Reds standing pat for now, O'Brien says
But changes may come in a month
By Marc Lancaster
Post staff reporter
Three or four weeks from now, the Reds could very well be in unloading mode.
Veterans with reasonably priced, short-term contracts could be on the move, as could one of their more lucrative chips - an outfielder or first baseman Sean Casey.
For now, though, the front office will stand pat. General manager Dan O'Brien said Thursday that the team is not looking to trade anyone.
"No, we're not," he said. "Ask me that question a month from now (and the answer might be different), but no, not right now."
Thursday's 5-2 loss to the Braves at Great American Ball Park dropped the Reds to 26-40, the second time this season they have fallen 14 games under .500. They also tied a season-high division deficit in slipping to 15 ½ games back of the idle Cardinals.
The Reds last glimpsed the .500 mark on April 26, when they improved to 10-10 after beating the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The next day, they embarked on an eight-game losing streak. The Reds returned Wednesday night from Boston as losers of their last eight road games, a season-high skid. It's been more than four years since Cincinnati dropped nine in a row away from home.
As seemingly everyone involved with the club has noted at one point or another this year, the Reds have significant problems in every aspect of the game - starting pitching, relief pitching, hitting and defense.
They have made some moves to address various issues, such as designating Danny Graves and D'Angelo Jimenez for assignment and sending Austin Kearns to the minors, but never have been able to get on a roll. The team still hasn't produced a four-game winning streak.
But the Reds also haven't had all the pieces they anticipated in place at once. Luke Hudson, a pre-spring favorite to make the rotation, has started only two games this year. Josh Hancock, another expected cog somewhere on the pitching staff, remains on the disabled list and will make his third rehab start for Louisville tonight.
Anderson Machado, penciled in last fall as a middle infielder, played in the second game of his rehab stint for Louisville on Thursday as he continues his recovery from knee surgery.
Hancock should be ready soon, either in the bullpen or as a starter - possibly taking the struggling Eric Milton's spot? Machado also will be up to speed within a couple of weeks.
It sounds as if the Reds will hold things steady until they see exactly what they have.