Not so long ago Wilson Valdez got all kinds of undeserved credit for the Phillies’ success, but now they’ve traded the light-hitting utility man to the Reds for left-handed reliever Jeremy Horst.
Valdez has topped 300 plate appearances in each of the past two seasons despite hitting just .254 with a .300 on-base percentage and .351 slugging percentage, but the 34-year-old figures to see much less action in Cincinnati.
Horst made his big-league debut with the Reds last season, appearing in 12 games, but at 26 years old he’s a marginal prospect with middle relief upside. In other words, he’s a fair return for Valdez.
