Cincinnati Reds Top Five Trades of All-Time By Playoff Impact
5. Reds acquire 2B Brandon Phillips from Indians for RHP Jeff Stevens
Aug 8, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Cincinnati Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips (4) runs the bases after hitting a home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Chase Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Phillips was traded from the Montreal Expos to the Cleveland Indians in the Bartolo Colon deal along with Cliff Lee. That deal was the end of baseball in Montreal. At the time Phillips was the #1 prospect in Montreal’s system.
The Reds got Phillips for a player to be named later when he ran out of options three and half years after coming over from Montreal. Phillips is the longest tenured player on the Reds and was a key member of the team that made the playoffs three years in a row, 2010-12. Now the Reds just need to move him.
4. Reds acquire C Ernie Lombardi, 3B Wally Gilbert, OF Babe Herman from Robins (Dodgers) for 2B Tony Cuccinello, 3B Joe Stripp, C Clyde Sukeforth
Jul 14, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Wide view during the first inning of the 2015 MLB All Star Game between the American League and National League at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
This trade was a classic dump. Ernie Lombardi was a hard-throwing, third string catcher during his time in Brooklyn. Because they decided not to use Lombardi as a pitcher, the Brooklyn Robins traded him to the Reds where he became a Hall of Famer.
Babe Herman was in Cincinnati during the tail end of his career. Tony Cuccinello was a youngster when this deal was completed. He had good years later in career, after he left the Robins and ended up with the Chicago White Sox.
3. Reds acquire RHP Jose Rijo, LHP Tim Birtsas from Athletics for OF Dave Parker
Apr 25, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds former players from the 1990 World Series championship team, Jose Rijo (left) Eric Davis (center) and Barry Larkin (right) talk with each other during pregame ceremonies honoring the team before a game with the Chicago Cubs and the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
This deal was a win-win. Because the Reds had a young right fielder ready to replace Dave Parker in Paul O’Neill, they sent Parker to Oakland for additional pitching. The Athletics needed some left-handed hitting to balance the Bash Brothers in Oakland.
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Parker played in two World Series with the Athletics, winning one in 1989. Meanwhile, Jose Rijo went 14-8 during the 1990 season to lead the Reds to a sweep of the Oakland Athletics. During the rest of his career, he pitched a total of ten years for Cincinnati, twice leading the National League in games started.
2. Reds acquire OF George Foster from Giants for SS Frank Duffy, RHP Vern Geishert
Former teammates Ken Griffey (30) and George Foster (15) watch Pete Rose (14) and Tony Perez embrace. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports
Looking back this deal looks great, but at the time it appeared to a trade of young outfielder in George Foster for a young infielder in Frank Duffy. Vern Geishert didn’t play in the majors ever again. Several years later things changed.
Until 1975, Pete Rose was blocking George Foster in left field. While in 1975 when Rose moved to third base, Dan Driessen moved to the bench. Foster had seven years in a row with more than 20 homers, including hitting 52 in 1977.
1. Reds acquire 2B Joe Morgan, OF Cesar Geronimo, RHP Jack Billingham, OF Ed Armbrister, IF Denis Menke from Astros for 2B Tommy Helms, 1B Lee May, UTIL Jimmy Stewart
Jul 25, 2015; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Hall of Famer Joe Morgan introduces broadcaster Dick Enberg (not pictured) during the Awards Presentation at National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
This is the trade that really made the Big Red Machine. The Cincinnati Reds sent two fan favorites in Tommy Helms and Lee May to Houston for Joe Morgan, Cesar Geronimo, and Jack Billingham. As good as Morgan was, the person who made the Big Red Machine was Geronimo.
Geronimo finally allowed Foster and Ken Griffey stay in the corner outfield spots. Plus, the trade of May also cleared the corner infield positions for Tony Perez, Pete Rose and Dan Driessen. Morgan was the best player in this deal by far, but Geronimo was the most important for baseball history.
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