Chicago Cubs
Optioned infielder Ronny Cedeno to Triple-A Iowa.
- Cedeno has reached a career crossroads of sorts, having torn the cover off the ball at AAA Iowa in his two stints there (.355/.403/.518 in 2005; .354/.409/.539 in 2007) while looking completely lost at the major league level (.245/.258/.339 in extended playing time in 2006; .118/.143/.255 in 2007.) 24 is awfully young for someone to be labeled a 4A player, but Cedeno’s ordinary minor league numbers prior to the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League (career .274/.327/.393 hitter in the minors) and his failures at the major league level suggest that his Iowa lines are a batting average-driven fluke.
Cincinnati Reds
Traded first baseman Jeff Conine to the Mets for shortstop Jose Castro and outfielder Sean Henry. Recalled infielder Jorge Cantu from Triple-A Louisville.
- Kudos to the Reds for getting something for Conine. The Reds are out of the race, and it wasn’t as if Conine had been particularly effective (.265/.320/.409 in a bandbox). Getting two young semi-prospects for a month and a half of an okay pinch hitter/platoon player has to be considered a prudent move.
Henry, 22, is an athletic sort with decent power for his frame (5-10, 160). However, Henry whiffs fairly often and does not project to hit with as much thump as he moves up the minor league ladder. Henry was hitting .293/.353/.456 for High-A St. Lucie.
Castro, 20, known as a slick fiedler, was hitting .318/.363/.383 for St. Lucie. Castro has a chance to make it as a defense-minded utility player, but at 5-8 and with no semblance of power, it won’t be an easy ascent.
At one point, Cantu was considered a budding young star, a power-hitting second baseman who hit 28 homers as a 23 year-old.
However, there were two problems with that logic: Cantu never was much of a second baseman, and he never did refine his hacktastic ways. Now 25, Cantu will likely be relegated to facing lefties as Scott Hatteberg’s platoon partner at first base. Lacking the range to play up the middle, Cantu will have to make a living playing the corners, where his bat is nothing special. He doesn’t figure to have a long-term spot with the Reds, unless Edwin Encarnacion draws the ire of Cincinnati brass once again.
Detroit Tigers
Activated RHP Joel Zumaya from the 15-day disabled list; Optioned RHP Aquilino Lopez to Triple-A Toledo.
- Zumaya gives a major boost to a pitching staff that sorely needs one. With Kenny Rogers and Andrew Miller ailing, more pressure has been put on a decidedly mediocre relief corps (4.636 team WXRL, 24th in the majors). Zumaya was supposedly clocked in the mid-90’s during his rehab stint. That’s down from his normal flirtation with triple digits, but the Tigers feel he’s sound enough to contribute in an exceedingly close playoiff race.
If Zumaya has a clean bill of health, he needs to be pitching the most important innings for the Tigers. “Veteran moxie” and rugged facial hair be damned, Todd Jones (4.65 ERA, 4.65 K/9) should not be counted upon to get the most crucial outs in a pennant race.
New York Mets
Acquired first baseman Jeff Conine from the Cincinnati Reds for shortstop Jose Castro and Outfielder Sean Henry
- It’s difficult to get worked up about this move, one way or the other. The Mets didn’t give up anything they’re like to miss dearly, but at the same time, Conine doesn’t figure to help a whole lot. He’s batting a feeble .236/.291/.323 away from Great American Ballpark.
Ruben Gotay had been doing a very nice job as a pinch hitter, but his services will be needed in the everyday lineup with Jose Valentin and Damion Easley both on the shelf. That’s where Conine comes in; he figures to be a pinch hitter and perhaps an occasional starter at first base, to spell Carlos Delgado against lefties, whom Delgado is hitting just .257/.307/.372 against in 2007.
Oakland Athletics
Placed outfielder Travis Buck on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to August 18, with a strained left hamstring; Recalled infielder J.J. Furmaniak from Triple-A Sacramento.
- At some point, one has to wonder just what is at the root of Oakland’s astounding injury problems. Is it the training staff’s fault? Are the players injury prone? Is Oakland’s home playing surface conducive to physical problems? Or is it simply bad luck? I don’t know the answer to this question, but with so many key players breaking down physically at some point (Eric Chavez, Bobby Crosby, Mark Kotsay, Nick Swisher, Rich Harden, Buck), I have to believe that this is a very pertinent question.
Buck has had a very solid rookie season, hitting .288/.372/.474. Buck will likely never be a star, as he lacks great power, but he is an important part of the future for a rather punchless lineup that has very little on the prospect horizon, outside of fellow line-drive hitter Daric Barton.
