The Reds have claimed 25-year old righty reliever Josh Judy off waivers from the Indians. Judy pitched in 12 games (0 starts) for the Indians last year and he was 0-0 with a 7.57 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He also pitched in 50 games (0 starts) in AAA-ball last year and he was 6-2 with 23 saves, a 3.12 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. Judy only gave up 44 hits while whiffing 60 batters in 52 innings in the minors last year. I really like this pickup for the Reds as Judy will have a good shot of making the bullpen next spring.

The Reds have acquired 29-year old lefty reliever Sean Marshall from the Cubs for 24-year old lefty starting pitcher Travis Wood, 24-year old righty swinging outfielder Dave Sappelt and 19-year old righty swinging 2B/SS Ronald Torreyes. Marshall pitched in 78 games (0 starts) for the Cubs last year and he was 6-6 with 5 saves, a 2.26 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP. He only gave up 66 hits and 17 walks in 75 2/3 innings while whiffing 79 batters last season, and that is pretty darn impressive. Marshall has now pitched in 292 games (59 starts) in his first six years in the majors and he is 32-40 with 7 saves, a 3.96 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP.

Travis Wood pitched in 22 games (18 starts) for the Reds last year and he was 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA and a 1.49 WHIP. In his two years with the Reds, Wood pitched in 39 games (35 starts) in which he was 11-10 with a 4.18 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. Dave Sappelt came into last year as the Reds’ #20 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 38 games for the Reds last year and he was 26 of 107 (.243 avg, .607 OPS) with 14 runs scored, 0 homers, 5 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Richard Torreyes came into last year as the Reds’ #22 prospect according to Baseball America. Torreyes played in 67 games in A-ball last year for the Reds and he was 99 for 278 (.356 avg, .855 OPS) with 53 runs scored, 3 homers, 41 RBIs and 12 stolen bases.

The Reds paid a high price for set-up man Sean Marshall….but he’s a darn good pitcher.

The Reds have signed 32-year old righty swinging catcher Brian Esposito to a minor league deal. He played in 54 games in AA+AAA-ball for the Astros last year and he was 31 for 157 (.197 avg, .482 OPS) with 10 runs scored, 1 homer, 11 RBIs and 1 stolen base. Esposito last played in the majors in 2010 with the Astros. He has played in 3 games in his first two years in the majors and he is 0 for 3 (.000 avg, .000 OPS). The Reds will stash Esposito in the minors in 2012.

The Cincinnati Reds have acquired 24-year old righty starting pitcher Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres for 24-year old lefty swinging 1B Yonder Alonso, 28-year old righty starting pitcher Edison Volquez, 23-year old switch-hitting catcher Yasmani Grandal and 23-year old righty reliever Brad Boxberger. Latos pitched in 31 games (all starts) for the Padres last year and he was 9-14 with a 3.47 ERA and a 1.18 WHIP. He has now pitched in 72 games (all starts) in his first three years in the majors and he is 27-29 with a 3.37 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP. Latos has only given up 361 hits in his first 429 2/3 innings in the majors, while whiffing 413 batters. Latos will give the Reds a top of the rotation starting pitcher, which is something they have been hunting for this winter. But, he didn’t come cheap.

Yonder Alonso was blocked by Joey Votto in Cincinnati, but he has a huge upside. He came into last season as the Reds’ #4 prospect according to Baseball America. Alonso played in 47 games for the Reds last year and he was 29 for 88 (.330 avg, .943 OPS) with 9 runs scored, 5 homers and 15 RBIs. He played in 69 games in his two years with the Reds and he was 35 for 117 (.299 avg, .833 OPS) with 11 runs scored, 5 homers and 18 RBIs. Edison Volquez pitched in 20 games (all starts) for the Reds last year and he was 5-7 with a 5.71 ERA and a 1.57 WHIP. He pitched in 74 games (73 starts) in his four years with the Reds and he was 30-18 with a 4.17 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP. Yasmani Grandal came into last year as the Reds’ #6 prospect according to Baseball America. He played in 105 games in A+AA+AAA-ball last year for the Reds and he was 114 of 374 (.305 avg, .901 OPS) with 69 runs scored, 14 homers and 68 RBIs. Righty reliever Brad Boxberger came into last year as the #18 prospect in the Reds’ minor league system according to Baseball America. He pitched in 55 games (0 starts) in AA+AAA-ball last year and he was 2-4 with 11 saves, a 2.03 ERA and a 0.97 WHIP.

The Reds sure gave up a lot to get Mat Latos, but he was the best player in the deal. He will give the Reds a solid 1-2 punch at the top of the starting rotation along with Johnny Cueto.

The Reds have signed 26-year old right starter/reliever Andrew Brackman to a 1-year deal. Brackman made his major league debut with the Yankees last year and he worked in 3 games (0 starts) in which he was 0-0 with a 0.00 ERA and a 1.71 WHIP. He also pitched in 33 games (13 starts) in AAA-ball for the Yankees last year and he was 3-6 with 1 save, a 6.00 ERA and a 1.64 WHIP. Brackman has pitched in 89 games (58 starts) in his first three years in the minors and he is 15-29 with 1 save, a 5.11 ERA and a 1.52 WHIP. Brackman was a first round pick back in 2007 by the Yankees, so maybe a change of scenery will do him some good.