Steal of '08: Reds Paid $3.5K for Johnny Cueto

There is an incredible story about scouting talent from Reds Insider (via MLB Trade Rumors) that was released yesterday, where John Fay points out that sometimes there's a distinct difference in how various prospects -- particularly in the increasingly global nature of today's baseball world -- arrive to the majors. To make that point, he contrasts how Cincy pulled Edison Volquez and Johnny Cueto.

To get Volquez, the Reds gave up Josh Hamilton, a high price to pay.

To get Cueto, they spent $3,500 and trusted the instincts of a very good scout.

The Reds were looking to fill out their Dominican Summer League roster in March of 2004. Johnny Almaraz, the then-director of international operations, was in the D.R. supervising the process. His scouts were doing most of the signing. But a friend of his from San Pedro de Macoris kept trying to get Almaraz to look at a little right-hander.

'I told him the only way I could do it was on my way to airport,' Almaraz said. 'I told him if he could get a game together at 7 in the morning, I'd watch the kid throw.'

I mean, that's ridiculous. Not only did they land a kid who seems like a can't miss (although we know how that often goes with Dusty Baker in charge) but they pulled off signing him for a measly three thousand five hundred dollars.

As Fay points out, though, general manager Wayne Krivisky is probably going to regret not getting along with Almaraz; the former scout (and obvious eye for talent) moved onto the Braves in the same position after some disputes with the new GM. Yeah the Reds are a serious sleeper team this year, but Krivisky's penchant for middle relievers that don't pan out, managers that destroy youthful arms and an apparent inability to get along with one of the best scouts in his organization doesn't bode very well for the future.