Trade History: Reds’ Dick Williams

Dick Williams has spent more than 15 years in the Reds organization, working in a variety of roles on both the business and baseball ops side of the club prior to being named assistant GM in 2014. A year later, Williams was promoted to general manager as former GM Walt Jocketty ascended to president of baseball operations. At the time of the promotions, though, Jocketty made clear that his days as the club’s top decision-maker were numbered, plainly stating that the much younger Williams was being “groomed” for that post.

[Related: Dick Williams discusses his path to a front office in MLBTR’s College Series]

A year later, in December 2016, that became official when Jocketty moved into an advisory role and formally handed baseball operations autonomy over to Williams, who was named president of baseball operations. Let’s take a look at his track record since that promotion…

2016-17 Offseason

• Acquired RHPs Luis Castillo and Austin Brice and OF Zeek White from the Marlins in exchange for RHP Dan Straily
• Acquired LHP Andrew McKirahan and RHP Carlos Portuondo from the Braves in exchange for 2B Brandon Phillips (Reds paid $13MM of Phillips’ $14MM salary)

2017 Season

• Acquired INF/OF Darnell Sweeney from the Dodgers in exchange for cash
• Acquired 1B Nick Longhi from the Red Sox in exchange for $2.75MM of international bonus pool space
• Acquired OF Scott Van Slyke and C Hendrik Clementina from the Dodgers in exchange for LHP Tony Cingrani

2017-18 Offseason

• Acquired RHP Miguel Medrano from the Rangers in exchange for $350K of international bonus pool space

2018 Season

• Acquired RHP Zach Neal and 1B Ibandel Isabel from the Dodgers in exchange for RHP Ariel Hernandez
• Acquired RHP Matt Harvey from the Mets in exchange for C Devin Mesoraco (Reds paid remainder of Mesoraco’s $13.125MM salary; Mets paid remainder of Harvey’s $5.6MM)
• Acquired C Curt Casali from the Rays in exchange for cash
• Acquired RHP Tommy Bergjans from the Phillies in exchange for cash
• Acquired OF Lorenzo Cedrola from the Red Sox in exchange for $1.5MM of international bonus pool space
• Acquired RHPs Aneurys Zabala and James Marinan from the Dodgers in exchange for RHPs Dylan Floro and Zach Neal and international bonus pool space
• Acquired RHPs Lucas Sims and Matt Wisler and OF Preston Tucker from the Braves in exchange for Adam Duvall

2018-19 Offseason

• Acquired RHP Ryan Lillie from the Marlins in exchange for $750K of international bonus pool space
• Acquired RHP Tanner Roark from the Nationals in exchange for RHP Tanner Rainey
• Acquired LHP Alex Wood, OFs Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig, INF/OF Kyle Farmer and $7MM from the Dodgers in exchange for RHP Homer Bailey, SS Jeter Downs and RHP Josiah Gray
• Acquired RHP Sonny Gray and LHP Reiver Sanmartin from the Yankees in exchange for 2B Shed Long (immediately flipped to Mariners) and Competitive Balance Draft pick (Round A)
• Acquired RHP Jordan Johnson and cash from the Giants in exchange for 1B/3B/OF Connor Joe

2019 Season

• Acquired RHP Diomar Lopez from the Padres in exchange for RHP Matt Wisler
• Acquired INF/OF Rob Refsnyder from the D-backs in exchange for cash
• Acquired RHP Tristan Archer from the Brewers in exchange for cash
• Acquired LHP Tyler Jay from the Twins in exchange for cash
• Acquired RHP Justin Grimm from the Dodgers in exchange for cash
• Acquired RHP Trevor Bauer from the Indians in a three-team deal that sent OF Taylor Trammell to the Padres; Reds also sent OF Yasiel Puig and LHP Scott Moss to the Indians

2019-20 Offseason

• Acquired RHP Jose De Leon from the Rays in exchange for cash
• Acquired cash from the Rays in exchange for OF Brian O’Grady
• Acquired RHP Justin Shafer from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash

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How do MLBTR readers feel about the work of Williams? (Link to poll for Trade Rumors mobile app users.)

Curious to look back on additional GMs and their trade histories? We’ve already polled on Diamondbacks GM Mike Hazen, recently fired Astros president Jeff Luhnow, Brewers president of baseball ops David Stearns, Angels GM Billy Eppler, Rockies GM Jeff Bridich, Tigers GM Al Avila, Braves GM Alex Anthopoulos, Blue Jays GM Ross Atkins, Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto, Phillies GM Matt Klentak, Padres GM A.J. Preller, Dodgers president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, Rays GM Erik Neander, ex-Red Sox front office leader Dave Dombrowski and Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen.