Although the news broke awhile ago, the deal was official via Reds twitter about 1:30.

While Alonso AND Grandal seems like it may be a little of an overpay, it’s still something that I think the Reds had to do. We’re talking a 23-year old starter with a career line of 429 IP, 108 ERA+, with good peripherals, if maybe a bit too much of a flyball pitcher to be totally comfortable at GABP.

Not to mention that both Alonso and Grandal were effectively blocked at the MLB level in our system, and Volquez isn’t much of a loss. Boxberger, I thought, had a good future with the Reds, but I have to say I’m pretty happy overall. We had to give up a lot to get a pitcher who would be good enough to help us, and we did. I can’t whine about not getting an ace, and then turn around and whine about giving up too much,

Padres fans seem reasonably unhappy, which I imagine is a good thing for us. I think this puts us right in the mix when it comes to the 2012 NL Central title. Oh, and isn’t this pretty?

Who gets to wear No. 34? Bailey vs. Latos .... FIGHT

Today, the Reds make their first bit of a splash on the trading market – though as sellers, not as buyers. Jonny Gomes went to the Nationals, and Yonder Alonso comes up to join the Reds , although there’s been no word on how the playing time will be divided. In any case, the move doesn’t strongly hurt the Reds as Gomes and Alonso’s lines compare favorably to Yonder:

Gomes (MLB): .211/.336/.399, 11 HR, 5 SB (3 CS)

Alonso (AAA): .296/.374/.486 12 HR, 6 SB (5 CS).

While AAA is certainly a long ways from the show, difficulty wise, this seems like the kind of move we can afford to make, even if Yonder runs into some difficulty.

There’s also the matter of what pieces we got from the nationals – Chris Manno, a 22-year-old left-handed reliever currently in low A, and Bill Rhinehart, a 25 year old lefty outfielder in AA. Both are perhaps a bit old for their leagues – but Manno is still quite young, drafted in 2010 in the 26th round, out of Duke. Manno is currently dominating low A,  having pitched 43 innings, with a 1.04 ERA, and, even better, 69 strikeouts and 15  walks.

Rhinehart is doing well in AA, as well, although, as a 26-year-old, that’s less impressive. Still, Rhinehart is only in his 5th season in the minors, although this is clearly his best, as he’s hitting .283/.376/.583, and his 21 homers are second in the Eastern League.  (You’ll all also be happy to know that Rhinehart pitched an scoreless inning in AA this year, as well). Rhinehart was drafted in the 11th round, from the University of Arizona.

Altogether, not an amazing haul, but a decent one for what Jonny Gomes merits. Neither prospect is among the Nationals best (although Manno might make the top 20 on a mid-season list), but both at least have a small amount of potential. I’ll go ahead and call it a good move for the Reds, although I hope we do more before the 31st.