Edmonds Traded to Cincinnati

We have a trade!

Once the Brewers fell out of contention, it became pretty clear that Jim Edmonds‘ days in a Brewers uniform were numbered.  There were a few rumors that popped up in the final 24 to 48 hours before the non-waiver trade deadline, but nothing came to pass.  It was mildly disappointing at the time, even if we kept in mind players like Edmonds are more likely to be dealt during August.

Well, here we are.  Edmonds apparently broke the story himself — he’s being traded to the first-place Cincinnati Reds.  In return, the Brewers will be getting outfielder Chris Dickerson.  Considering what I thought the Brewers would be able to get for a half season of a 40-year old outfielder with two bad achilles tendons, this is a relative steal.

Dickerson has spent most of the season on the disabled list with a broken bone in his hand/wrist.  In his rehab assignment this year, Dickerson straight up mashed for a .442/.528/.767 line in 55 Triple A plate appearances.  I think it’s safe to say he’s healthy.  In 466 career big league plate appearances, he’s hit for a .274/.367/.421 line, an OPS+ of 107, and has played all three outfield positions.  In short, like Edmonds he’d be a pretty damn good fourth outfielder, with the added bonus of being a dozen years younger.

I was expecting — at most — some middling pitching prospect with a live arm but major control issues.  The fact that they basically got the long-term replacement for Edmonds or Jody Gerut (and possibly someone to push Carlos Gomez for a job) makes this a great deal in my eyes.

That’s not to say the Reds got ripped off, though.  Edmonds will surely be a help to an outfield that’s been struggling to hit for power (or much at all, really) for the stretch run.  When Adam McCalvy asked Doug Melvin if the trade was about getting Dickerson or trading Edmonds to a contender, Melvin said “a little of both.”

I think Melvin comes out of this looking great.  Players will respect the fact that he gave a veteran a chance to go to a contender and possibly make the World Series, and fans can respect getting a good, valuable piece in Dickerson.

Of course, there’s the bonus perk of sending Edmonds to the Reds on the same day they start a huge series against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Goodbye and good luck, Diego.