Reds - Acquired Cormier, Lohse

Cincinnati Reds - Acquired P Rheal Cormier from the Philadelphia Phillies for P Justin Germano; acquired P Kyle Lohse from the Minnesota Twins for P Zach Ward.

Cormier for Germano is another cheap, relief acquisition for the Reds.  Note that I mean “another” in reference to the Guardado trade, not the one that shall not be named.  Cormier has a pretty ERA, but an ugly 13 strikeouts in 34 innings.  He’s also getting battered by lefties this year, but hopefully the Reds aren’t bringing him in as a LOOGY considering they have about 50 lefties in their bullpen as it is.  I don’t think this is really much of an upgrade, but they won’t miss Germano, so meh.  Germano, more likely than not, has mopup innings in his future.

After an ugly start with the Twins, Lohse pitched better in the minors and has been adequate, if not particularly good, in relief for the Twins.  Ward was the Reds’ 3rd-round pick last year and while all the headlines for this trade are “Zach Ward, 7-0!!!!” he better be good considering he was a 22 year-old in the freaking Midwest League.  Ward’s a fastball-curve pitcher who’s expected to become a reliever as he moves up the ladder.