The Reds have designated Aaron Miles and Wladimir Balentien for assignment, according to C. Trent Rosecrans of CNati.com (Twitter link). We heard on the weekend that the Reds were likely to designate the pair for assignment to create roster space if GM Walt Jocketty didn't find a trade partner.
The Mariners designated Balentien for assignment last summer, before the Reds acquired the outfielder leading up to the trade deadline. The Reds would acquire Miles six months later for Adam Rosales and Willy Taveras in a bad contract swap.
Miles hit .185/.224/.242 in 170 plate appearances for the Cubs last year and followed that up with a .152/.222/.212 performance this spring. It's hard to imagine any team claiming him. Balentien hit a more robust .327/.353/.571 this spring; in 295 plate appearances last year, he hit .234/.305/.385.
Nats, are you paying attention? One of your better options for RF was just designated for assignment by the Reds.
I believe the Reds will regret DFA’ing Wlad in favor of keeping Laynce Nix. Wlad will likely turn out to be a great player for a team that gives him the opportunity to play every day.
Agreed, but Wleademier seems to be an all or nothing kinda guy. Fits the Nats since they won’t be going anywhere this year.
Reds won’t regret this one because his role is filled by Gomes. We already had a power RH bat off the bench. We have too many quality guys waiting in the wings to keep him on the big league roster. We need the space for quality guys now, not developmental projects. It’s a different attitude in Cincinnati lately as shown by these moves that cost more money. The old Reds would have kept them both just to save the 3.1mil
Balentien seems like a good low risk add for the Nats in RF. Perfect chance for a team to see what he can do on a nearly everyday basis.
hmm…Vasquez and Moss for Balentien and Miles?
At this point Vlad and Gomes are the same player with Gomes 5 years older and some what proven. Hope the Reds are able to keep him and he continues to develop at Louisville. He provides organizational depth now and if he can learn some discipline at the plate he could help this team in the coming years.
DFA’ing Aaron Miles hurts the Cardinals, Cubs, Brewers, Astros, and Pirates much, much more than it hurts the Reds.
Yep, thats the first thing that popped into my mind – “Damn, they just got about 2 wins better”
lol
By the way, I know its just one game but
:*(
So much for looking on the bright side… Wow was that ugly
And let me just ask one more time – why are we forced to watch Shark-Bait again? What exactly does this guy have that our development staff was ever excited about?
That was a horrow show…particularly Shark. I’m really not sure what the Cubs see in him. Not many bright sides other than having Heyward and McCann on my fantasy team!
The Reds should have ditched Nix for Wlad. They also should have not signed Gomes and turned LF over to their kids…Wlad, Dickerson, Heisey, Fraizer, Francisco. Cheaper and likely just as productive.