FalconBlog--Triumphs and Trials in the BGSU Falcon Nation

Reds make trade

Reds went dealing, making a trade for an Ortiz--it appears to be Ramon--and I think its a fine deal. We gave up a minor league pitcher who has huge questions about him, and therefore, there is no reason to think that it was too much. Ortiz was good enough last year to start for us, and except for the year before that, he wasn't too bad. He's not going to win a Cy Young, but he improves our staff, and that's fine.

I'm a little worried--though not worried enough to look into it right now--whether his tendency to give up the homer will leave him more vulnerable in Cincy than he was elsewhere in his career. There is an answer to that, and chances are, its bad.

So, Wilson and Ortiz sit at the top of the rotation, and that's the start of a team that might be able to finish .500 if everything goes right.

I also worry if we're overpaying him, but I have to believe that was factored in--and erring on the safe side--by OB and the dudes in the FO.

Then, I hear we signed David Weathers and Ben Weber as free agents. Weathers certainly blew in his first Cincy assignment, but his 4.15 ERA once again positions him to contribue to our club. And, if healthy, Weber becomes a nice guy in a set up role, and he appears to be a whack-job, which will fit in nicely.