The Reds have acquired infielder Buck Coats from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later.  The Reds are likely to promote Coats on Saturday when rosters can expand to up to 40 players.  The 25-year old Coats has played in 123 AAA games this season and he is 138 for 455 (.303 avg, .798 OPS) with 81 runs scored, 11 homers, 59 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.

The Reds have placed Bobby Livingston on the 15-day disabled list with a torn left labrum.  He has started 10 games this season and he is 3-3 with a 5.27 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.  He allowed 77 hits, walked 8 batters and whiffed 27 in 56.1 innings this year.  The Reds have recalled Matt Belisle to replace Livingston in the starting rotation.  Belisle has started 24 games this season for the Reds and he is 7-8 with a 5.39 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP.  He has thrown 142 innings this season and he has allowed 175 hits, 22 homers, walked 34 batters and whiffed 100 for the Reds.

Jeff Keppinger has finally got his chance to show what he can do in the major leagues this season with the Reds and he has run with it.  Keppinger has played in 34 games this season for the Reds and he is 45 for 118 (.381 avg, 1.010 OPS) with 22 runs scored, 3 homers and 12 RBIs.  The number that really jumps off of the stat page is the fact that Keppinger has only whiffed 5 times so far this season.  Look for the Reds to find ways to get Keppinger some at bats the rest of the season because he deserves them.

The Reds have traded Jeff Conine to the Mets in exchange for minor leaguers Jose Castro and Sean Henry.  This was an excellent move by the Reds.  Conine played in 80 games for the Reds this season and he was 57 for 215 (.265 avg, .729 OPS) and he scored 23 runs, hit 6 homers and drove in 32 runs.  The Reds will now use Jorge Cantu in Conine’s spot as a platoon partner for Scott Hatteberg.  Cantu has played in 2 games for the Reds now and he is 3 for 5 with 3 RBIs.  Sean Henry is a 22-year old right hand hitting outfielder who was the Mets’ #23 prospect coming into this season according to Baseball America.  Henry has played in 114 games in A-ball this season and he is 132 for 450 (.293 avg, .810 OPS) with 59 runs scored, 11 homers, 57 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.  20 year old switch-hitting shortstop Jose Castro has really improved as a baseball player this season and he appears to have a bright future for the Reds.  He has played in 77 games in A-ball and he was 98 for 308 (.318 avg, .746 OPS) with 47 runs scored, 2 homers, 25 RBIs and 7 stolen bases.

The Reds have designated Victor Santos for assignment.  Santos has worked in 32 games this season for the Reds and he was 1-4 with a 5.14 ERA and a 1.51 WHIP.  In 49 innings he has allowed 51 hits, 10 homers, walked 23 batters and whiffed 44.  Losing Santos wouldn’t hurt the Reds much as he has not pitched too well this season.