The Reds are sending mixed signals….are they buyers or sellers as the trade deadline is approaching?  The Reds made a good move in acquiring Eddie Guardado for basically a box of used baseballs.  “Everyday Eddie” will certainly help the bullpen at the end of games.  But the trade that went down today with the Nationals is downright bizarre.

The Reds traded Austin Kearns, who was hitting .274 with 16 homers and 50 RBI, Felipe Lopez who was hitting .268 with nine homers and 30 RBI with 23 steals and young reliever Ryan Wagner to the Nationals for an interesting package of players.  Gary Majewski, who has been a decent set-up man since arriving in the majors three seasons ago, and pitching well this season (3-2, 3.58 ERA, 1.34 WHIP) was a key to this trade.  The Reds also added lefty reliever Bill Bray who was considered one of the top pitching prospects in the Nationals’ system.  Bray was 1-1, with a 3.91 ERA for Washington.  Royce Clayton, the cagey veteran shortstop, will help out defensively but he’s only hitting .269 with no homers, 27 RBI and 8 steals.  Brendan Harris, a utility IF, has a .210 career average in 100 AB.  Daryl Thompson is a right handed fireballing starting pitcher who could pay dividends for the Reds in the future. 

This trade will hurt the Reds offensively, but it’s hard to argue with the need for major-league ready relief pitching if the Reds are gonna try for that wildcard.