Luis Castillo was selected to play in the NL All-Star team on Sunday, the first All-Star Game of his career. Bobby Nightengale, Cincinnati Enquirer
The Reds decided that a young pitcher with good stuff was more important than a left-handed specialist.
So they designated lefty Zach Duke, who signed with the Reds as a free agent in February on a one-year, $2 million deal, for assignment and called up right-hander Jimmy Herget from Triple-A Louisville.
“It’s tough losing Zach,” Reds manager David Bell said. “I’ve known him for a long time, and he became a big part of this team on and off the field in the clubhouse.