Reds sign Edmonds
On Monday the Cincinnati Reds bolstered their roster in preparation for a deep play-off run by trading for veteran centre fielder Jim Edmonds. The Reds traded the Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Chris Dickerson in the outfield strengthening move.
The current NL Central leaders now have a proven outfielder in their quest for play-off qualification. The Reds are attempting to maintain their two-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals as the two teams prepare to engage in a three-game series beginning Monday.
Reds’ manager Dusty Baker plans to use the 40-year-old Edmonds in a part-time role but the veteran fielder is excited for the chance to be part of what could be one of his final play-off chases.
"He's somebody that can probably contribute a couple days a week and somebody that can tutor the young outfielders," Baker said. "He can still play."
The Brewers were a hopeless third place in the NL Central, 11 games out of first place, but the Reds are currently engaged in a close two-team race for supremacy against Edmonds’ former team, the Cardinals.
Edmonds said, "It's been a quick 24 hours. To go from kind of the bottom of the standings to the top in a hurry and show up here playing the Cardinals -- it's going to be a little nuts."
This continues the Reds’ trend of strengthening through the acquisition of former Cardinals players. Reds’ general manager Walt Jocketty was behind the rebuilding of the St. Louis Cardinals franchise from 1995 to 2007 and seems to be fond of re-signing his former developments, such as last year’s trade for Scott Rolen.
"It's guys that I know that are good players still and can contribute," Jocketty said. "I think everyone we've acquired has done a good job, and I think [Edmonds] will do the same."
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