Braves get Reitsma, send Bong to Reds

[BERIGAN]

I hope Bong pitches for many more years, I love seeing his name in print, and so to sports writers it appears.

Oh....the braves have now traded their top 2 pitching prospects...to rent players for this season. I dearly hope they are a last place team this year....

Braves get Reitsma, send Bong to Reds

By DAVID O'BRIEN

Published on: 03/26/04

Lake Buena Vista, Fla. -- Continuing their bullpen-strengthening mission, the Braves completed a second trade in as many days, acquiring right-hander Chris Reitsma from Cincinnati for pitchers Jung Keun Bong and Bubba Nelson.

A hard thrower who made the transformation from struggling starter to effective reliever in 2003, Reitsma was the Reds' closer late in the season.

"He gives us a deeper bullpen and a little protection for [closer John] Smoltz, in case something happens," said Braves general manager John Schuerholz, who acquired right-hander Juan Cruz from the Chicago Cubs in a Thursday trade.

Reitsma, 26, said he was taken by "complete surprise" by the trade. The Braves and Red Sox were among many teams that tried hard to get him last year, with Boston reportedly offering a package of four players.

"I'm really excited to be part of their [braves] organization," Reitsma said. "The winning speaks for itself. I'm their property, and whatever they want to do with me, I'll do to the best of my ability."

He will likely be the primary setup man, supplanting Antonio Alfonseca.

"We like where we are now better than where we were before we made these deals," added Schuerholz, who was unwilling to stand pat with an underperforming bullpen clouded by several health issues.

Reitsma is an imposing (6 feet 5, 235 pounds) ground-ball pitcher who throws a hard sinker, a mid-90 mph fastball and a good change-up.

"We tried hard to get him last year for our pennant run and again this winter," Schuerholz said. "Our people evaluated him as one of the top guys in the business in the role he's now doing."

After going 1-1 with a 7.27 ERA in three early season starts, he went 8-4 with a 3.51 ERA in 54 relief appearances, with 47 strikeouts and only 15 walks in 66 2/3 innings. He converted 12 of 18 save opportunities.

"You just hate to see somebody like him go," Reds closer Danny Graves said after another deal that disappointed Cincinnati players and fans. "You try to get used to it, but I don't think there's any way you can get used to it."

Reitsma lost his arbitration case with the Reds last month and was awarded a $950,000 salary for 2004.

Cruz, 25, wasn't eligible for arbitration and will make $380,000.

"Both of them have been starters -- that's a plus, too," Braves manager Bobby Cox said. "Who knows what's going to happen next year?"

The Braves traded two prospects, lefty Andy Pratt and second baseman Richard Lewis, to get Cruz. For Reitsma they gave up two more pitchers, 23-year-old lefty Bong and Nelson, 22.

Nelson was rated the No. 3 prospect in the organization after going 8-10 with a 3.18 ERA last season as a starter at Class AA Greenville and posting a 1.88 ERA in 11 relief appearances at Class AAA Richmond.

Bong was 6-2 with a 5.05 ERA in 44 relief appearances with the Braves last season and was competing for a bullpen spot this spring.

Schuerholz said the Braves may not be finished with spring deals.

"We're in a committed battle to win a division," he said. "One of great assets we have in this organization is a very rich farm system, which provides us with the ability to be aggressive on trade fronts."

Alfonseca's poor spring was an impetus for the trades. But unless he's dealt, he seems assured of making the team because of a guaranteed $1.35 million contract and the fact he still throws hard.

http://www.ajc.com/braves/content/sports/b.../27reitsma.html

[Jazzmoose]

Jeez, that's a weird topic for a nonsports fan...is reitsma something you catch from old bong water or something?