Wow. Just as I thought the Reds had given up on any hope they had for Ramon Hernandez, he slides in the back door. Cincinnati just signed him to a one-year contract (with options) worth $3 million.
The Reds had declined his $8.5 million option earlier, and many, including myself, were not sad to see him depart. Ryan Hanigan can play the position for one-eighth of the price or less, and just as well I might add. I had big plans for that money!
He came over to the Reds in a deal that sent "Swiss Utility Knife-like" player Ryan Freel to the Baltimore Orioles during the 2008 offseason. Freel has since been with at least two other squads, so the trade, as it were, could be called a wash or push.
Hernandez filled in at first base while Joey Votto underwent personal maladies. Although he did field the position adequately, his offensive production was lackluster at best.
Hernandez appeared in exactly half of the Reds' games this past season while hitting a paltry .258, with only five round-trippers. Three million dollars should buy you better than that. That money could have been well used in the purchase or trade of a decent-hitting shortstop.
As I wrote in an earlier piece, Paul Janish, in my mind, is not yet a starting-caliber shortstop for a MLB team. His average barely bests his weight, and that is a fact which cannot and certainly should not be ignored.
Janish has no power, cannot hit effectively, and is not especially fast, but he does field his position as decently as most other shortstops in the National League.
As distressing as this is to me, I hope I don't wake tomorrow and find that they had rehired Dick Pole.
The transactions the Reds have made recently have been less than stellar. With the exception of acquiring All-Star third baseman Scott Rolen from the Toronto Blue Jays, the management has not shown to be truly effective in their dealing capacities.
I could be wrong. Maybe in 2010 Hernandez could have the year everyone hoped for in 2009.
Cliff Eastham is a B/R Featured Columnist for the Cincinnati Reds
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