The Cleveland Indians, Arizona Diamondbacks, and Cincinatti Reds have pulled off a three way deal that sends outfielders Sin-Soo Choo and Drew Stubbs to new homes. Tim Lincecum lookalike Trevor Bauer is also in the deal and it renews our faith that You Can’t Predict Baseball. The three way deal has plenty of prospects in it, but there’s also guys that should immediately affect their respective big league clubs.
As for who’s going where:
New Cleveland Indians include: OF Drew Stubbs, RHP Trevor Bauer, RHP Matt Albers, and RHP Bryan Shaw
New Cincinatti Reds include: OF Sin-Shoo Choo, INF Jason Donald and cash
New Arizona Diamondbacks include: SS Didi Gregorious, LHP Tony Sipp, and 1B Lars Anderson
The immediate reaction is that the Indians won this deal by a whole bunch. With Asdrubal Cabrera planted at SS for the forseeable future and Sin-Shoo Choo an aging man, the haul of Drew Stubbs and Trevor Bauer is worthwhile. Bauer is the most talented piece moved here. Though he struggled in a few starts last year with command, his stuff seemed to be there and his deceptive delivery should be good for many years. Stubbs is as toolsy as they get, but has struggled to maintain any semblance of an OBP. He’s a guy worth taking a risk on for an organization unlikely to contend in 2013.
From the other two perspectives, the move helps complete their rosters. Choo is anything but ideal in center though he complements the lineup well and should be a nice leadoff man for the Reds. Didi Gregorious is the new Diamondbacks shortstop. Whatever that means. The bigger issue with the D’backs is that they gave up Trevor Bauer. Bauer was the Number 3 prospect on Baseball America’s 2011 Prospect list, but has yet to live up to the hype. There’s still time, but clearly the D’backs are comfortable with their other pitching options. I’m not sure if this speaks more to their lack of faith in Bauer or trust in other prospects and starters already at the major league level.
Update to come tomorrow….
-Sean Morash written from Max Frankel’s login because someone’s harddrive is struggling
