Reds Acquire Wladimir Balentien

Not that significant, but okay.

Well damn, Z is wheeling and dealing today.

who is robert manuel???? My how wlad has fallen and for that matter so has vlad.

The Reds have a bazillion RHP relievers ready so, bye bye Manuel.

O Boy. Mariners did not take a good step forward today. What THE HELL is this crap! We are trading away good prospects for useless players. Where is Bill Bavasi when you need him. This makes him lok like a genius. Boy Balentein had lots of potential. Somebody tell me about this pitcher we got.

Wladimir Balentien couldn't hit water if he fell out of a boat... does anyone remember Willy Mo Pena? This was a bad move! Young pitching is too important to trade away these days... Eventually David Weathers' arm is going to fall off!!

hey seamariner: kneejerk reaction much? you should wait till these guys actually play a few games before you judge them

I think we need to start thinking about firing Jack Z. He ruined our farm systme in one day with dumb trades, and we still got two days left

He hits RHP better than LHP, which won't matter to Dusty unless he needs it to.

Like this for Cinci, low risk.

Is Jim Bowden back?

Is Manuel MLB ready? Or is he going to be in the farm for a year or three?

He's ready. He's had a cup of coffee this year. Like I said he doesnt have overpowering stuff with a fastball that may top out at 90 but he just knows how to pitch

85% chance Snell doesn't turn it around. Calling him a potential #3 is a bit of a long shot.

Great just what the Reds NEED, yet ANOTHER guy who can't hit and can't get on base to save his life.

A 25 year old "with talent" but who has a ML career Batting Average of .204, a ML career On Base Percentage of .260 and who has a K/BB ratio of 4 1/2 to 1.

So, add him to a lineup that includes Willy Taveras (sub .250 Batting Average and sub .300 OBP) and Alex Gonzalex, (.204 BA and sub .250 OBP) and I can just see the Runs piling up now.

What is it with these guys? Toothpick Baker just can not LIVE without Corey Patterson, Jerry Hairston Jr and Paul Bako (all three of whom he had with the Cubs). Walt Jocketty is rumored to be going after Scott Rolen (whom he had while with St. Louis) and now it is Balentin (whom Bavasi had while he was GM with Seattle).

I just can not WAIT to see what CRAPTASTIC player Cam Bonifay (ex GM of the Pirates) gets to bring in.

ctownboy you are the most ignorant reds fan Ive ever came across, you bitch and moan about everything and throw out stupid trades like the reds need to go after Hanley. Your act is really old

This is another horrible trade. Balentien was solid every time he started, then he'd have a bad day and they'd bench him. If they gave him the look that Cedeno got a SS, Balentien would have kept Saunders in AAA. Balentien is the real deal. His problem with sliders will go away one he is in the lineup regularly and his defense is marginal, his arm is big, and he's going to get better since he's only 24 going on 25. This was a huge pickup for the Reds and a horrible trade for the Mariners. You NEVER acquire control righties. We would've been better off including Balentien in the Pirates trade and getting Grabow back for our bullpen. This trade sucks.

Nothing traded for nothing. Bumpin' uglies. Enjoy Wily Mo Pena II, Cincy.

As a Reds fan I have to say I like this move for both clubs. I've always like the potential Balentein has and Robert Manuel is going to be a very fine middle reliever. He was good the few innings the Reds had him up this year and I believe he can hit higher than 89 mph but I could be wrong. The Reds have plenty of other right handed power relievers in the minors (Josh Roenicke being the best)

The Mariners today:

Recieved:
Jack Wilson
Ian Snell
Robert Manuel

Lost:
Jeff Clement
W Balentein
Ronny Cedeno (HA)
3 prospects

i do think, we have one

Mariners won this one.

They got the minor league relief pitcher of the year and the Reds got Willy Mo Pena's long lost cousin.

Reds should have called up Heisey.

God I wish we could have intelligent conversations without the input of Iknowalilsomething crap.

Dude- Figure out a way to squeeze your crap into 3 sentences, 4 max. PLEASE. Bad ideas and ridiculous trade concepts are fine, but bad ideas that go on for 17 paragraphs are painful to look at.

Cincinatti fans, in my opinion, you got yourself a player who mashed at every level except the one that counts. His minor league lines are similar to Nelson Cruz. I could see him turning into a big power stick, or I could see him never learning how to hit off speed stuff then going to Japan and killing it there.

Big upside, not alot given up.

Brining in guys like Branyan, Aardsma, Chavez, and Guiterrez have really helped out this team, and he made an awesome trade by getting rid of Putz who was damaged goods in the first place. I can only imagine what's in store for the next few seasons. Not to mention the deal of all deals, getting rid of that turd Betancourt and actually getting something for him.

If I had the chance, I'd rather him be the GM of Pittsburgh instead of Huntington, but Neal has a plan and is sticking to it. I just wish he can find a few more high ceiling prospects, depth is good but mostly all these young guys are unspectacular.

GOTTA HAVE FAITH IN JACK Z

redsfan,

Since the start of the 2008 season, the Reds "brilliant" Front Office people have brought in these "offensive threats": Corey Patterson, Jerry Hairston Jr, Paul Bako, Willy Taveras, JHJ again, Layne Nix, Jonny Gomes, Jacque Jones and Daryl Ward.

On top of this they have traded Ryan Freel for Ramoan Hernandez, an average offensive player who is BAD on Defense.

They have traded Norris Hopper (a Willy T clone who makes $400,000 compared to $2.25 million and a guy who not only won a Minor League Batting Championship but who ALSO hit well over .300 his half a season in the Majros in 2007) for Corky Miller.

They traded Jeff Keppinger who ALSO hit well in 2007 and who started 2008 off well before he broke his knee cap and came back too soon for Drew Sutton. Keppinger is platooning for the Astros (who have a BETTER record than the Reds) and hitting .280 while Sutton is bouncing back and forth from Triple A to the Majors and who is NOT hitting at all.

To top it ALL off, Jocketty said last Fall that the Reds NEEDED a power hitting Outfielder and what do they do?

Do they go out and trade for Josh Willingham (who had combined offensive Road numbers equal to or better than Adam (ONE TOOL) Dunn, Pat Burrell and Jermaine Dye from 2006 to 2008 and who has put up better numbers in 2009 than the Reds combined Left Fielders) and who I KNEW the Marlins were going to HAVE to get rid of (for salary reasons)? NO.

Did they go after Bobby Abreu who, from 2004 to 2008 combined, had MORE Hits, Doubles, Walks, Stolen Bases Runs and RBI's, a higher Batting Average and a higher On Base Percentage than Adam (ONE TOOL) Dunn while hitting nearly 100 FEWER Home Runs than Dunn? A guy who in 2009 is on pace to score MORE Runs than Dunn and have about the SAME number of RBI's while hitting 30 FEWER Home Runs and drawing 30 FEWER Walks.

No they didn't. In fact it has been reported that Jocketty didn't even talk to his Agent.

As far as Hanley Ramirez goes the Marlins have a decision to make. They can keep him and his large (for them) salary and then get rid of Jorge Cantu, Dan Uggla, Jeremy Hermida and Cody Ross OR they can trade Ramirez for prospects and keep ALL of those other players.

Based on the Marlins history, what do you REALLY think they are going to do?

In summary, you keep WASTING your money going to GASP. You keep HOPING (like the Reds Front Office has done) that these scrub, retread players ARE lightning in a bottle and are the ones to put the Reds over the top (which for them is a .500 record).

Meanwhile, I will KEEP my money and NOT attend games at GASP and sit back and LAUGH as they continue to struggle year after year to have a winnign record and wonder WHY after yet ANOTHER losing season they have FAILED.

Ctownboy: Willingham not available. Keppinger had a big game last night which raised his average otherwise hadn't done much. Who is to say that Abreu would have wanted to play in Cincy. Again, you waste your breath for what? To say the Reds suck? Go do something else if it hurts your feelings that bad.

Questrion to all,

If Wladimere is "all that" and he is blocked in the Outfield then WHY didn't they just use him as the DH? I mean instead of doing THAT they brought in 39 year old King Griffey Junior. An injury prone, over the hill player who is currenly hitting .210.

So, you are trying to tell me that the old, injury prone KGJ, a guy who is making over $2 million dollars this year is better than the young, Balentin (who is making $405,000 this year)?

Because that is EXACTLY what it looks like to me.

whiskey,

Going into the off season the Marlins had nine players who were eligible for Salary Arbitration. Willingham (and two other guys) were THE MOST LIKELY TO BE TRADED because of the pay increases they were going to make in SA. Willingham went from about $400,000 to $2.95 million.

As far as Abreu goes, he went from making $15 million a year to making $5 million. There would have been NO HARM in giving him a one year deal worth $7 or $8 million dollars. He would have been playing in a hitters park which could only help his numbers.

If he performed well and the Reds were in Play Off contention they could have kept him and talked to him about a contract for 2010 and beyond. If he played well but the Reds were out of contention then they could have traded him for prospects. If he sucked then the Reds would only have him for one year.

Last week, Jocketty said he would only make a trade if he felt it would help the tam now and in the future. If THAT is the case then WHY Wladimere?

Stubbs and Heisy are BOTH younger than Wlad and are stuck in the Minors. WHY not bring eithre of them up and give them a CHANCe this year? If the season is lost, why not see what they can do?

I know; because bringing either of those two up NOW would mean it starts their Major League clock as far as service time goes and THAT means that Ca$htellini MIGHT have to pay them MORE MONEY in Salary Arbitration two or three years from now IF they are in the Major Leagues and IF they are STILL with the Reds.

He's certainly an embarrassment to those of us who live in Cincinnati. I don't think I've ever read a post of his in which he wasn't whining.

That said, I don't see the point in this trade. The Reds organization is never short on outfielders who haven't lived up to their potential.

"The Reds organization is never short on outfielders who haven't lived up to their potential."

3 outfielders right now on the 25-man roster. We've got 2 of them that are hurt and probably out until the end of the year.

I see an outfielder possibly being included in a trade.

Good deal. Have fun waiting for Balentien to tap into his potential, Cincinnati. Never gonna happen.

Rob,

I KNOW why KGJ was brought back to Seattle and you are right it has EVERYTHING to do with the $$$. My Point is, if Wladimere IS something special and IS (hopefully) going to break out in the next year or two and he IS blocked in the Outfield then WHY didn't the Mariners keep him and sue him as DH?

They can NOT expect KGJ to be the DH for the next three years so if Wlad is going to possibly be the next Nelson Cruz then WHY NOT KEEP HIM instead of giving up on him and dealing him for a Minor League Relief Pitcher whose Fast Ball tops out at less than 90 MPH?

If all of his talent is just waiting to bust out then why deal him?

If the Reds already have Bruce, Taveras and Dickerson signed for next year, they have Gomes controlled because of Salary Arbitration (whether they decide to offer him it is a different question) and they have Stubbs and Heisy in the Minors (plus the possibility of moving Joey Votto to Left Field when and if Yonder Alonso is ready to come up and play First Base) then there is NO NEED for Wlad in the future either.

Instead of making moves that correlate to moving deck chairs around on the Titanic why not make BIG moves that WILL help the team win? You know bring in PROVEN talent with a PROVEN track record in the Majors?

The Reds traded for the young and talented Drew Henson.

The Reds traded for the young and talented Wily Mo Pena.

The Reds had the young and talented Willie Grreene and the young and talented Brandon Larsen and how did all of THOSE guys turn out?

If Stubbs and Heisy ARE the FUTURE then WHY NOT BRING THEM UP NOW AND GIVE THEM A CHANCE TO PROVE THEMSELVES IN THE MAJORS instead of letting them rot in the Minors and using Darnell McDonald, JHJ and other scrubs and retreads in the Outfield?

In a LOST season I would MUCH rather them get experience NOW and see what they can do INSTEAD of waiting until 2010 or 2011 (when the Reds MIGHT be in Play Off contention) and having them come up and be EXPECTED to produce under pressure and when it counts.

Actually history has shown the Reds acquire alot of trash and normally overpay for it. They are always looking for lightning in a bottle....guy has tools, great, but he can't hit a curveball...so useless.

Questrion to all,

If Wladimere is "all that" and he is blocked in the Outfield then WHY didn't they just use him as the DH? I mean instead of doing THAT they brought in 39 year old King Griffey Junior. An injury prone, over the hill player who is currenly hitting .210.

So, you are trying to tell me that the old, injury prone KGJ, a guy who is making over $2 million dollars this year is better than the young, Balentin (who is making $405,000 this year)?

Because that is EXACTLY what it looks like to me.

Posted by: ctownboy | July 29, 2009 at 03:15 PM

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Balentien shouldn't have been blocked in LF, Saunders should still be in AAA, and it's for the same reason that he wasn't the DH. They never gave him a chance and when they did they abused him. You don't stick a rookie in the cleanup spot of the order. Before they put him there, he was hitting close to .300 with a .330-ish OBP and a .750 OBP. He also just missed a couple homeruns that at that point of the season would have put him over .800 for OPS. He reminds me of Vlad Guerrero, a little bit of a free swinger, but I think he got into some bad habits this season when they put him in the four hole, which is a no-no. You NEVER stick a rookie in the four hole. This was an example of Wak making rookie mistakes as a manager. When Chavez got injured Balentien was named the starter.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?n1=balenwl01&t=b&year=2009&share=1.28#75-96-sum:batting_gamelogs

That's his stat line until they decided to mess with his head and make him bat cleanup.

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http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.cgi?n1=balenwl01&t=b&year=2009&share=0.83#114-123-sum:batting_gamelogs

That's the stretch before they acquired Balentien when he was again posting a .767 OPS.

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The funny thing is how the stats are very similar. He's the type of guy that needs to bat lower in the lineup for right now, and hitting the breaking pitch was not a problem before Langerhans came around, he'd fixed that problem when he lsot his starting job to Endy, and when he had worked his way past that breaking pitch issue, he was laying off on a lot of them. His upper tank shot in left-center that was some 445 ft. away at sea level was on a slider, just as an F.Y.I. He really is a great player waiting to geet a chance to produce. I'm just upset that the Mariners never really gave him a chance, and it tells you about an organization when they promise a young kid the starting job for the rest of the season and about 8 games later they replace him with a 29 year old journeyman outfielder. This wasn't Balentien's fault it's Seattle's fault and I'm growing more and more disappointed with Jack Z and the direction of this club. I wanted to see them buy, but I wanted to see them buy a month ago, not now, and what they are buying should be discounted.

That's the stretch before they acquired Balentien when he was again posting a .767 OPS.

=

That's the stretch before they acquired Langerhans when Balentien was again posting a .767 OPS.

Being a Reds fan, I think this is a positive. I compare Balentien to Johhny Gomes, he's really produced with the limited time that he has had almost 125 AB's this year with 10 HR 24 RBI. Not too shabby, and with Balentien coming to GASP there is no telling what he can do in that stadium.

This hinders the oppertunity of either Drew Stubbs or Chris Heisey to get called up but maybe it's for the best after watching Bruce's sophomore season.

I think both Seattle and Cincinnati obtain small pieces for their teams. I do see Manuel getting sent to Mariners not to AAA but we will see.

All of this talk is moot. Let's talk hypothetically (and wishful thinking). Let's just say over the next two seasons, Joey Votto wins a batting title, Volquez and Cueto become Cy Young candidates, Balentien and Bruce become MVP candidates, still with me? There is no way in HELL the cheap ass Reds can afford to keep all this talent. This is what really, REALLY fries me. A small market team can make all the right moves and their reward is having to trade them away for prospects that may or may not pan out because they can't afford their stars anymore. Salary cap. Salary cap. Salary cap. America needs to WAKE UP. The NFL, NBA and NHL did. MLB is starting to look like a greedy man's sport and we know what happened to the Republicans this past election when American saw them for what they really are, corporate greed meisters. Out of office!

I love the move!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Look at the stats and get back to me, my little reindeer friend. Or are you named after the leader of 1930s and 40s Germandy?

Why is everyone so enamored with the fact that manuel can barely hit 90 on the gun? Who cares what his velocity is?
He's proven he can get hitters out at every level he's pitched at, he's got a deceptive delivery, good command and good movement on his pitches, and most importantly, HE GETS PEOPLE OUT!

Jesus, you'd think by now that people would figure out that you don't need to light up the radar gun to retire big league hitters, I seem to remember a certain pitcher who can barely hit 90 on the gun who relies on movement and command who just set the major league record for most consecutive batters retired yesterday. I'm so glad we have a GM who actually looks at stuff that truly matters when it comes to evaluating talent rather than people just saying "Oh, the guy can't throw hard, he must suck"

By the way the other two that can't touch 90 mph are knuckleballers Wakefield and Dickey.

jack Z and me are best buds and he said we are going after juan piere next

Posted by: marinersfanforlife | July 29, 2009 at 06:27 PM

Sweet then we can have a guy who can't throw or hit playing LF and we can throw money at another useless player!

By the way the Reds are not stocked full of relievers, get your head out of your a**. If they were to trade Weathers or Rhodes they'd have to call up Ramon Ramirez at this point.

I think we need to start thinking about firing Jack Z. He ruined our farm systme in one day with dumb trades, and we still got two days left

Posted by: seamariners2 | July 29, 2009 at 02:09 PM
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you really think that??? haha

okay thats funny. He should be given an award for getting rid of Cedeno. Snell has great potential, let Adair get ahold of him, make some adjustments(like he did with Wash). Not saying its a guarantee of course. Just saying its possible. Jack Wilson maybe 31 but i mean thats not old in baseball. He plays amazingly and he hits way better than Cedeno ever could. Clement had his chance. Balentein kind of was screwed by Chavez then Langerhans but we got something better in return. Okay, i'll start the angry mob scene so we can fire Z since its soooo horrible. Like someone said earlier, none of those prospects were in the top 15 for the M's. Im not a big fan of the whole thing but still, its not terrible.

oh and robert manuel is a scab. he has below average stuff.