Best & Worst Reds July Trades of Past 15 Years

BEST

Danny Graves

*July 31st, 1997 - In a 6-player deal, Cincinnati acquires RHP Danny Graves, UTL Damian Jackson, LHP Jim Crowell, and RHP Scott Winchester from Cleveland for LHP John Smiley and INF Jeff Branson.  Graves goes on to become the Reds all-time saves leader with 182 in his nine seasons with the organization.  Smiley pitches in only six games for the Tribe before retiring after the '97 season while Branson is relegated to a seldom-used bench player for the rest of his time in the bigs. 
*July 19th, 2001 - The Reds receive 2B Todd Walker and OF Robin Jennings from the Rockies in exchange for OF Alex Ochoa.  Jennings never amounts to much, but Walker puts up a .298 average and 96 RBI's in his 1 1/2 seasons with the club before signing with Boston in the '03 off-season.  Ochoa bounces around with three different teams before leaving the pro ranks a season later.
*July 6th, 2003 - The Chicago White Sox send 2B D'Angelo Jimenez to the Reds in a trade for RHP Scott Dunn.  Jimenez hits .271 and accumulates a .359 OBP over his next three years with the franchise.  Dunn is traded again three weeks later by Chicago - this time to the Angels - where he goes on to appear in just 10 career major league games.  

Aaron Harang

*July 30th, 2003 - In exchange for OF Jose Guillen, Cincy receives RHP Aaron Harang, RHP Joe Valentine and RHP Jeff Bruksch from Oakland.  Harang emerges as the staff's ace during the '06 campaign, eventually compiling 75 wins and a 4.28 ERA in his 8-year stay in the Queen City.  Guillen goes on to play with six other teams and puts together a very solid career, but never surpasses the monster numbers he put up during the '03 season (.311 BA, 31 HR's, 96 RBI's).
*July 31st, 2009 - Cincinnati sends 3B Edwin Encarnacion, RHP Josh Roenicke and RHP Zach Stewart to Toronto in return for 3B Scott Rolen.  Rolen immediately instills a winning mindset to the clubhouse in helping the Reds to a 27-13 record (in games he appears in) to finish the '09 year.  That momentum carries over to the '10 season where the seasoned veteran helps guide the team to it's first postseason appearance since '95.

WORST

Phil Dumatrait

*July 11th, 2002 - Florida gets OF Juan Encarnacion, INF Wilton Guerrero, and LHP Ryan Snare from the Redlegs in a deal for RHP Ryan Dempster.  A winner of 29 combined games the two seasons before, Dempster wins only 8 in his 1 1/2 seasons in Cincinnati.  He is later released and signed by the Cubs where he goes on to resurrect his career in Chicago.  Encarnacion becomes a steady, everyday outfielder for three different clubs before calling it quits in '07.   
*July 30th, 2003 - The Reds send former Rookie of the Year RHP Scott Williamson to Boston in exchange for LHP Phil Dumatrait and LHP Tyler Pelland.  Dumatrait goes 0-4 in six starts with the team after finally making it to the majors nearly four years later in '07.  Pelland never makes it to the big show while Williamson becomes a reliable reliever for the Red Sox, but never returns to his stellar form while in the 'Nati.  A lose-lose for all.

Gary Majewski

*July 13th, 2006 - In a whopping 8-player trade, Cincinnati receives RHP Gary Majewski, LHP Bill Bray, SS Royce Clayton, RHP Daryl Thompson and INF Brendan Harris from Washington for OF Austin Kearns, INF Felipe Lopez and RHP Ryan Wagner.  Majewski posts a 7.38 ERA in an injury-riddled three seasons with the team, Clayton contribues very little in his half a season with the squad, and Thompson continues to be a player stuck in Triple-A.  Only Bray proves to be valuable commodity among the five players acquired in the trade by the Redlegs.  Lopez and Kearns go on to become contributors with their respective teams and still remain on major league rosters to this day.
*July 30th, 2007 - The Phillies obtain RHP Kyle Lohse by sending LHP Matt Maloney to Cincy.  Since then, Lohse has compiled a combined 36-31 record with two teams including a 15-win season in '08.  Maloney has pitched in just 20 games for the Reds (4-7) while bouncing back-and-forth from the minors.  He is currently on the 60-day DL with a broken rib and is scheduled to return later this month.