MLB Trade Speculation: 3 Players the Cincinnati Reds Need to Plug Leaks
Cincinnati is seeing red.
Blood red.
This is because the Redlegs (27-26) have been beaten up as of late, losing 10 of their last 13 games, and have fallen four games back behind the NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals.
Cincinnati swept St. Louis during the weekend of May 13 for the first time since September 2007 and then took care of business against the Chicago Cubs in a two-game series, bringing its record to 25 wins and 17 losses—a season-high eight games over .500.
However, they were then swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates (24-28) and Ohio rival Cleveland Indians (31-20), got outscored 17-27 and lost three of four to the Philadelphia Phillies (including an epic 19-inning loss) and most recently lost a three-game series to the Atlanta Braves (30-25). The Reds were 2-10 during this horrific stretch.
The Reds have the majors' fifth-best batting average so far this season at .261, while trailing just the Cardinals in runs scored with 266 (St. Louis has 268). Joey Votto leads the team with a .330 batting average (.463 OBP), which is good for top-five in the National League. Jay Bruce has been on a tear in the month of May, smashing 12 balls out of the park and hitting .346 with 32 RBI. He leads the NL in homers (16) and RBI (43).
Even with one of the MLB's most potent offense, Cincinnati still struggles to win ball games.
It's not too hard to figure out why.
The Reds have a 4.39 ERA as a team, which ranks 25th in the league. The starters have combined for just 29 quality starts (out of 53 games), and opposing teams are hitting .254 against the depleted pitching staff. Travis Wood leads the team in wins (four) and has the best ERA of all the starting pitchers at 5.05, displaying Cincinnati's overwhelming pitching woes. Reds pitchers have walked 201 batters this season—three behind MLB's most deficient, the Chicago Cubs—and have allowed a whopping NL-worst 239 earned runs.
If the Queen City wants to see another playoff appearance by the reigning NL Central Champs, a few additions—and demissions—will have to be made.
Get out your notebook, Walt Jocketty.
1. Jo-Jo Reyes
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Yes, Jo-Jo Reyes has a 5-19 career record and went through a stretch of 28 starts without winning a game.
No, I am not off my rocker.
In Reyes' last seven starts with the Blue Jays, he is 1-2 with a 3.14 ERA. His offense is only providing 1.75 runs in his four losses and 5.3 in his no-decisions, and they scored 11 in his sole victory (Reyes held the Indians to one run in a complete-game outing).
Reyes is typically a fly-ball pitcher, which is a turnoff since the Reds play at homer-friendly Great American Ball Park. But he has a deceptive delivery—much like the Twins' Chuck James—and it plays a big role; he has been good at denying the home run so far this year, only allowing six.
Bronson Arroyo has allowed 14 home runs so far this season.
Another huge plus, especially for the Reds' sake, is that Jo-Jo has conceded just 15 walks—perfect for a team that's second-to-last in the NL with 201 BB.
Reyes is a strong left-handed pitcher whose fastball ranges from 92-95 mph, and he has an above-average pickoff move—only 13 runners have stolen a base on him out of 20 attempts.
Aaron Harang went 13 starts and nine losses before finally winning a game during the 2009 season. Now he's 5-2 with a 3.88 ERA for the Padres. Sure, Reyes' slump was a bit more severe, but it looks as if he's finally snapped out of it and is ready to become a great pitcher.
Hopefully the Cincinnati Reds see the same thing.
2. Juan Pierre
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Jonny Gomes, Chris Heisey and Fred Lewis are a combined 63-for-273 from the plate this season (.231 BA) with 41 RBI (Jay Bruce has 43 alone) and 70 strikeouts (if the trio was one person, they'd be leading the majors).
I know that the Reds have done a phenomenal offensive job thus far, but the left field position has been the kryptonite to the lineup. This is why Cincinnati should try to reach out to the Chicago White Sox about Juan Pierre.
Pierre is a veteran that served 10 seasons in the National League, playing for the Rockies, Marlins, Cubs and Dodgers.
He has a career batting average of .297 and has stolen 536 bases, including 68 last year. Sure, his numbers are a little low this season (.265 BA, 11 RBI), but this is a guy that would provide veteran leadership for a very young Reds outfield. He wouldn't be forced to play every game, with Heisey and Lewis rotating in (I'm assuming Gomes would be left out of this equation), keeping his legs fresh and stable for the playoffs—Pierre has a .304 career postseason batting average.
Juan Pierre hit .301 during his stay in the NL and stole an average of 46 bases a season.
I'm sure the Reds wouldn't mind having this guy bat sixth or seventh to improve an already scary lineup.
3. Dontrelle Willis
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Okay, so I know Cincinnati already has the "D-Train" in its Triple-A organization, but with the entire starting pitching crew struggling, Edinson Volquez having absolutely no control (and being sent down to Louisville) and Homer Bailey back on the disabled list, the Reds have to consider bringing up Dontrelle Willis to the major leagues.
I believe it's time for the D-Train's comeback.
The lefty began his career with amazing numbers—58 wins and 39 losses with a 3.44 ERA in his first four seasons with the Marlins. He had 15 complete games during this span.
And then, poof.
Just like that, he disappeared. After finishing 2007 with a 10-15 record and a 5.17 ERA, the Marlins traded him to the Detroit Tigers, where he pitched just 101 innings in three seasons, compiling a 6.86 ERA. The Arizona Diamondbacks then tried him on for size but got much of the same as the Tigers did.
Now he pitches for the Triple-A Louisville Bats, and ladies and gentlemen, he's back.
In eight starts with the Bats so far in 2011, Willis is 3-1 with a 2.72 ERA, allowing just two dingers and 14 walks while striking out 37. He tends to have more trouble with right-handed batters, but left-handers are hitting just .226 against him.
The D-Train was put on the DL two weeks ago with minor groin and ankle soreness but is now day-to-day.
Manager Dusty Baker said that if Willis had not been put on the DL, the Reds would have called him up to start. I'm sure that he'll get another chance, especially the way Cincinnati pitching has been performing lately.
This time, he'll be ready.
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