They say good-byes come in waves. That’s been true in my experience. I’m bracing for another one. The Reds’ place in the standings and the harsh financial reality of baseball will conspire to produce a tsunami of farewells. With news breaking today that the club has traded Johnny Cueto to Kansas City, it’s started.
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In March 2004, the Reds under general manager Dan O’Brien signed Cueto as an amateur free agent out of the Dominican Republic. It was just a month after the right-handed pitcher had turned 18. He signed for $35,000. That’s hard to comprehend today considering Raisel Iglesias inked a deal for $27 million.