Friday, July 12, 2002
Trade brings Reds big-name starter
Dempster has talent, potential to be No. 1 or 2
By John Erardi, jerardi@enquirer.com
The Cincinnati Enquirer
HOUSTON — Two weeks after helplessly watching Montreal land No. 1 starter Bartolo Colon from Cleveland, the Reds hauled in a top pitcher of their own Thursday — Ryan Dempster of the Florida Marlins — for outfielder Juan Encarnacion, infielder Wilton Guerrero and pitcher Ryan Snare.
“Without Juan, I don't think we're where we are, (within two games of first place in the National League Central division),” said Reds manager Bob Boone. “But our feeling was that without adding to the starting rotation, we didn't know how long we could keep it up. So, hopefully, we're going to keep it up the rest of the season.”
Reds players were excited by the trade. They, too, knew they wouldn't have been in the race without Encarnacion, but they feel Dempster, 25, will be the difference-maker in the second half.
“It's really encouraging,” said Reds slugger Adam Dunn. “It shows the Reds are willing to do some things in the second half. I'm very excited about it. He's got a great arm, a great slider, plus he's a good guy. He's going to fit in well in this clubhouse.”
First baseman Sean Casey concurred.
“It's huge for us,” Casey said. “When we didn't get Colon, (Reds general manager Jim Bowden) was saying, "What are our other options?' He went out and found a guy that is an impact starter. It could put us over the hump.”
The trade doesn't add anything to the Reds payroll, Boone said. That was the key to the deal happening; it is why the Reds couldn't trade for Colon.
Dempster will start for the Reds tonight and be followed by Jimmy Haynes, Jared Fernandez and Chris Reitsma. Joey Hamilton moves to the bullpen. The reigning ace, Elmer Dessens, has ranked among NL ERA leaders all year but has struggled lately. He started Thursday night and allowed four runs in six innings.
Although Dempster's statistics this season aren't No. 1 stuff — 5-8 with a 4.79 ERA in 18 starts — the talk of the Reds clubhouse is that a flaw was detected in his mechanics about a month ago, and he has had three good starts and only one bad one since.
He provides innings — 120 1/3 already this season, well on pace to surpass 200 for the third straight season — and has three complete games, tied for second in the NL. Dempster should ease the burden on the bullpen.
“It isn't that our starters weren't doing the job,” said Reds closer Danny Graves. “We won almost 50 games in the first half, so obviously they were doing something right.”
Earlier this year, Graves said to Dempster, “You know how great it'd be to have you on this team?”
The two are friends and often hook up when the two teams play.
Jose Rijo, who soon might be pushing the Reds starters for his own spot back in the rotation after an eye-popping bullpen session Thursday, said Dempster's addition is “big.”
“It shows everybody in the city the team is trying to win the pennant,” Rijo said. “We're not going to just sit back and take what everybody else is dishing out. We're going to fight.”
Boone said he didn't know how many premier-type pitchers Bowden had targeted before landing Dempster.
“He fills me in on what he has going on . . . but he knows what has a chance (of being accomplished in a trade) and what doesn't,” Boone said.
Reds pitching coach Don Gullett said Florida Marlins manager Jeff Torborg had said to him last year: “This guy (Dempster) is really a warrior; he really wants to be out there.”
Dempster won 15 games last year. Boone said he has 20-win potential.
Guerrero goes to Montreal in the deal, where he'll be reunited with his brother, perennial All-Star Vladimir Guerrero.
“There are no hard feelings,” Guerrero said. “It's a business.”
Encarnacion could not be reached for comment. He did not attend a mandatory workout at Minute Maid Park on Thursday, meaning he knew about the trade well in advance of its 4:30 p.m. announcement.
A side benefit of the trade is that it clears up a crowded outfield, especially with Ken Griffey Jr. coming back soon. Reggie Taylor got the start here Thursday and is expected to log more such time.
“Hopefully, Junior will be back after this week and that'll make it simpler on the manager,” Boone said.
In other Reds transactions Thursday, Triple-A Louisville third baseman Brandon Larson and outfielder Raul Gonzalez were called up, and right-handed pitcher Luke Hudson was optioned back to Louisville.
Boone said Larson's presence gives the Reds another option at third base when Barry Larkin needs a rest at shortstop and Aaron Boone is filing in there. Larson and Russell Branyan could get some platoon work at third base depending who's pitching. But the primary benefit of the callups is to strengthen the Reds bench, Boone said.
Two other Reds right-handers at Louisville were claimed off waivers Thursday: Brian Reith by the Phillies and Seth Etherton by the Yankees.
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Trade brings Reds big-name starter
