More C+G

When I do a weekly Comings and Goings, as opposed to the two-a-week variety, it tends to get very long. This becomes a bit of a problem, and this last week, it left me not commenting on 2 transactions I wanted to say something on. Sure, I could always throw it in the next edition, coming this Friday, but instead I’ll print it here.

Cincinnati Reds acquire pitcher Gabe White and a player to be named from New York Yankees for pitcher Charlie Manning- An interesting change of venue for the two hurlers, as each is back to their pre-deadline 2003 teams. White’s struggles in New York were Leskanic-ish, but unlike Curt in KC, it didn’t end in release. The Reds, currently with a 4.66 bullpen ERA, decided to reunite White with pitching coach Don Gullett, and see if the southpaw could help lessen the .841 OPS that Reds pitchers are giving up to left-handers.

Manning is really nothing to speak of, a non-projectable hurler with only one good number: a 9.09 K/9. Still, Charlie will never see the light of day in the Big Apple, but maybe it gives Brian Cashman someone to pair with Brad Halsey in a deal. I like this trade for the Reds, and while I might say the Yanks are biting the bullet a little too early here, I know they’ll acquire someone else anyway.

Philadelphia Phillies: Optioned outfielder Marlon Byrd to Scranton Wilkes-Barre of the International League (AAA); recalled infielder Shawn Wooten from Scranton-Wilkes Barre. Not quite the fall from grace that we saw in J.C. Romero last week, but it’s the same idea. It wasn’t long ago that Byrd and Brett Myers made up the minors’ best 1-2 punch, but Philadelphia still is failing to see huge dividends.

Myers is slow to put it together, and after a .313/.369/.438 second half last year, Byrd has failed to build as a baseball player. Corey Patterson has seen similar growing pains in Chicago, but the Cubs have always stuck by him, something I think the Phillies should do here. Sure, they are in a division race, but even a cold Marlon Byrd is no more of a threat to scoring runs than Doug Glanville.