Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Wayne Krivsky all red as Reds give him pink slip

ESPN:
The Cincinnati Reds have fired general manager Wayne Krivsky less than three years into his tenure, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported.

Krivsky, a former assistant GM with the Minnesota Twins, was hired in 2006, succeeding Dan O'Brien. He was the first general manager to be hired under the Reds ownership group led by Bob Castellini and is in the last year of a three-year contract.

The Reds are currently 9-12 and 5½ games behind the NL Central-leading Chicago Cubs.

Krivsky's best move may have been acquiring second baseman Brandon Phillips from the Cleveland Indians for a player to be named later, who later turned out to be minor-leaguer Jeff Stevens. Phillips hit 30 home runs and 26 doubles for the Reds last season and has become one of the NL's best second basemen.

His most questionable move may have been his July 13, 2006 deal sending everyday starters Austin Kearns and Felipe Lopez along with pitcher Ryan Wagner to the Washington Nationals for pitchers Gary Majewski, Bill Bray and Daryl Thompson; shortstop Royce Clayton; and infielder Brendan Harris.

The trade, made with the hopes of bolstering the Reds' bullpen in the midst of a pennant race, backfired. Both Majewski and Bray are currently in the minors, Harris was dealt after the 2006 season to the Tampa Bay Rays for future considerations and Clayton left as a free agent.

"We paid a steep price," Krivsky said at the time of the trade. "I'm sure this will be a controversial trade. I know a lot of people will be leaving nasty messages on my voicemail, and I'll have some who think it's great."

No comments: