Jonny Gomes Trade Sends Slugger From Reds To Nationals

It’s a very weird fit for the Nationals. Nothing against Jonny Gomes. Gomes is a powerful right-handed hitter who does have his uses. But he’s extremely limited, he’s a free agent after the season, and the Nats are presently nine games out of a playoff spot. It’s hard to see the motivation, unless the Nationals intend to flip Gomes elsewhere in the coming days. Maybe they won’t, and maybe they just want Gomes for a short-term upgrade. He’s on track to be a Type B free agent after the year. This just isn’t the sort of move you expect.

In Rhinehart, the Reds get a 26-year-old lefty 1B/OF who remains stuck in double-A. And in Manno, they get a 22-year-old lefty reliever who has dominated with A-ball Hagerstown. Manno was a 26th-round pick a year ago, but he’s put himself on course to have a major league career out of the bullpen.