Cincinnati Reds Turn Chris Heisey Into Mediocre AAA Pitcher
By Adam Hughes
Sep 12, 2014; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Cincinnati Reds left fielder Chris Heisey (28) puts down a sacrifice bunt in the ninth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty came to the Queen City with a reputation for building winners in small markets, but we’ve been waiting nearly seven years for that his spells to kick in. Well, Jocketty finally worked his magic tonight, turning beleaguered outfielder Chris Heisey into AAA pitcher Matt Magill with one flourish of the pen.
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With tonight’s midnight deadline for tendering contracts to arbitration-eligible players fast approaching, Jocketty pulled the trigger on a deal that sent Heisey to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who were in dire need of a sixth outfielder. Heisey is a fairly solid leftfielder but has slipped at the plate in recent years, to the point that he is a well below average hitter.
Magill, meanwhile, logged six appearances with the Dodgers in 2013, but has otherwise been a career minor-leaguer. In 2014, he spent time as a starter and reliever, notching a 7-6 record with a 5.21 ERA, a 1.642 WHIP and 1.19 strikeouts per walks at Triple-A Albuquerque.
So, Jocketty could have just non-tendered Heisey and let him become a free agent, but the end result here is really the same: the Reds save the $2 million or so that Heisey might have received in arbitration.
Now, though, Delino DeShields also gets a new farmhand to manage in Louisville.
Voila!