Stunning. It cannot be a good day to be a Reds fan.

Wow, I just assumed this was a joke of some sort. What a horrible, horrible trade for the Reds.

This wasn't just a good deal for the Nats, this was basically grand larceny.

All of a sudden Bowden looks like a genius.

If he had been able to throw in Guzman this might have been the deal to make him GM of the Year.

Here in Cincinnati people are stunned. Some folks are trying to justify the trade based on the number of games the bullpen has lost prior to the break. Doesn't matter. If they had done due diligence they could have found a much better deal for Kearns alone.

They'll have fewer leads to protect, because they just traded away two of their best four hitters. Makes no sense to me.

no self-respecting Mariners fan would let this moment go without recalling Jose Cruz Jr for Paul Spoljaric + Mike Timlin , and Derek Lowe + Varitek for Heathcliff Slocumb

Hold on, Chicken Littles...

1. The Reds must think Denorfia is ready. That helps makes Kearns expendable.

2. Lopez' defense has been a problem. Maybe they intend to move Phillips there, which opens up a spot for Freel, or Bergolla - or they can use Castro or Clayton at SS in the interim, take a hit on offense (where they still have plenty) but stabilize the defense, which will help the pitching.

3. Bray is a top prospect, and appears to have turned the corner (7-2/3 scoreless innings this month). Majewski is in his second year and has shown the ability to "take the ball" in pressure situations, and Thompson immediately becomes, after Homer Bailey, their top pitching prospect.

4. Wagner and Harris are both in need of a fresh start.

This trade reminds me of the Red Sox '04 move to get Mientkiewicz and Cabrera; it was roundly criticized as "pennies on the dollar" vs. Garciaparra, but we all know how that worked out...

Yeah, I think there's too many variables at work here to declare this one a big winner or loser either way. Austin Kearns looked like a breakout kid what, 3 years ago? I think it's pretty odd how all the Reds wanted was some bullpen help and there ended up being 8 players involved in the deal. Who knows what could become of the minor-leaguers on either side? I think the chances of Lopez, Kearns, or the two relievers breaking out and becoming superstars is a long shot. It might help, it might hurt, but this looks about as far from a blockbuster deal as any trade involving 8 players can be.

Perhaps part of a bigger scheme for the Reds? They now have a dozen middle infielders and three catchers. At least I hope there is another deal in the making.

Oh, and another 1.5 million and so in lost salary.

By my count, both Kearns and Lopez were Super-Twos so they should be FA till after the 2008 season.