Whur CHad At? Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 http://www.mlb.com/NASApp/mlb/news/article.jsp?ymd=20051208&content_id=1279268&vkey=news_cin&fext=.jsp&c_id=cin12/08/2005 2:20 PM ETReds acquire Womack from YankeesCincinnati parts with Minor Leaguers Howard, HimesBy Mark Sheldon / MLB.com Manager Jerry Narron plans to use Tony Womack regularly at a variety of positions, but he will primarily play second base.DALLAS -- The Reds did not stop wheeling and dealing on their final day at baseball's Winter Meetings. On Thursday, they acquired infielder/outfielder Tony Womack from the Yankees for Minor Leaguers Kevin Howard and Ben Himes. New York will also send Cincinnati $900,000 in cash. "We feel that Tony is the prototypical National League-type player," Reds general manager Dan O'Brien said. "He's multi-dimensional, multi-purpose in being able to play the infield and the outfield. And he brings a very important ingredient to our club that we are missing, that's speed." Earlier in the day, O'Brien formally announced another trade that sent first baseman Sean Casey to Pittsburgh for pitcher Dave Williams. Womack will make $2 million in 2006 as part of a two-year contract he signed with the Yankees last year. He opened the 2005 season as New York's starting second baseman but struggled and batted .249 with 15 RBIs in 108 games. The 36-year-old lost his job to rookie Robinson Cano and was shifted to the outfield and a reserve role. Reds manager Jerry Narron plans to use Womack regularly in a variety of positions, but primarily at second base. "I see him playing a great deal," Narron said. "I think last year he went to a situation where he wasn't going to play every day. He wants to play. It's great to see. You want guys who want to be out on the field. The big thing for us is he's another energy guy and another speed guy." After breaking in with the Pirates in 1993, Womack moved to the Diamondbacks from 1999-2002, and was part of the 2001 World Series champion team. He bounced from the Rockies to the Cubs and to the Cardinals, where he batted a career-best .307 in 2004 for the NL champions. Womack is a career .273 hitter and, despite his speed, has a .316 on-base percentage. With the Yankees last season, his on-base percentage dipped to .276. O'Brien said Womack's acquisition would not affect the Reds' approach with veteran free agent infielder Rich Aurilia, who was offered arbitration Wednesday night. Howard, an infielder exposed to Thursday's Rule 5 Draft but not selected, batted .296 for Double-A Chattanooga in 2005. Himes, an outfielder, batted .320 with Class A Sarasota this past season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 I like this pickup. We have needed more speed, and Womack should fit in nicely for that purpose. He was a Reds killer as a Cardinal (then again, which Cardinals aren't Reds killers?). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Sounds like Freel's job... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stripes Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 Sounds like Freel's job... I can't imagine the Reds would dump Freel too, the other fan favorite. I bet he'll still play a role on this team, maybe even in the outfield if one of the Big Four gets traded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalindian Posted December 8, 2005 Report Share Posted December 8, 2005 I think that Freel needs an everyday spot in the lineup, because he and Lopez (and Edwin, too) can wreak havoc on catchers by stealing bases. I don't understand this pickup, because Womack is getting old, and they traded away two good-looking prospects to the freakin' Yanks.I hate Dan O'Brien. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 I think that Freel needs an everyday spot in the lineup, because he and Lopez (and Edwin, too) can wreak havoc on catchers by stealing bases. I don't understand this pickup, because Womack is getting old, and they traded away two good-looking prospects to the freakin' Yanks.I hate Dan O'Brien.My thoughts exactly....why give up minor league strength for a 36 year old utility player who will be on a one-year contract who can't get on base... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 I think that Freel needs an everyday spot in the lineup, because he and Lopez (and Edwin, too) can wreak havoc on catchers by stealing bases. I don't understand this pickup, because Womack is getting old, and they traded away two good-looking prospects to the freakin' Yanks.Apparently it's a RHP vs. LH hitter approach. Both will possibly platoon second base and the outfield.Latest rumor has it Wily Mo is going to Washington for prospects and Kearns is being shopped heavily. Freel still could have a starting spot -- my feeling is CF with Griffey going to LF to replace Dunn who's going to first. Second base will probably be a mixture of Freel, Aurilia (who'll probably sign the arbitration offer), and Womack while Freel and Womack platoon the outfield spot left by the outfielder to be traded.My thoughts exactly....why give up minor league strength for a 36 year old utility player who will be on a one-year contract who can't get on base...People thought the same about Aurilia and he finished the season with 14 homers, 68 RBIs, and a .782 OPS. But yea, I'm not too convinced this guy can make much contributions, but we'll see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AMC Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Prospects for Wily Mo???? Hmmmm, it could be 2 AAA pitchers??? Yeah right!Wily Mo would be better served in the AL, but.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Prospects for Wily Mo???? Hmmmm, it could be 2 AAA pitchers??? Yeah right!Wily Mo would be better served in the AL, but....I dunno. Not a big Wily Mo fan myself, so I'm probably a little more accepting about prospects for him. He can't hit the ball that moves one inch up, down, left, or right. He's the worst outfielder I've seen in years making Dunn look like a 12-time gold glove winner. He can hit the ball a mile but that really doesn't make a difference at GAB anyway. If anything, he's just a prospect himself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7/11 Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 i like this pickup, eventhough i don't know anything about the prospects we traded...look at our lineup the past 5 seasons. what has been a major offensive downfall? gettin baserunners in...we have had no speed, and on top of that, we've had bad baserunning. womack is great at both. i like this pickup b/c he isn't soaking a lot of payroll, he plays great defense and he's a veteran...a leader. plus, after ryan freel launches himself into the fifth row of the right field seats in june and breaks something, we'll need womack to play every day for a while... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bengalindian Posted December 9, 2005 Report Share Posted December 9, 2005 Prospects for Wily Mo???? Hmmmm, it could be 2 AAA pitchers??? Yeah right!Wily Mo would be better served in the AL, but....I dunno. Not a big Wily Mo fan myself, so I'm probably a little more accepting about prospects for him. He can't hit the ball that moves one inch up, down, left, or right. He's the worst outfielder I've seen in years making Dunn look like a 12-time gold glove winner. He can hit the ball a mile but that really doesn't make a difference at GAB anyway. If anything, he's just a prospect himself.I'm glad someone actually realizes this. Everyone loves Wily Mo, but he's been frustrating me every year. He is at best a prospect because he doesn't play, but just goes in and hits. He hasn't developed the correct mentality of what to do when, and you would think that after two years in the Majors, that a player that has great potential like Wily Mo would learn to lay off bad pitches. To me, he hasn't shown great improvement, and maybe he needs to be the one to go from the outfield. I still have faith in Kearns' arm and bat, and hopefully it will be Freel, Griff, and Kearns in the outfield this season. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirkendall Posted December 11, 2005 Report Share Posted December 11, 2005 I have to give the Reds credit. They've become the talk of the town the past few days. We're in the off-season, the Reds have been horrible the past half decade, the Bengals are 9-3, and we're talking about the Reds (at least that's the big talk of the sports media in town). Good job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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