Pirates - Acquired Casey

Pittsburgh Pirates - Acquired 1B Sean Casey from the Cincinnati Reds for P Dave Williams.

It’s nice to see the Pirates actually acquired a player whose strength is getting on-base and Dave Williams was the most expendable starter that could fetch something with the exception of Mark Redman.  Casey’s not a star, but the 1-year, $6.5 million he’s given by the Pirates isn’t really bad.  It could be bad, though, if the team gets frustrated with Craig Wilson’s defense in right and benches him.  Brad Eldred could use a full season at AAA - the blind squirrel swing isn’t going to cut it in the majors.

This trade is awful for the Reds.  Williams practically guarantees that they’ll again have a rotation with all 5 pitchers that both allow more balls into play than average and allow more flyballs than average in an outfield with a tremendously awful centerfielder and pretty bad leftfielder, assuming that’s where Wily Mo ends up.  Kearns will give the Reds a regular outfielder who can actually play a bit of defense, but the sight of an outfielder actually catching flies might confound Pena and Griffey, actually making them worse.  It’s really too bad the Reds don’t have many prospects that other teams would want - they would have gained a lot be grabbing Cameron before the Padres or getting Juan Pierre.

I’m starting to think this is the year the Reds finish last in the Central.  Even the Pirates are actually improving, if seemingly by accident.

2006 ZiPS Projection - Dave Williams
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 W   L   G  GS   IP    H   ER  HR  BB  SO   ERA
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 6  11  26  25  131  138   80  21  61  96  5.50

2006 ZiPS Projection - Sean Casey
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 AB   R    H  2B 3B  HR RBI  BB  SO  SB    BA   OBP   SLG  
————————————————————————————-

540  69  169  34  1  11  64  48  46   2  .313  .373  .441