Thursday moves

 

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -- The Reds have acquired former No. 1 overall pick Josh Hamilton from the Cubs, who was taken by Chicago from Tampa Bay in the Rule 5 draft.

 

Reds also selected RHP (Levi) Jared Burton from Oakland.

 

UPDATE: Krivsky said the deal with Chicago was prearranged and it's for cash considerations.

 

Wayne on Hamilton:

 

"There's risk to everything you do. Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

 

Krivsky said Jerry Narron's brother, Johnny, coached Hamilton in an amateur league in North Carolina.

 

"We feel it's worth the gamble."

 

Hamilton obviously has amazing talent, but a history of drug abuse makes the 1999 No. 1 overall pick a very interesting story.

 

When someone said something to Wayne about Hamilton having "a little power" Wayne jumped back and said, "a little power?"

 

"We think there's a lot still there."

 

Hamilton came off suspension on June 1, 2006 and was fully reinstated on June 30. He then went to the short season New York-Penn League and played in 15 games, batting .260 (13-for-50) with 3 doubles, a triple, and 5 RBI. He didn't play after July 29 because of a knee injury. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Aug. 11.

 

http://frontier.cincinnati.com/blogs/spring/

 

Per Rotoworld:

 

Reds picked RHP Jared Burton from the A's with the eighth selection in Thursday's Rule 5 draft.

 

Burton, 25, had a 4.14 ERA and a 66/27 K/BB in 74 innings for Double-A Midland last season. He doesn't have the potential to be more than a middle relievers, and it seems unlikely that the Reds will carry him

The Rule 5 draft and alot about Hamilton was discussed here