Alas, it is true… Bill “The Godfather” Rhinehart and Chris Manno — two of the fan favorites here at NationalsProspects.com — are no longer in the organization.
They were the minor-leaguers in today’s trade to acquire Jonny Gomes from the Cincinnati Reds, a move made to bolster the parent club’s bench and perhaps garner an extra draft pick in the 2012 First-Year Player Draft, should Gomes become a Type B free agent this offseason.
Rhinehart was second in the Eastern League with 21 HRs and seventh in RBI. In five years with the Nationals farm (2007-2011), he batted .261/.331/.458 with 73HR and 310RBI, an integral part of the 2010 Carolina League champion Potomac Nationals.
Manno was leading the South Atlantic League in Opponents Batting Average at .135 and was 10th in appearances with 34. This was his second season in the organization and he was having a monster season in relief with a 1.04 ERA, a 0.81 WHIP, and had 69K in 43⅓ innings — an otherworldly 14.3K/9IP.
Good luck, boys… and so long.