Reds Trade Conine; Could Hatteberg Be Next?
By
Amanda
Posted at 9:48 pm
CINCINNATI -- Cincinnati Reds Executive Vice President and General Manager Wayne Krivsky today announced the acquisition of SS Jose Castro and OF Sean Henry from the New York Mets in exchange for IF/OF Jeff Conine.
IF/OF Jorge Cantu will be recalled from Louisville to take Conine's spot on the roster. Castro and Henry will be assigned to Class AA Chattanooga.
Castro, 20, this season batted .318 with 2 HR, 25 RBI and 7 stolen bases for Class A St. Lucie. He ranked second in the Florida State League in batting average.
Henry, who turned 22 on Wednesday, hit .293 with 26 doubles, 7 triples, 11 HR, 57 RBI and 18 stolen bases in 114 games at St. Lucie. He is tied for first in the FSL in hits (132) and tied for third in triples.
Conine, 41, this season for the Reds hit .265 with 6 HR and 32 RBI in 80 games and 50 starts for the Reds.
Cantu, 25, on July 28 was acquired from the Devil Rays, along with OF Shaun Cumberland and cash, in exchange for RHP Calvin Medlock, LHP Brian Shackelford and future considerations. In 24 games at Class AAA Louisville he hit .309 with 2 HR and 13 RBI.
I don’t think Hatteberg will be next. ESPN reported last week that Conine cleared waivers but Hatteberg didn’t.
Ah…the importance of the July 31 deadline comes into play. I hope that Krivsky learned something from this situation.
To learn, he’d have to accept that he made a mistake. And I don’t think he can do that.
Mistake? I think Hatteberg’s going to be the starting first baseman next year. Maybe platooned with Cantu.
What a horrible thought. You’re probably exactly right.
I, too, am afraid Wayne will keep Hatteberg – and trade Votto! As much as I like Scotty, why the heck would you pay him a million or two when you can play Votto for league minimum? All signs point to Votto being a similar type of player as Hatte, perhaps with a bit more power, so why would you go with a 37 year old over a 23 year old who can be a cornerstone of your team for several years to come? A CHEAP cornerstone!
If, as reported, Hatteberg didn’t clear waivers then it could be because one team interested in him claimed him and the Reds withdrew waivers and pulled him back. They can then proceed to try to work out a trade with that team, but they’d have to put him on waivers again first, and a team cannot recall waivers on the same player twice in the same month.
Thus if ESPN’s report was accurate, I don’t think Hatteberg’s going anywhere until after the season. There would be little point in anyone trading for him next month, since after Sept. 1 he wouldn’t be eligible for another team’s playoff roster anyway.
[url=http://www.red-hot-mama.com/comments.php?id=974_0_1_0_C]As previously reported here on RHM,[/url] the option on Hatteberg’s 2008 contract is worth $1.85 million and includes a $150,000 buyout; the club option increases to a $2 million base salary with a $175,000 buyout if he has 500 plate appearances this season (I believe he had around 370 as of Tuesday).
Considering Hatteberg’s OPS+ is above league average despite just 10 homers, that’s somewhat of a bargain for the Reds, but I suppose it’s possible they could trade him during the offseason and platoon Votto and Cantu ($355,800 with TB in 2006, not sure what his current contract looks like) at first in an effort to get more power production from the position.
It’s also possible Votto could end up in left field, but I don’t want to open that can of worms again, because obviously they have to move Dunn in order to do that, and that seems to be a sore subject with many people.
:laugh:
HMZ…what do you make of the beat reporters’ saying that the Reds have soured on Votto, and don’t think he’s part of their future?
BF – Where did somebody say that? I don’t recall reading that and just had no success trying to Google it up a few minutes ago.
The way I see it, if they’re not going to sit Hatteberg/Cantu to play Votto at first base or sit Dunn and play Votto in left, there’s little point in calling him up. It would hinder his development by having him ride the pines up here when he could be playing every day for Rick Sweet, at the cost of starting the clock on his arbitration eligibility and eventual free agency.
John Fay and Marty were discussing it on the radio the other day, and I think Trent has mentioned it, too. They’ve said things like the Reds have soured on or lost interest in Votto, and they don’t think the Reds see Votto as part of the long-term future.
Not really sure why. Defense not good enough? Or maybe too many left-handers, with the emergence of Hamilton and Bruce on the way? There’s also Votto’s personality. He seems to be kind of a jerk. Maybe he just plecked off the wrong person.