The Reds traded outfielder Willy Taveras and infielder Adam Rosales to the Athletics today for infielder Aaron Miles and a player to be named later or cash, reports ESPN's Buster Olney. Let's break down this bad contract swap.
Taveras will earn $4MM in 2010. The speedy 28-year-old was a bust for the Reds in '09, hitting .240/.275/.285 in 437 plate appearances. Rosales did not hit well in the bigs either, but he did crush Triple A pitching in 125 plate appearances. Before the season Baseball America said he profiles as a "good utiltyman." He's played all around the infield in the minors. Rosales' inclusion might even out the salary gap between Taveras and Miles.
Miles will earn $2.7MM in 2010, though the Cubs sent $1MM to the A's as part of a December '09 trade. Like Taveras, he was signed to a two-year deal despite being non-tendered by his former club and proceeded to have a terrible season. AOL FanHouse's Ed Price tweets that there's "zero chance" this trade opens a spot for Johnny Damon on the Reds.
Olney posits that the Reds' $1.3MM savings may go toward Orlando Cabrera. The A's were looking to add a cheap utlityman in Rosales. The A's have taken a $3MM hit on Taveras and given up Jeff Gray, Ronny Morla, Matt Spencer, and a PTBNL or cash to get Jake Fox and Rosales. They're not done, though, as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle tweets that Oakland is "not expected to hang on to Taveras for long."
Still, we don't have all the details on this trade yet. What else will be sent to Cincinnati? What will the A's do with so many outfielders?
