Update: The site crashed due to traffic from the trade. Thanks guys! Got it back up and running though. Now that the entire trade is official, here is my take:
The Reds did a good job with this deal, even though I expect in 6-7 years from now, the players traded will look better than the player received. Mat Latos is a STUD pitcher who has a chance to be a legit #1 pitcher and a real difference maker, if he isn’t already. The Reds traded Yonder Alonso, who was taking a big hit on his value because he was being placed in left field. I honestly believe that Dave Sappelt, as a left fielder, can be very close to as valuable as Alonso would be because of the difference in their defense. It will be interesting to see how the Votto situation plays out for when he leaves as Alonso was the only guy I felt comfortable saying could step in for him and be at least MLB average at first from the guys we have. But still, Alonso was expendable because we do have Votto and Sappelt/Heisey for left field. Yasmani Grandal is a very good prospect, but with Devin Mesoraco under control for six years as a better prospect, he was not going to get a shot. Brad Boxberger, while he has a ton of potential as a reliever, is still just a reliever. Edinson Volquez, was, at best, our #5 pitcher on the depth chart. If the Reds didn’t have guys like Votto, Sappelt/Heisey and Mesoraco then this trade probably looks worse, but they DO have those guys and just added one of the best pitchers the NL Central is going to see next year. For now, I would say that the Reds did a good job. I hope all of the guys we traded can find success in San Diego.
Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Reds have acquired Mat Latos for Yonder Alonso and others. The other parts have yet to be named.
My initial response to the idea is: Mat Latos is exactly the type of pitcher that you go after. He is young, very talented, has a good track record, has very good stuff and is under control for multiple years. I am curious as to who the trade is for beyond Alonso, and I would expect at least one other premium prospect in the deal along with other parts as well. Until those parts are named though, this deal gets an approval.
Depending on how long it takes for the rest of the deal to be talked about, I may not update this immediately. I have two parties today (one birthday and one Christmas), so I am pretty swamped. So use the comments section to update things when/if they become available.
Update: Now being reported that Edinson Volquez is also going to San Diego in the trade. Also now confirmed by the Reds are Yasmani Grandal and Brad Boxberger.