The Cincinnati Reds of 2008, Dunn, Griffey and Others: Where Are They?

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Players come and players go. That is a simple statement, but nothing could ring more true in this age of 'Rent-a-Player." It is becoming commonplace to see a player having nearly as many teams on his resume as he has seasons played.

I would like for you to take a journey back in time with me. Let somebody get Mr. Peabody on the phone and have him fire up the Way-back Machine for the year 2008. Although that was just three short years ago, you will be amazed at the turnover the Cincinnati Reds have experienced.

A surefire Hall of Famer, several All-Stars, some big names and some you won't probably remember have gone away in just those few years.

Take a look with me now, as we see where the missing players from the 2008 Cincinnati Reds are now.

Ken Griffey, Jr. RF

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After nine seasons with the Reds, Griffey was dealt to the Chicago White Sox for Nick Masset and Danny Richar.  After finishing the season with the Sox, he was traded to the Seattle Mariners, returning to his roots. He retired midway through the 2010 season, ending a certain Hall of Fame career.

Adam Dunn: LF

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Dunn began his MLB career with the Reds in 2001 and stayed until he was traded during the 2008 season to the Arizona Diamondbacks for Dallas Buck, Wilkin Castillo and Micah Owings.   He became a free agent after the '08 season and signed with the Washington Nationals where he played for two seasons. He currently plays for the Chicago White Sox who he signed with during the '09 offseason.

Paul Bako: C

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Bako played in the majority of the games for the Reds in his only season of 2008. He was signed as a free agent by the Chicago Cubs in the offseason, and was released two months later, prior to the opening of the '09 season.  He was signed by the Philadelphia Phillies in May of 2009 and split time with the Phillies and their Double A minor league team.  He was declared a free agent after the '09 season and hasn't been signed by anyone.

Jeff Keppinger: SS

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Keppinger came to the Reds prior to the beginning of the 2007 season in a trade with the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Russ Haltiwanger. He played for two seasons with the Reds before being dealt to the Houston Astros just before the beginning of the 2009 season for infielder Drew Sutton.

Edwin Encarnacion: 3B

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 "Double E" as I affectionately call him, was acquired by the Reds in June of 2001 from the Texas Rangers along with Ruben Mateo in a trade for pitcher Rob Bell. He knocked around in the Reds' minor league organization until being called up in the 2005 season. He played with the Reds until being traded at the non-waiver trade deadline in 2009 to the Toronto Blue Jays along with pitchers Josh Roenicke and Zach Stewart for third baseman Scott Rolen. He is still playing with the Blue Jays.

Corey Patterson: CF

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Just prior to the start of the 2008 season Patterson was signed by the Reds as a free agent.  He played the full season with the Reds but was signed by the Washington Nationals after the season ended.  He was released by the Nats at the trade deadline and was signed by the Milwaukee Brewers in August of '09. 

In December of '09 he was signed as a free agent by the Seattle Mariners. He was granted free agency without ever playing for the Mariners and was signed by the Baltimore Orioles in April of 2010. He played that season with the O's and became a free agent after the season ended. 

He was signed by the Toronto Blue Jays in the offseason  and was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in July of '11 along with Edwin Jackson and two other players for Colby Rasmus, Trever Miller and two other players. He is currently with the Cardinals.

Jerry Hairston, Jr : IF

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The Reds signed Hairston as a free agent at the beginning of the 2008 season. At the trade deadline in 2009, he was traded to the New York Yankees for Chase Weems. He stayed with the Yanks until the end of the season and was signed in 2010 by the San Diego Padres. 

During the '10 offseason he was signed by the Washington Nationals. He was traded by the Nats at the trade deadline in 2011 to the Milwaukee Brewers for Erik Komatsu, where he plays today.

David Ross: C

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Before the start of the 2006 season the San Diego Padres sent Ross to the Reds for Bobby Basham. He was released by the Reds in August of the '08 season and was signed by the Boston Red Sox for the playoff push.

He was released after the season and signed by the Atlanta Braves as a free agent where he remains today.

Javier Valentin: C

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Valentin was signed by the Reds as a free agent prior to the '04 season. He played with the Reds until he was granted free agency at the end of the 2008 season. He was signed and released by the Washington Nationals and the New York Mets without ever playing another game in MLB.

Ryan Freel: CF, IF

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The "Human Highlight Reel" was signed as a free agent by the Reds prior to the 2003 season. After the '08 season Freel was traded along with Brandon Waring and Justin Turner to the Baltimore Orioles for catcher Ramon Hernandez. 

In May of 2009 he was traded to the Chicago Cubs for CF Joey Gathright. He also spent time in '09 with the Kansas City Royals and Texas Rangers before being released.

Chris Dickerson: Of

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Drafted in 2003 by the Reds, Dickerson made his MLB debut in 2008. In August of 2010 he was traded to the Milwaukee Brewers for CF Jim Edmonds. Prior to the start of the 2011 season he was traded by the Brewers to his current team, the New York Yankees, for pitcher Sergio Mitre.

Scott Hatteberg: 1B

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Hatteberg signed as a free agent with the Reds at the beginning of the 2006 season and was released by the Reds in June of 2008 thus ending his pro career.

Norris Hopper: Of

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Hopper was signed by the Reds prior to the start of the 2006 season as a free agent. In June of 2009 he was traded to the Chicago White Sox for catcher Corky Miller.

He was purchased by the Washington Nationals and later signed by the Milwaukee Brewers but hasn't played in the MLB since leaving the Reds.

Hopper was one of the best bunters I have ever seen.

Adam Rosales: 3B

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Rosales was drafted in the 12th Round by the Reds in 2005. After moving through the Reds' minor league system he was promoted to the majors in 2008. 

Prior to the 2010 season he was traded with Willy Taveras to the Oakland Athletics for infielder Aaron Miles. Rosales is still with Oakland.

Micah Owings: P

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Owings came to the Reds via the Adam Dunn deal from the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008. After playing the '09 and '10 seasons with the Reds, Owings was released and later signed with the Diamondbacks.

He has split time in the 2011 season with the Diamondbacks and their Triple A team in Reno.

Aaron Harang: P

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Harang came to the Reds in a deal with the Oakland Athletics in 2003. He pitched with the Reds until the end of the 2010 season when he was declared a free agent. The San Diego Padres signed him before the 2011 season and he is now in their starting rotation.

Josh Fogg: P

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Fogg was signed as by the Reds at the beginning of the 2008 season. He became a free agent after the '08 season and was signed by his former club, the Colorado Rockies. 

He finished the season with the Rockies and was released.  He was later signed and released by both the New York Mets and the Philadelphia Phillies without playing a game for either franchise in the MLB.

Matt Belisle: P

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In August of 2003 Belisle came to the Reds as part of a trade with the Atlanta Braves for Kent Mercker. After the '08 season he signed with the Colorado Rockies where he is a reliever.

Mike Lincoln: P

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Lincoln was signed by the Reds as a free agent in February of 2008. He stayed with the Reds organization until he was granted free agency at the end of the 2010 season.  He currently isn't with any MLB organization.

Jeremy Affeldt: P

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Affeldt signed with the Reds as a free agent prior to the '08 season and pitched one year in the bullpen. He was signed in the offseason by the San Francisco Giants and still pitches out of their bullpen.

David Weathers: P

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The Reds obtained Weathers for the second time in the 2004 offseason as a free agent. In August of '09 he was sold to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Daniel Ray Herrera: P

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In 2007 Herrera came to the Reds along with Edinson Volquez in a trade from the Texas Rangers for Josh Hamilton. 

He was up and down between Cincinnati and Triple A Louisville until being selected off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers in May of 2011. He has had a cup of coffee with the Brewers but has spent most of the season with Nashville. 

Todd Coffey: P

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Coffey was drafted by the Reds in the 1998 draft and came to the big leagues in 2005. He pitched out of the bullpen for the Reds until he was selected off waivers by the Milwaukee Brewers in September of 2009.

He was granted free agency after the 2010 season and was signed by his current team, the Washington Nationals in January of 2011.

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