By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

The Reds traded backup catcher Kelly Stinnett to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday for a player to be named later, leaving the team with just seven players from its Opening Day roster.

"I had a feeling, but I didn't think I'd go (Sunday)," Stinnett said. "I thought it would be later in September when somebody needs an extra guy to squat down behind the dish in case somebody went down.

"But this makes it exciting because it's for the postseason."

Philadelphia entered today tied with Florida for the lead in the National League wild-card race.

Stinnett is the seventh Reds player traded or claimed off waivers since July 30.

"Overall, a lot of faces have been in and out of here this year," Stinnett said. "The team kind of got torn apart. It seems like we'd be a few games back if we kept everybody together right now.

"The Reds are building for the future. They've got a future with all the talent they're gathering."

Stinnett, who batted .229 with three homers and 19 RBI in 60 games, was in the final year of a two-year contract that paid him $1.3 million this season.

There was a mutual option for the 2004 season at $750,000, or a buyout at $250,000.

Expected to take Stinnett's place as the backup catcher is Double-A Chattanooga catcher Dane Sardinha.

The 24-year-old hit .256 with three home runs and 32 RBI in 72 games through Saturday.

Optioned to Triple-A Louisville on Thursday, catcher Corky Miller will likely be recalled when the Bats are finished with the International League playoffs.

"When it's all said and done," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "It's not going to hurt to have three guys (catchers) up here anyway."

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E-mail kkelly@enquirer.com