On Wednesday, the Reds exercised 2008 club options on Adam Dunn, Scott Hatteberg and Javier Valentin and declined a $3.5 million 2008 club option on Eddie Guardado.

On Thursday, Guardado filed for free agency, and his agent, Kevin Kohler, said that he and Guardado were “very surprised and disappointed” that the Reds did not pick up Guardado’s option. Reds GM Wayne Krivsky reportedly expressed hope that Guardado could still return next season.

The club decided Wednesday to pick up Adam Dunn’s $13 million option, which triggers a full no-trade clause until June 15 with limited no-trade protection for the rest of the 2008 season. Dunn thus becomes the Reds’ highest-paid player, passing Ken Griffey Jr. ($12.5 million). The Reds also picked up Scott Hatteberg’s $1.85 million option and Javy Valentin’s $1.35 million option on Wednesday.

Another Wednesday announcement from the Reds was that coach Johnny Narron won’t be back next season. Narron, the brother of former manager Jerry Narron, remained with the Reds after his brother was fired as manager, officially as video and administrative coach. However, his unofficial capacity as regards his relationship with Josh Hamilton was probably more important.

The St. Louis Cardinals named John Mozeliak as their 11th general manager Wednesday afternoon, filling a position that had been open since Oct. 3, when Walt Jocketty was relieved of his duties after almost 13 years as the Cardinal’s GM.

The move came as somewhat of a surprise to some observers, since Indians assistant GM Chris Antonetti had been considered the favorite to land the job. However, Antonetti reportedly removed himself from consideration recently. That apparently opened the door for Mozeliak, who had been the interim GM since Jocketty’s departure and has been with the Cardinals’ front office since 1995, having twice served as the team’s scouting director.