Yonder Alonso Gets Called Up

CINCINNATI -- The trade of Jonny Gomes to the Washington Nationals on Tuesday was more about Yonder Alonso than Gomes. The Reds got a couple prospects for Gomes, but it was more about opening a spot for Alonso than what the Reds got in return.

"We've got some quality young players at Triple-A who deserve the opportunity to be here," Reds GM Walt Jocketty said. "We'll see if they do help us."

Alonso has played 62 of his 91 games at Triple-A in left field. He worked hard on the position in the offseason, but he is limited as far as speed.
"He's improved a lot," Jocketty said. "He'll be able to spell Joey from time to time. He'll play some left field. He'll be a left-handed hitter off the bench. The one thing we do know about Yonder is he can hit. He can flat out hit."

Alonso was hitting .296/.374/.468 with a 12 home runs and 56 RBI for the Bats.

Jocketty would not say Alonso will play every day in the left field. Chris Heisey and Fred Lewis will still get time.

"We felt we needed another left-handed bat," Jocketty said. "Yonder's done a terrific job at Louisville and has deserved the opportunity to come up here and see if he can contribute to the major league club."

Jocketty says, despite treading a veteran for two prospects, the Reds have not switched the emphasis from buy to sell.

"I think what we're looking at now is more players who will contribute at the major league level," Jocketty said. "We're still buying."

Gomes was not an easy guy to trade.

"We had a couple clubs inquire about Jonny's services but Washington was probably the most persistent," Jocketty said. "For us, it's a tough move to make in some ways because Jonny was a big part of our club last year. He's obviously a guy we thought very highly of as a person and a player."


(cincinnati.com)