Reds - Acquired Saarloos, Signed Bellhorn

Cincinnati Reds - Acquired P Kirk Saarloos from the Oakland A’s for P David Shafer; signed IF Mark Bellhorn to a minor-league contract.

Amazingly enough, Wayne Krivsky actually acquires a groundball pitcher.  Too bad it’s a crappy groundball pitcher who throws a lot of meatballs.  McAfee or Whatever They’re Calling It Now Stadium was a good place for Saarloos as the huge foul territory and good defensive team was a huge bonus for him and kept his ERAs in the reasonable range (I still think Beane should have traded him after 2005 and would have probably netted more).  Shafer’s a typical blah 12th-13th man, but won’t be counted on for anything.  Saarloos has to be the favorite for the last rotation spot, though he’ll just be Michalak Parte Deux.

Bellhorn did deserve more playing time in his 20s, but like a lot of players of his type, he’s declined in his 30s enough that he really shouldn’t be counted on anymore.  He really shouldn’t be on the team and needs to earn a spot in AAA by not playing as badly as he’s played the last couple of years.

2007 ZiPS Projections 
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Player      W   L   G  GS   IP    H   ER  HR  BB  SO   ERA
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Saarloos    6   9  29  20  130  144   75  18  58  62  5.19 

Shafer      2   3  42   0   47   49   26   5  22  32  4.98
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2007 ZiPS Projections  
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Player        AB   R    H  2B 3B  HR RBI  BB  SO  SB    BA   OBP   SLG 
———————————————————————————————————

Bellhorn     321  48   68  18  1   9  39  49 121   1  .212  .319  .358 
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