With the acquisition of pitcher Mat Latos from the San Diego Padres, the Cincinnati Reds have made it as clear as a crisp post-season October sky; they plan to compete in 2012.

Great American Ballpark – Home of the Cincinnati Reds Opening Day Game
2009

The Reds began 2011 with a bang and fans were excited to enjoy a successful season. However the team faltered, in large part due to inconsistent starting pitchers, and the team eventually slipped slowly but surely out of contention. Granted the Reds are in a tough division as they battled regularly against the two teams that eventually made it to the National League Championship game in 2011 – the Milwaukee Brewers and St Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals, of course, went on to win the World Series.

However the days of Marge Schott are gone, and Reds management no longer favors players based on their lack of facial hair, nor do they rely on the fur from a dearly demised saint bernard for good luck. Reds general manager Walt Jocketty knows what needs require attention and controlling owner Bob Castellini is willing to do what it takes put together a winning team.

Mat Latos is a young, powerful addition to the Reds where they need it most – starting pitching. In 2011 Johnny Cueto (9-5, 2.31 ERA), Mike Leake (12-8, 3.86 ERA) and Homer Bailey (9-7, 4.43 ERA) were the only Reds starters with winning records. Veteran Bronson Arroyo was iffy at best, finishing the season at 9-12. Latos went 9-14 for the Padres in 2011 , but that was without the strength of a stellar offense he will have backing him up as he pitches for the Reds. Latos ERA was 3.47, and he held opponents to a batting average of .233; he is only 24 and the Reds clearly anticipate long term success from him.

In exchange for Latos, the Reds gave up pitcher Edinson Volquez who ended 2010 with a less than impressive record of 5-7 and 5.71 ERA. They also lost Yonder Alonso, who was ranked as the Reds number two prospect; yet Alonso was unable to reach his full potential at first base with Joey Votto firmly entrenched in the starting lineup. Other top prospects were included in the trade as well, but the Reds aren’t overly focused future potential, they are about winning in the here and now.

Walt Jocketty told reporters, “Our offseason objective was to try to upgrade our rotation and add a top-of-the-rotation starter.” Though only time will tell, Lato does indeed seem to fulfill this objective, and if nothing else it is clear the Reds are taking the steps they find necessary to succeed moving forward. It’s hard for any fan to take issue with that.

Lisa has been a fan of the Cincinnati Reds since her family moved to Cincinnati when she was in elementary school. Her favorite player is the great Barry Larkin and she looks forward to him receiving his just rewards and being inducted in the Hall of Fame. Lisa was away at college when the Reds won the World Series in 1990 and forever regrets not being in town to celebrate appropriately. She longs for the day when her Reds win it all again.

Cash Kruth, “Cincinnati Reds land Mat Latos in five-player deal with San Diego Padres,” reds.com

Player Stats, reds.com

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

Read More: Edinson Volquez (P – SDP), Yonder Alonso (1B – SDP), Mat Latos (P – CIN), Yasmani Grandal (C – SDP), Bradley Boxberger (P – SDP), San Diego Padres, Cincinnati Reds

Christmas has come early for the San Diego Padres, it appears. On Saturday afternoon, the Padres and the Cincinnati Reds completed a trade that will ship Mat Latos out of San Diego and into the National League Central. While Latos heads to Cincinnati, the Reds will send pitchers Edinson Volquez and Brad Boxberger, catching prospect Yasmani Grandal and first baseman Yonder Alonso, reports Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.

Latos went 9-14 in 2011 for the Padres, but he was able to maintain a 3.47 ERA and a 3.16/3.52 FIP/xFIP in 194 innings. In six career starts against the Rockies, Latos was 3-2 with a 3.44 ERA.

In return, the Padres receive a pitcher in Volquez who has been troubled by injuries over the last few years, but is still immensely talented and has big strikeout ability. Alonso is a 24-year-old corner outfielder and first baseman who will need to see what happens with Anthony Rizzo before he has a set position. Grandal is a 23-year-old catcher who is waiting to make his major league debut. He has a .888 career OPS. Boxberger is a 23-year-old reliever who can strikeout batters.

For more updates on the MLB Hot Stove, check out Baseball Nation and MLB Daily Dish.

By SportsDirect

Former New York Mets general manager
Omar Minaya is returning to Major League Baseball with the San
Diego Padres.

Minaya, 53, will serve as senior vice president of baseball
operations, Padres general manager Josh Byrnes said in a
statement released today by the team. Minaya was fired by the
Mets following the 2010 season, after the team’s second
consecutive fourth-place finish in the National League East
division.

“We’re excited to add Omar to our staff,” Byrnes said.
“His experience, knowledge, evaluative skills and connections
throughout the industry will be invaluable for us.”

The Padres were 71-97 last season, finishing 23 games
behind the Arizona Diamondbacks in the NL West. San Diego has
not made the playoffs since 2006.

– Editor: Rob Gloster

To contact the reporter on this story:
Eben Novy-Williams in New York at
enovywilliam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at msillup@bloomberg.net

SAN DIEGO, Oct. 31 (UPI) — Josh Byrnes was promoted to executive vice president and general manager of the San Diego Padres Monday.

Byrnes had been the National League club’s senior vice president of baseball operations since December. He succeeds Jed Hoyer, who became general manager of the Chicago Cubs last week.

“Josh is one of the most respected and credentialed baseball executives in the game,” said Jeff Moorad, the Padres’ vice chairman and chief executive officer. “His proven record and extensive background in scouting and player development make a great fit for continuing the same focus that we’ve had for two years.”

Byrnes previously worked in the front offices of the Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks.

Soon-to-be free agent closer Heath Bell(notes) has saved 132 games for the San Diego Padres in the last three seasons and had 57 holds in the two seasons before that. The word is that he’d like to stick around, but wants the team to offer him a three-year deal, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune.

The paper reports that the Padres are willing to offer two years for $7.5 million to $8 million annually with an option for a third year to the 34-year-old three-time All-Star.

This past season, Bell saved 43 games. That’s more than half of the 71 victories that the National League West’s last-place team managed. He also struck out 51 in 62.2 innings pitched/

Let the rumors come to you. Follow Scoop du Jour on Twitter or Facebook.

Source: San Diego Union-Tribune

Related: San Diego Padres