I think only time will tell with the trade. Personally I think they gave up too much. I loved the bat of Alonso and I hope he does well whereever he ends up. He really didn't have place in Cincy as long as Votto is here. Maybe this means that the Reds feel there is hope that they can sign Votto long term. They will have to sell a lot of tickets if that is to happen. As for Grandal he has hit at every stop in the minors and would have been @ Louisville to start the 2012 season. Switch hitting catchers don't come along everyday and the Reds would never have drafted him so early and given him a major league contract if they didn't think he could be something special. Let's hope that Mesoraco doesn't go the route of Brandon Larson who tore up the minors but couldn't cut it in the majors. He is now playing for the Somerset Patriots of the Independent league. I like everybody else on here was kind of sick of Volquez but what a talent if he can ever get his head on straight. Boxberger has tons of potential but as what a reliever, maybe closer?? If 2 of those players pan out for the Padres they got a great trade. If the Reds make some more moves maybe they can go a little deeper into the playoffs.

So do you think Grandal will be a good catcher?

 

I do but I have no knowledge of his defensive abilities just facts that show he has hit at every stop and would have been @ Louisville in 2012. He's also a switch hitter and when the Reds drafted him so high and gave him a major league contract I think they were thinking maybe a lesser Joe Mauer. That would be pretty darn good if he could even come close to that ability.

I don't like his handling of the pitching staff as a whole. I think he has horrible instincts for when to change pitchers and more than once he has left the bullpen short in extra-innings. The numbers do show that Volquez had a very heavy workload prior to his arm problems.

 

I think a lot of us on here just hope and pray this is the toothpick's last year in baseball as a manager but that's another thread that I personally don't want to get started.

They traded a headcase underachiever (Volquez), a guy who was never going to play in Cincy (Grandal), a guy who is positionless in the NL (Alonso), and a pitching prospect with "closer potential" (Boxberger). I'm sorry, but how did they give up "a lot" again?

They traded a headcase underachiever (Volquez), a guy who was never going to play in Cincy (Grandal), a guy who is positionless in the NL (Alonso), and a pitching prospect with "closer potential" (Boxberger). I'm sorry, but how did they give up "a lot" again?

 

Agree on Volquez but if he does achieve he can be pretty good. I don't know how you can say Grandal would never play in Cincy. How many starts does Mesoraco have at this level? Alonso has lost weight to improve his mobility and will play first for someone in the majors this year. Like I said I think they gave up a lot and so do a lot of other major league GMs.

^And I think you're completely overvaluing the guys they gave up. Mesoraco will be the every day catcher and Hanigan is a perfect backup. Grandal had no spot in Cincy. Alonso will be one of the worst defensive 1B in the NL, if he stays with SD. If he's moved to the AL, I'd be willing to bet he plays the majority of his games at DH. Boxberger has proven he can play in the minors. Big whoop. You'd rather them suck again this year, not try to win when they have guys like Phillips and Votto? The fact that Jim Bowden is completely killing the Reds on this trade makes me think they did very well. That idiot is still bitter from his failed days as GM.

 

I'm excited that they're finally saying, "we've got 2 years of Joey, let's go all in and see if we can win now". I'm so sick and tired of them building up the farm system for the future, then when the "future" gets here they start trading them away for the next "future".

Agree on Volquez but if he does achieve he can be pretty good. I don't know how you can say Grandal would never play in Cincy. How many starts does Mesoraco have at this level? Alonso has lost weight to improve his mobility and will play first for someone in the majors this year. Like I said I think they gave up a lot and so do a lot of other major league GMs.

 

If you look at what the Reds gave up in the context of their organization, I don't think they gave up a lot. These are players down the depth chart. Excellent potential with all of them, but down the Reds organizational chart. For me, that mitigates what they gave up.

 

On the other hand, how many major league proven top 15 pitchers are there who just turned 24 and will be under very affordable financial control for the next 4 years? I think the Padres gave up a lot. They gave up a very rare commodity.

^And I think you're completely overvaluing the guys they gave up. Mesoraco will be the every day catcher and Hanigan is a perfect backup. Grandal had no spot in Cincy. Alonso will be one of the worst defensive 1B in the NL, if he stays with SD. If he's moved to the AL, I'd be willing to bet he plays the majority of his games at DH. Boxberger has proven he can play in the minors. Big whoop. You'd rather them suck again this year, not try to win when they have guys like Phillips and Votto? The fact that Jim Bowden is completely killing the Reds on this trade makes me think they did very well. That idiot is still bitter from his failed days as GM.

 

I'm excited that they're finally saying, "we've got 2 years of Joey, let's go all in and see if we can win now". I'm so sick and tired of them building up the farm system for the future, then when the "future" gets here they start trading them away for the next "future".

 

If you think I am overvaluing these guys then listen to the guys talk about them on Hot Stove. They feel that after talking to the Padres that they will try to trade their IB prospect Rizzo to make room for Alonso. They all agreed that Grandal being an accomplished switch hitter was the kind of player that doesn't come along everyday. I guess we can argue this until eternity but only time will tell.

If you look at what the Reds gave up in the context of their organization, I don't think they gave up a lot. These are players down the depth chart. Excellent potential with all of them, but down the Reds organizational chart. For me, that mitigates what they gave up.

 

On the other hand, how many major league proven top 15 pitchers are there who just turned 24 and will be under very affordable financial control for the next 4 years? I think the Padres gave up a lot. They gave up a very rare commodity.

 

I'm not saying that getting Latos wasn't big for the team, I'm just saying that I thought they gave up a lot to get him and we don't know how effective he will be in GABP. Time will tell.

If you think I am overvaluing these guys then listen to the guys talk about them on Hot Stove. They feel that after talking to the Padres that they will try to trade their IB prospect Rizzo to make room for Alonso. They all agreed that Grandal being an accomplished switch hitter was the kind of player that doesn't come along everyday. I guess we can argue this until eternity but only time will tell.

 

He has 18 at bats in AAA.

I do but I have no knowledge of his defensive abilities just facts that show he has hit at every stop and would have been @ Louisville in 2012. He's also a switch hitter and when the Reds drafted him so high and gave him a major league contract I think they were thinking maybe a lesser Joe Mauer. That would be pretty darn good if he could even come close to that ability.

 

 

So you think the Reds should have carried 2 Alll Star caliber catchers?

So you think the Reds should have carried 2 Alll Star caliber catchers?

 

Who knows if they have even one every day starter yet? Mesoraco may or may not work out.

Well, I'm tired of milking all this potential waiting on guys who are rated highly in our system to find out they are below average big league players. Alonso had no position and runs like his shoes are in the box. His value was probably much higher currently than it ever would be in a Reds uni. Grandal, who knows, not like he's Bench junior. The young closer, he may be a bad outing from Tommy John. Great trade Walt. Finally off your rearend and made a deal. Now go make another.

I can think of a lot of can't miss prospects the Reds have had that missed. Strike while the iron is hot.

Who knows if they have even one every day starter yet? Mesoraco may or may not work out.

 

 

Correct. I was just going on the assumption that both Grandal and Mesoraco panned out as top prospects.