Reds sign Brian Barton

This move, first reported by Matt Eddy of Baseball America, wasn't rocket science. Or maybe it is. The former Cardinal outfielder has a degree in aerospace engineering from Miami, where he played baseball on an academic scholarship paid for by Boeing. The link from a 2008 story below details this - and much more - about one of the more interesting guys to potentially don a wishbone C in quite some time.

Barton, 29 in April, plays all three outfield positions but is better defensively on a corner. The 6-foot-3, 187-pound right-handed-hitting Los Angeles native spent 2010 in the Atlantic League with Newark and Bridgeport, combining to go 19-72-.347/.397/.579 while stealing 20 bases in 28 tries.

Barton last appeared in the big leagues in 2009 when he had one at bat with Atlanta, to which he was traded by St. Louis for reliever Blaine Boyer in 2009. The Cardinals plucked him from Cleveland in the 2007 Rule 5 Draft and kept him on the roster all season. He went 2-13-.268/.354/.392 and swiped three bags in four tries.

In 2009 at Triple-A Gwinnett, Barton posted a line of 7-46-.266/.354/.390 and stole 17 bases in 24 attempts.

While he's likely little more than injury insurance destined for Louisville, at least it's a branch to fling in the hot stove.



(redreporter.com)