FanNation

The Cincinnati Reds should trade for both Eric Bedard and Danny Haren.

Yes, I???m talking about those Reds that finished fifth place in the quagmire known as the NL Central with a 72-90 record. Why the hell am I suggesting this? Because if they acquired both pitchers, they???d have a better chance than any NL team of making the World Series. And because, as a small market team, the Reds need to take chances in order to beat the big boys.

Both the Orioles and A???s need help at pretty much every position, but young, high-potential pitching needs to be the core of any trade to acquire established starting pitching. And the Reds have those assets. I???ll propose:

OF Jay Bruce, SP Homer Bailey and two lower level prospects for Bedard

SP Johnny Cueto, SP Matt Maloney and 1B Joey Votto for Haren

This would pretty much render the Reds??? minor league system impotent for the next couple of years, but they need to take advantage of the small window of opportunity they currently have. Dunn will be gone in a year, you never know how long Griffey will offer value, they won???t be able to afford Brandon Phillips in a couple of years, and Harang and Arroyo will likely be gone after their deals expire after the 2010 season. The Reds will consistently rank at the bottom of the NL in terms of revenue potential, so when opportunity comes calling, the door must be answered, even if there is great risk involved.

These trades would give the Reds the following rotation:

Bedard
Haren
Harang
Arroyo
Belisle

Rest of article at dugoutcentral.com

yeah i aint buying that

There is NO WAY that the Reds would make that deal.... What benefit would be achieved by giving up number one prospects Bruce, Bailey, and Votto, along with high achieving (albeit spring training) from Cueto. The other issue would be the additonal players and low level prospects given up while plundering the farm system. Build success and future from the ground up.... The Reds are now in the frame to do just that and win now, next year, and the years to follow. Once a winning team returns to grace Ohio's river the money will come. If you build it, they will come.

still think they should trade?

walt jocketty would be fired on the spot if he made those trades. why would they clean out their talent in the farm system. they have two of the top rated minor leaguers in Bailey and Bruce (#1 ranked by many) and up and coming star maloney who we acquired from the Lohse trade. For once i do not believe pitching is our major problem. Besides are recently ended 6 game hitting streak, hitting and more importantly hitting with RISP is our major problem as well as shaky defense. Harang being 2-5 is evidence of our troubles batting with RISP. Also, I don't know if it is an overlook but if you payed attention at all, where is Edinson Volquez in your 5 man rotation. He has been our top pitcher at 7-1 and leads the majors in ERA. If the Reds should make any transactions, it should be to immediately call up Bruce to the majors and release or trade Patterson as much as I hate to see any Red leave. Also I think we should take what we can get for oft injured Alex Gonzalez upon the emegence of stud Jeff Keppinger and possible future star but not yet proven Paul Janish. I think we are in dire needs of a stud catcher which we havent had in years and as much I I ike Edwin Encarnacion, his shaky d and inconsistent bat has often hurt us. Who says Bedard and Haren can save this team. Didn't the Giants have plans for the same thing with Zito? Look how that turned out. Whatever happens I hope we can pick up a win in the last game against the dodgers and get it going on this west coast road trip and gain some momentum for the rest of the season and turn this decade of misery around.