Cincinnati traded Ben Broussard to Cleveland for Russell Branyan on Friday in a deal I find quite lopsided in the Indians favor. While the Reds may have first base and the outfield well-covered with a bevy of talent, they should have been able to acquire more for Broussard than the strikeout-happy Branyan.

The Reds drafted Broussard out of McNeese State University in the second round of the 1999 draft. He signed quickly and immediately excelled in the Rookie level Pioneer League that season, displaying excellent strike zone judgment and good power that inspired Cincinnati to promote him first to A Clinton in the Midwest League and then to AA Chattanooga in the Southern League. The next season he returned to Chattanooga but suffered a wrist injury, which caused him to miss a large portion of the season and affected his performance in his limited at-bats. However while his power dropped, he maintained his plate discipline and added a bit of speed. The Reds sent him own to A+ Mudville in the California League to start the 2001 season but he returned to AA for the majority of the year with better power, again maintaining his eye.

When traded he was hitting .273 with a .396 OBP and .535 SLG in 187 AB at AAA Louisville in the International League on 51 H, 14 2B, 1 3B, and 11 HR with a 31:50 K:BB and a 4/5 SB%. I think Cleveland would likely be wise to keep the 25-year-old in AAA for the rest of the season if they want him to succeed upon reaching the majors. He seems to be swinging a bit more freely, and if he doesn't maintain his high walk rate, than those strikeouts become a problem.

The 26-year-old Branyan is the poster child for high strikeout numbers without a quality accompanying walk rate. Last season he had a 38:132 BB:K in only 315 AB. His power and position flexibility keep him rostered, but he'd be a much greater offensive threat if he made better contact. Branyan sees a good number of pitches with a career 4.11 #P/PA but has a contact rate of 59%, and while I don't support cutting down on strikeouts at all costs to make any kind of contact, that number is way too low.

Branyan can strikeout from four different positions, including both infield and outfield corners. His position flexibility is reportedly a large part of the reason the Reds traded for him. With Austin Kearns, Adam Dunn, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Sean Casey starting,. Juan Encarnacion and Brady Clark are also probably worthy of starting now, and they still have Wily Mo Pena in the minors, who must be kept in the majors next season or exposed to waivers.

Griffey isn't going anywhere and will play when healthy. (His current hamstring injury likely won't require a trip to the DL. It is in the same leg but a different portion of the muscle than his past injuries.) Casey just signed a multi-year contract, but I think the Reds should certainly have shopped him harder than Broussard, especially if Branyan was all they could find for Broussard.

While I like Casey and he's great for their clubhouse, Broussard may be capable of duplicating his numbers and adding power to the lineup that Casey has not yet been able to provide. Broussard would also have cost the Reds much less over the next few years.

Branyan is only a year older than Broussard, but Broussard has shown much more potential. Also while I don't believe Branyan reached arbitration last season, he likely will this year, which should jump his salary to around $1M+ a year.

Broussard has been criticized for his defense in the past but reportedly improved to play well at 1B last season. He hasn't been as successful in the outfield, but the Indians plan to work him in both left and right in the minors with the aim of calling him up quickly. Unlike Cincinnati, Cleveland has a clear opening for Broussard either in left field now, or if they chose not to re-sign Jim Thome, Broussard would take over at 1B next season.

Chris Magruder replaces Branyan in left field for the moment. San Francisco selected Magruder out of the University of Washington in the second round of the 1998 draft. The 25-year-old progressed through the minors at a steady rate, generally displaying good plate discipline though it dipped at times when he reached new levels. He has power potential, though not as much as Broussard, and a bit of speed. The Giants dealt him to Texas in the Galaragga deal last July, and as I discussed in April, Cleveland grabbed him from the Rangers for pitcher Rashad Eldridge. In 50 major league at-bats this season, he has 12 H, 2 2B, and 2 HR with a 5:9 BB:K for a .240 BA, .304 OBP, and .400 SLG.

The Reds made a second small trade yesterday, sending Craig Dingman to the Yankees for a PTBNL. Dingman's career began with the Yankees; New York drafted him out of Kansas' Hutchinson Community College in the 36th round of the 1993 draft, but then traded him to the Rockies for Julio DePaula. He signed with Cincinnati as a free agent this off-season. The 28-year-old right-handed reliever has good skills and could be an asset at the bottom of any bullpen.