourth? That’s there because he wasn’t even a rookie! It’s really nice to see the writers doing their best to ensure that criticism of their intelligence and voting ability has no basis in baseball blogs. Maybe they can follow this up by voting for Babe Ruth for Cy Young.