SPORTS DAILY: Reds shed a good arm, but it makes sense

Nothing like sparking off-season interest by trading one of your more productive pitchers for three anonymous prospects.

Obviously not sold on journeyman right-hander Dan Straily's ability to repeat last season's success and become a pillar of their rebuilding, that's what the Reds did Thursday, and until second baseman Brandon Phillips figures out he's no longer wanted and accepts a trade, this is what passes for big news about a team destined to finish fourth (at best) in the NL Central.

This is not a household name headed to Miami, of course. If you’ve even heard of Straily, you are either a diehard Reds fan, a member of his family or some fantasy baseball loon.

And if before Thursday you had heard of right-handed pitchers Louis Castillo and Austin Brice or outfielder Isaiah White, the players the Reds received in return, you are either a scout, the editor of Baseball America or simply someone who needs to get out of the house more often.

Castillo, 24, is rated Miami’s No. 2 prospect by Baseball America, however. He spent time at Double-A last season. White, the No. 10 prospect in the Marlins’ organization, is two years out of high school.

Not that it's a bad trade. In the Reds' circumstance, one could argue it's best to sell high on a guy like Straily, who has bounced from team and team and could turn back into a pumpkin without much notice. The Marlins are desperate for arms after the death of the great Jose Fernandez late last season and the Reds happily took advantage.

Straily was a good rags-to-riches story, a waiver claim who went 14-8 with a 3.76 ERA on a horrible team last season.

Reds GM Dick Williams took part in a conference call after the trade. His reasoning makes sense. Read about it here.

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