Did the Reds really turn down Shane Victorino because of Logan Ondrusek?
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Did the Reds really turn down Shane Victorino because of Logan Ondrusek?
David Murphy
If the Cincinnati Enquirer is to be believed, the Phillies could struggle to gain anything of value in exchange for center fielder Shane Victorino.
Paul Daugherty, a columnist at the paper, included a tidbit on his blog that said the Reds nixed a deal that would have seen Victorino head to the Reds in return for Ondrusek, straight up.
Ondrusek is a 27-year-old righthander who is in the middle of his third full season in the major leagues. His 2.70 ERA looks good, but everything else about him says that he is at best a No. 4 or No. 5 reliever in a contender's bullpen (which is where he slots in the Reds bullpen). His strikeout rate is passable -- 6.1-per-nine this year, 6.0 for his career -- but he has walked at least 4.0 batters-per-nine in the last two seasons, which isn't something you want to see out of a guy who is pitching in high-leverage situations. If you do see it, you better be getting more than 6 strikeouts-per-nine.
That being said, he has gotten results, converting 31-of-37 hold/save opportunities in his career while stranding 77 of 97 inherited runners, and his groundball and home run rates are both solid. His whiff rate (17 percent), is slightly above average, as is his strike rate (62 percent).
Frankly, if the Phillies are hoping to get relief help in exchange for Victorino, which is what all of the indications are, Ondrusek is about the level of guy they can realistically expect. Anybody better is probably going to be an integral part of a contending team, which is the type of team that would be trading for Victorino. The only hope is that teams get more desperate as the deadline approaches.
Frankly, this sounds like it would have been a great trade for the Reds. From the Philies perspective, it would have been a cheap, usable bullpen piece who is better than anybody they have at the moment, aside from Antonio Bastardo and Jonathan Papelbon. But he profiles closer to Michael Schwimer than he does Papelbon. Ondusek would give the Phillies what they hoped they were getting when they signed Chad Qualls. But according to Daugherty, he won't be giving them anything.
At this point in time, keep the Flyin Hawaiin. Three crazy games won at CBP over the Brewers. Two amazing come from behind wins followed by a "we keep tryin' to give it away" but win anyway game. One game at a time...One game at a time.— drhoffman- Dusty turned this down.
Victo likely walks outta here in the next 6 days for a bullpen arm. Linked to Josh Lindblom, and a couple other clubs with comparable arm-for-legs deal. Phils can't 'afford' to not move him.
Rollo doesn't go because the Dodgers have made their infield move; he'll turn down Oakland, and with two walk-off hits in 5 days he's feeling pretty good. This'll be the worst non-call of this season unfortunately.
Still need a legit 3B'er which we all have yearned for since October '11 came crashing to a close. The Phils apparently told the Yankers no on Wiggy; with Polanco again in the tub this offensively and defensively may be the biggest hole on the team (assuming the bullpen can wake-up).
Stay tuned. Hot stove is heating up in late July.— 24sDad - If the Reds nixed this they are stupid. Vic would be a huge upgrade over Stubbs or Stubbs goes to left. Laughable if this report is true.— philsfan in the atx
- Wiggington should only be allowed to play in the field after everyone else has been used -- including pitchers. I'm sure Doc, Cliff, Cole, etc., can play a better third base than (fat & slow) Wiggington. He really is pathetic in the field -- really!— Al n SD
- A few minutes ago on the Yankees' radio broadcast John Sterling seriously suggested that the Yanks should consider trading for Wigginton to help fill in for A-Rod. The NY Daily News writer who was guesting during that inning just kind of politely brushed that aside. — RickB
- John Sterling is the most obnoxious play-by-play guy in the game. So obnoxious, I wonder if Yankees fans even like him. — JayOfDaJungle
- Well, the Brewers gave all this games to the Phillies. They did everything possible to lose this game from walking batters to bad base running and bad managing. Why pitch to Chooch today? He's hitting .354 in RISP. A good team sweeps the Phillies. The starting pitching has been a concern, and this series was not an exception. Only Blanton has pitches well lately. The starters ERA the last few games has to be around 6.00.— EL Zorro
- The Reds, figuring they had the upper hand, probably wanted the Phillies to kick in some cash for Victorino's remaining salary.
By the way, Bastardo and Wiggington tried everything they could do to give the game to Milwaukee today. I'd get rid of both of them before Shane.— T-Money - Do the Reds have someone who can play third base? Wigginton surely cannot.— tbird
- when i see wigg - i always see stairs in him
imagine stairs playing 3rd - awesome...— LivePhilly_DiePhilly - we should re-sign victo on the cheap. trade mayberry & brown, they are worthless— main liner
- brilliant! trade worthless players and get nothing in return!! where do you come up with this? — wobblie
- to lose this series, I meant.
— EL Zorro - What about rollins in the 3rd with a man on 3rd one out coming up with NOTHING. I told my friend that would come back to haunt them and it did. Bastardo pitching to Braun was all wrong there should have been a righty in there in the first place...nice managing charlie. But like i said before, real phils fans just want to see competitive baseball, out of the race or not. MARK IT DOWN BABY!!— Trot
- Keep Shane Victory-yes, unless someone offers a prize chip, which is doubtful. Victory-yes is still a terrific ballplayer and I'd rather get a draft pick next year than another "dog"to hang out in the pen.— gentian
