Reds Cubs deal again... the same deal again.

[KDoc09]

Cubs get

CI Freeman, Freddie, $0.5m (P-n/a)
C Norris, Derek, $0.5m (P-n/a)
OF Cameron, Mike, $4m (2012)
C Castro, Ramon, $1.5m (2012)
Cash considerations are voided since Castro is returning to CHI

for

CI Stewart, Ian, $2.5m (2013)
C Thole, Josh, $1.5m (2012)
C Romine, Austin, $0.5m (P-n/a)

Cubs get younger at two positions, and acquire what will hopefully be a cornerstone CI to build my offense around. Happy to get Norris back, I never wanted to trade him in the first place. Cameron gives me a need OF bat, and evens up the salary with the cap-strapped Reds. Reds to confirm.

[Dan Wood]

Reds confirm...this is a deal that was discussed for about a good 8 hours. After much internal deliberation I decided that having Stewart and Thole, and being minus Cameron's contract, was in the best short term interest for my team. Granted Freeman and Norris have higher upside, but they are both years away from the players they are supposed to be. If I was rebuilding I would have held on to them, but as it stands I am in no position to do so. Thole is what he is, but he is very good at it, and Stewart has still yet to reach his peak.

This deal is also good for the Cubbies as he gets two very good, very young players as he continues to tear down the Bridgestone.

All in all I feel it was a good trade for the direction that each team is going in. Now if Stewart loses his job, this could turn out to be monumentally bad. But I'll let Jim Tracey and his family worry about that.

[Mr.TradeKing]

 :iatp:

~MTK

[Dan Wood]

The Reds would also like to extend Josh Thole an additional year (2013) at 1.5 mil. He was the 28th ranked Catcher in 2010.

[Needle Juice]

Approved

[guak2005]

 :iatp:

[Colby]

The Reds would also like to extend Josh Thole an additional year (2013) at 1.5 mil. He was the 28th ranked Catcher in 2010.

Corey questioned this via PM... just want to clear the air and let everyone know that this is acceptable.  The $1.5m contract can go at most three years.  His market value is less than or equal to $1.5m, so adding on an extra year is just fine.  It is a common practice to extend many of the $500k deals in similar manners (see Oakland).