Reds Rumors: Cincinnati Reds to Send Dave Williams Packing?

The title of this post is more fact than rumor at this point as the Cincinnati Reds designated Dave Williams for assignment on Saturday. Williams had been a disaster on the mound this season, amassing a 2-3 record with a 7.20 ERA. This move proves that the Reds are committed to improvement no matter what the price, as they're willing to eat a pro-rated amount of the $1.5 million remaining on Williams' deal if they can't work out a trade, or if another team doesn't claim him on waivers. Williams does still have an option, so it's possible that he could remain in the Reds farm system playing at AAA Louisville.

Williams was acquired in an offseason salary clearing move by the Reds when they parted ways with Sean Casey and the $8.5 million in salary that he would be owed this season. From the outside, this looks like a colossally bad trade, but really the Reds were still effective in clearing 7 million dollars for a player who's offensive production they've replaced with the Hatteberg/Aurilia platoon, and who's been out with back problems for most of the year so far. Not to mention, there's still a chance that a team in dire need of starters like the New York Mets could claim Williams and take responsibility for the $900,000 still owed to him.