St. Louis South

CINCINNATI (AP)—The NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds have made a move to try to strengthen their outfield for a playoff run, getting Jim Edmonds from Milwaukee for outfielder Chris Dickerson.

The trade gives the Reds a veteran outfielder as they try to fend off the St. Louis Cardinals and reach the playoffs for the first time since 1995. The Reds lead the Cardinals by two games heading into their three-game showdown starting Monday night.

The 40-year-old Edmonds batted .286 with eight homers and 20 RBIs in 73 games with the Brewers. He could take over for center fielder Drew Stubbs, who has struggled offensively. Stubbs is batting .234 with 14 homers.

Dickerson has missed most of the season because of a broken bone in his right hand that required surgery.

I am not happy about this trade today at all. Jim Edmonds is 40 years old. Walt Jocketty is trying to bring back together the 2005 St. Louis Cardinals. I wonder if Mark McGwire might be able to pinch hit.

I wanted a change but not like this. We can’t give away players because we have too many young outfielders. What will Jim Edmonds bring that Laynce Nix or Chris Dickerson can’t give us. He is hitting .286 with 8 homers and 20 rbis. His defense is deterioating and he has a slow bat. Granted, he has been through pennant races and he just kills the Reds but why? Maybe he can provide so veteran leadership and help out Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce. Maybe he can mentor them in some way to change their approaches. But, I just don’t get it.

Chris Dickerson is semi-injury prone but he is still young. You can see glimpses of greatness when he is out there. He can run, hit, and his defense is way above average. He is even a decent pinch hitter. I am mad that we traded for an aging Edmonds and gave a division rival Chris Dickerson. Man, I was begging for a trade or a change, just not that one. Ahh, its so frustrating. I guess I think I know better than Walt Jocketty but it will be interesting to see how it works out. I hope Edmonds hits a pinch hit walkoff homerun tonight so, then I will shut up.

But next season when Dickerson is patrolling centerfield for the Brewers and Edmonds is sitting in a rocking chair with a knitting needle, then we shall see who was right.

The Reds still have to make another roster move to get Jim Edmonds on the 40 man roster. It will be very enlightening to me when they do this. Unless they have another trade worked out, what are they going to do. They will have to option someone to Louisville, probably Drew Stubbs. So, essentially Edmonds moves into the fourth outfield role and we move Chris Heisey to starting centerfield. Or, does Jim Edmonds try and be the starting centerfielder. If that is the case, our stellar defense just took a big, big hit. What’s that old baseball adage? You’ve got to be strong up the middle!!!