Thanks to the intrepid reporting of my Crack Catching What I Let Slip By Staff, HMZ, you already know that Dave Williams was designated for assignment today to make room for the newly reactivated Eric Milton:

I don't know why it seems that something always happens with the Reds as soon as RHM slips away, but…while she's going through airport security, I guess it falls to me to interrupt this thread so that I can inform everyone that the Reds have activated Eric Milton from the DL, as expected.

However - and here's the kicker - instead of sending Elizardo Ramirez back to Louisville as expected, the Reds DFA'ed Dave Williams.

Marc also has a few words:

You already know by now that Dave Williams was designated for assignment today. Every list I've seen this year said he had an option remaining, so perhaps the Reds just want to get rid of him. If so, I give them credit for deciding he's just not a guy that can help them and moving on, rather than wasting time sending him to Louisville.

Full props to Daedalus, who totally called it.

Can't say as I'm surprised, though; this management seems to have very little patience with the most recent transactions of the previous regime. Mysterious that the Reds didn't use his option, so I guess we'll just have to see what happens next. And cross our fingers that Milton is an upgrade.

How awesome is this?

According to a story on mlb.com:

The Cubs have signed second baseman Tony Womack to a Minor League contract. Womack was designated for assignment by the Reds on April 25. In nine games with Cincinnati, he batted .222. In a 13-year career, Womack has played for the Pirates, Diamondbacks, Rockies, Cubs, Cardinals and Yankees. He has a career .273 average with 35 homers, 366 RBIs and 362 stolen bases. “He can play the outfield, he can pinch-hit, he can pinch-run,” Baker said. “When we had him [in 2003], he was injured. We didn't see the real Tony Womack. His arm was bad, and he's apologized for that many times.” Womack hit .235 in 21 games for the Cubs.

So many derisive things to say come to mind that I can't decide among them. I'll list them all in bullet formation, and you can choose your favorite:

• I guess the Cubs know a good thing when they see the Reds drop it.
• Tony apologized many times for having a bad arm. How many times did he apologize for having a bad everything else?
• Whew! For a minute there I thought Chicago might still try to bounce back.
• Cubs fans must be super-psyched. Finally that gaping hole at “light-hitting infielder” will be filled.
• Perhaps we'd like to give them the opportunity to sign Rick White.
• Ha ha. Cubs suck.

According to the Kansas City Star, the Reds expressed interest in dealing with the Royals for Joe Mays before he was released on Monday:

The Royals wrote off right-hander Joe Mays as a $1 million loss by releasing him Monday after failing in efforts to trade him. The Reds had expressed some interest.

Mays, 30, was 0-4 with a 10.27 ERA in six starts. He was designated for assignment May 8 when the club activated Denny Bautista from the disabled list.

The release allows Mays to become a free agent. The Royals can still recoup of portion of his $1 million salary if he signs elsewhere. His new team would be obligated to pay a prorated share of the major-league minimum salary of $327,000.

General Manager Wayne “Kriv-dawg” Krivsky would remember Mays' 2001 season with the Twins where he was the owner of a 17-13 record in 34 starts (233 innings) with a 3.16 ERA. You might not be surprised to learn that Mays was injured shortly thereafter.

His 2006 start has hardly been scintillating, but he has been playing for the Royals, after all. But I guess Kriv-dawg has already passed, so we'll be deprived his double-digit ERA.

After pitching a few scoreless innings in the Hall of Fame game before it was rained out, Eric Milton has been cleared to return to the rotation and is scheduled to make a start on Saturday against Detroit.

To make room, Elizardo Ramirez will probably be the one sent back down. I guess that makes sense, but there are so many good candidates for sending to Louisville. I hope they'll all get due consideration.

According to Reds.com, Kent Mercker has gone on the 15-day disabled list with elbow inflammation:

The injury is officially listed as left elbow inflammation, and it was enough to force Mercker onto the 15-day disabled list on Sunday. Right-hander Mike Burns was recalled from Triple-A Louisville, and was expected to arrive some time during the game against Philadelphia.

You might remember that Burns started the season in Cincinnati, but was sent down on April 19. You probably don't remember that Michael Gosling took his place on the roster because he was optioned back to Louisville a few hours later to make room for Brian Shackelford. It's not really relevant, I suppose; I just think it's funny.

I hope that Burns is feeling better after his month in Louisville. He left the team with a 7.56 ERA in seven appearances. In Louisville, he sports a 1.84 ERA in nine appearances.