BRADENTON, Fla. — The net result of the last couple of days is that the Reds have traded Michael Coleman for Ruben Rivera.

        Cincinnati announced Rivera's signing Wednesday, one day after trading Coleman and two-sport star Drew Henson to the New York Yankees for outfield prospect Wily (pronounced Willie) Mo Pena.

        Coleman was projected as Cincinnati's fifth outfielder until his poor defense caused him to fall out of favor. Rivera, considered superior defensively to Coleman, was all but officially placed on the Opening Day roster by Reds general manager Jim Bowden.

        “Your outfield's (Alex) Ochoa, (Ken) Griffey (Jr.), (Dmitri) Young, (Michael) Tucker and Rivera,” Bowden said.

        The Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Devil Rays also were said to be interested in Rivera, who was released last week by the San Diego Padres. The 27-year-old Rivera, whose physical skills inspired breathless comparisons to Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle at the start of his professional career, has struggled offensively in two full major-league seasons and parts of four others. He owns a .211 lifetime average with 48 homers, 151 RBI and 368 strikeouts in 1,115 at-bats.

        “If he ever learns to hit, he'll be special,” manager Bob Boone said.

        Bowden said that, at the very least, “We have a Gold Glove-caliber outfielder to help our outfield defense. Given our starting pitching, the better the defense, the better the pitching's going to be. With him, (Juan) Castro, (Donnie) Sadler and (Michael) Tucker, our defense off the bench is top-notch.”

        To clear room for Rivera on the 40-man roster, the Reds put right-hander Seth Etherton on the 60-day disabled list. Etherton will miss four to six months after undergoing arthroscopic shoulder surgery Tuesday.

Reese starts at SS in case Rivera becomes 5th outfielder Bowden compares Pena to Sosa Game report: Pirates 9, Reds 5 County demands minority inclusion on ballpark

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