After looking at Hoover's profile and I'm even more convinced this was a bad trade. This guy is 24, never even had a cup of coffee in the bigs and his CEILING is projected as a #4 starter but probably just a long reliever if he ever makes it to the bigs. I'm not sad about moving Francisco, but we really should have gotten something that has potential to help us this year. we didn't have to just give him to the braves to plug a need for them... hoping walt has a plan or that I'm wrong about this!

Yep. We need as many fat, lazy, injury-prone guys as we can get on the roster. You do know we're trying to WIN games, right?

A fair opinion, and a logical one at that. Not something you get a lot of on here, especially during the offseason and in the spring. I disagree, but I do so respectfully.

As to whether or not he would have made the 25 man...you can believe it all you want, but this move all but says it wasn't going to happen.

JFs defense was" waaaay better than JFs"......... I take it one of these "JFs" is Frazier. Yes?No?...... Just trying to get some clarification.

June Francisco = Josh Hancock

Showed up fat, shown the door.

I also agree that the Reds can't just go out and get a guy in free agency, the payroll won't allow it. Walt and Co. know this as well, better than we do. They've got something cooking, I'd bet money on it. We might not know what it is in the next few days, we may not even know what it is until this time next year, but they'll be prepared.

With that said...the free agents at 3B after his season aren't exactly worldbeaters. David Wright and a lot of guys who's best days are behind them, so that wouldn't be an option anyway.

The Braves gave up Adam Wainwright.

Four pages of posts for what comes down to trading a backup thirdbaseman for a minor league pitcher? Really?

"Coulda woulda shoulda doesn't bring trophies back to Cincinnati. "

Nor does sore armed pitchers and garbage dump OF'ers.

Henry Rodriguez is being moved to third this year.

Losing Fransisco and his strikeouts, his bad work ethic, and his injury problems will not be a loss.

And I'll say it again. If Rolen has a good season (125+ games), I think the Reds will resign him to a one year deal.

As for the pitcher we got, he's AAA ready, has a good fastball and curve, and throws several other pitches.

I knew some one would bring him up. I did say the Braves ALMOST never give up a good young pitcher in a trade., and I stand by that statement even though you can probably find a couple of others....I would also add that the in the Wainwright trade, Atlanta was trading for JD Drew, who at that time was as highly thought of as Josh Hamilton.The point is that Wainwright was not being traded for another prospect. Drew was already an established player. Francisco is not.

Some punka said it earlier in the thread. As goes Rolen, so go the Reds.

Francisco will get some big hits and probably punch us out at some point in a game this season. He wasn't the solution here. You have to F up pretty badly to p-off the Dustbowl. JF did.

Trading Alonso is what will come back to haunt us. That guy is going to be the next Pujols (maybe) certainly a Votto quality hitter or better (this year his numbers will top JVs, as Volquez's will top Latos). Latos is no chump but he will max out as the next Arroyo Seco.

A grim, grim trade (the SD trade, not the ATL.) But it was made. Play ball!

Bad trade of Francisco

+++++++++++++++++++

Ok i get it. HAHA, April Fools. Good one!

Isn't it obvious that Walt and maybe Dusty had decided Francisco wasn't going to make the team? They got what they could.

Crosley

Basing any major decision on ST is courting disaster. It's too small a sample and a strange evironment where some guys are not even trying. If Frazier makes the team ahead of Harris, there will be NO LH hitters on the bench. I think this says a lot on how panicked Walt was getting on bullpen issues, not how they had soured on Francisco.

I disagree, the Reds needed to unload this guy now...he came to ST out of shape & really hasn't been any more than an extra sitting on the bench even when Scott Rolen was out most of last season...that was his chance to motivate himself & make a statement...now I understand he didn't get a whole lot of chances there last season, but his "D" was so suspect that he was tried out in their OF...much like Alonso, I think this guy is better suited elsewhere his chance in Cincy wasn't going to happen anytime soon...good luck Juan & stay off the tastykakes...I'm looking forward to see this pitcher they nabbed from the Braves...