With Majewski, Claussen hurt, Reds deal for Franklin

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CINCINNATI -- Gary Majewski's sore pitching shoulder spurred the Cincinnati Reds to make another move for their bullpen Monday, acquiring right-hander Ryan Franklin from the Philadelphia Phillies.

Ryan Franklin

Relief Pitcher Cincinnati Reds Profile

2006 SEASON STATISTICS GM W L BB K ERA 46 1 5 17 25 4.58

Franklin was thrown right into the fire. Projected as a long-reliever, he came on in the second inning on Monday night after the Cardinals lit up Elizardo Ramirez and led 7-0. Franklin went 4 1/3 innings and gave up three runs, all earned, including a sixth-inning Scott Rolen home run. He walked two and struck out five.

The Reds received money to pay part of Franklin's $2.6 million deal for this season. They'll give the Phillies a player to be named after the season.

The move came after Majewski -- one of the keys in an eight-player deal with Washington on July 13 -- told the team that he's been bothered by a sore shoulder. Majewski was placed on the 15-day disabled list.

In a busy day of player moves, the Reds also put right-handed reliever Jason Standridge on the 15-day DL with back spasms and activated left-hander Kent Mercker, who had been sidelined by a sore elbow.

And, left-handed starter Brandon Claussen returned from a failed rehabilitation stint in the minors. He's expected to have surgery by next week to clean out his pitching shoulder, ending his season.

The most intriguing news involved Majewski, who was obtained along with left-hander Bill Bray and shortstop Royce Clayton as part of a package that included outfielder Austin Kearns and shortstop Felipe Lopez.

Bray has been solid and Clayton has helped the Reds stay in contention in the NL Central with his dependable fielding. Majewski has struggled since he arrived in Cincinnati, going 1-2 with a 12.54 ERA in 11 games.

Majewski pitched in the World Baseball Classic in March, replacing Mets closer Billy Wagner on the U.S. roster. He said Monday that he has taken anti-inflammatory drugs since early in the season and received a cortisone shot before the All-Star break.

"It's been bothering me for a while, after the World Baseball Classic," Majewski said Monday. "I tried to fire it up too quick."

General manager Wayne Krivsky said Majewski didn't tell the team that his shoulder was bothering him all along. He declined to say whether the Nationals told him about Majewski's treatments before the trade.

An MRI on Monday found no severe damage to the shoulder.

"I'm not going to talk about anything that was done before the trade, what was said, what wasn't said, what was exchanged and all that," Krivsky said during Cincinnati's game against St. Louis. "The bottom line is, he's got a tired shoulder. He needs rest. There's nothing structurally wrong. He doesn't need any surgery."

The uncertainty over Majewski's status prompted the Reds to make their fourth bullpen-centered trade in the last four weeks.

Franklin, 33, was 1-5 with Philadelphia with a 4.58 ERA in 46 relief appearances. He signed a one-year deal with the Phillies before the season, expecting to be in the rotation. Instead, manager Charlie Manuel decided to use him out of the bullpen. Franklin never got comfortable there, and was designated for assignment on July 30.

"They've been straight with me," Franklin said of the Reds. "They told me I'll be in the 'pen and if something comes up and they need a starter, I can fall into that role, too."

The Reds have tried various options to fill out their rotation since Claussen went on the disabled list June 17. The lack of improvement during a minor-league rehabilitation stint convinced Claussen that season-ending surgery is needed to clean out his shoulder.

"I knew there was a problem there," he said.

Also Monday, the Reds sent right-hander Matt Belisle to Triple-A Louisville on a rehabilitation stint. Belisle has been on the disabled list twice this season because of a sore lower back.

Copyright 2006 by The Associated Press

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