New Indians pitcher Trevor Bauer, who was the third pick in the 2011 amateur draft from UCLA, struck out 200 batters in 156 minor-league innings and pitched four games in the big leagues for Arizona last summer. Related stories
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The Indians on Tuesday night received four players in a three-team, nine-player trade with Cincinnati and Arizona.
Here's how the deal breaks down:
• The Indians received outfielder Drew Stubbs from the Reds and three pitchers from Arizona: right-hander Trevor Bauer, the third pick in the 2011 amateur draft, and relievers Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw.
• The Reds received Shin-Soo Choo, Jason Donald and $3.5 million from the Indians.
• Arizona receives shortstop Didi Gregorius from the Reds, and Tony Sipp and Lars Anderson from the Indians. The Diamondbacks preferred Gregorius over Asdrubal Cabrera because they can control him for six years. Cabrera can be a free agent after 2014.
"We think the four players we've acquired will not only impact the 2013 season at the major-league level, but will impact us for years to come," said GM Chris Antonetti.
During last week's winter meetings in Nashville, Tenn., the Indians and Diamondbacks discussed various forms of a three and four-team deal. Texas, Seattle, Tampa Bay and Kansas City were involved at one time or another. Tuesday night they got the deal done.
Bauer, 21, should immediately help the Indians' tattered rotation. He made his big league debut this summer and went 1-2 with a 6.06 ERA in four starts. Bauer started the season in the minors, going 12-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 22 starts at Class AA Mobile and Class AAA Reno.
There were reports that Arizona's front office grew disenchanted with Bauer because of his unique conditioning and pre-game warmups. Bauer has been known to wear headphones and listen to heavy-metal music on the field for long stretches of time as he throws before games and between appearances. The Diamondbacks had asked him to not wear the headphones on the field. As Bauer said in a story by ESPN:
The Indians have liked Bauer since he was at UCLA and are familiar with his tendencies.
"He's a young pitcher with a ton of potential," said Antonetti. "He has a chance to pitch at the top of the rotation. He went through the minors league quickly and still has some developing to do, but we expect him to impact our team in 2013 whether it's at beginning of the season and during it."
Said Arizona GM Kevin Towers, "If the fastball command is there with the repertoire of pitches that he has, there is no doubt in my mind he is going to be a successful major-league pitcher."
Drew Stubbs, a solid defensive outfielder, has 110 big-league stolen bases in four seasons with the Reds, but has struck out 588 times in 2,004 at-bats. Stubbs, 28, hit .213 (105-for-493) with 13 doubles, two triples, 14 homers and 40 RBI in 136 games last year. He stole 30 bases in 37 attempts and scored 75 runs. He was the Reds' starting center fielder and had a big contact problem, striking out 166 times. Stubbs finished fifth in the National League in strikeouts.
The Indians reached agreement with Mark Reynolds on Sunday on a one-year $6 million deal. Reynolds struck out 159 times last season with Baltimore to finish seventh in the American League. Stubbs and Reynolds should create quite a breeze at Progressive Field next season.
Antonetti said he's happy with the play of Michael Brantley in center field, but wouldn't say where Stubbs will play. The Indians have openings in left and right field following Choo's trade.
"We'll see how the off-season plays out before making a decision," said Antonetti, who is negotiating with free agent outfielder Nick Swisher, among others, to potentially play one of the corner positions.
Stubbs' best season with the Reds was 2010 when he hit .255 (131-for-583) with 19 doubles, six triples, 22 homers and 77 RBI. He stole 30 bases in 36 attempts. Last season he spent most of his time hitting second.
The Reds drafted Stubbs, a right-handed hitter, with their first pick in 2006. He's eligible for arbitration this winter, but can't be a free agent until after the 2016 season.
Albers, 29, split the 2012 season between Boston and Arizona. He was 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA in 63 relief appearances. He posted an 1.80 over his last 11 appearances. Left-handers hit just .207 against him.
Shaw, 25, spent most of the 2012 season in the Arizona bullpen. He went 1-6 with two saves and a 3.49 ERA in 64 relief appearances.
"They're two hard throwing relievers who give us depth in the pen," said Antonetti.
Shaw has been clocked as high as 97 mph, while Albers has topped out at 96 mph.
Shin-Soo Choo, making sliding catch in right field last season, could be headed to Cincinnati. Choo, 30, can be a free agent after the 2013 season. Scott Boras, Choo's agent, has turned down several contract extension offers over the last few years. The actions convinced the Indians long ago that Choo was headed elsewhere as soon as he filed for free agency.
The Reds plan to use Choo in the leadoff spot and in center field. Choo hit well in the leadoff spot for the Tribe, but has played little center field in the big leagues.
Choo hit .282 (169-for-598) with 88 runs, 43 doubles, two triples, 16 homers and 67 RBI last season. As a leadoff hitter, Choo hit .310 (124-for-400) with 33 doubles, 12 homers, 42 RBI and 68 runs in 99 starts.
In 24 games against the Reds, Choo is hitting .351 (33-for-94) with nine doubles, three triples, seven homers and 16 RBI.
"It was very tough to trade Choo because of what he's meant on and off the field to this organization," said Antonetti.
Donald, who played several position for the Indians last season, hit .202 (25-for-124) with two homers and 11 RBI last season. He's 28.
Sipp, 29, has been a big part of the Indians bullpen for the last four years. The left-hander went 1-2 with a 4.42 ERA in 63 appearances last season. He struck out 51, walked 23, but allowed 27 earned runs on 47 hits in 55 innings.
The Indians acquired Anderson from Boston last season at the trading deadline. He did not get promoted to the big leagues.
Gregorius, 22, made his big league debut last season. He hit .300 (6-for-20) with two RBI. He hit a combined .265 (133-for-501) with 21 doubles, 11 triples, seven homers, and 54 RBI at Class AA and Class AAA.
He played in the Arizona Fall League and drew a lot of interest from Arizona's scouts.
Gregorius was born in the Netherlands.
Youk to Yankees: The Indians tried hard to sign Kevin Youkilis, but when talks slowed, they turned to Reynolds to play first base. Youkilis, who played for Tribe manager Terry Francona in Boston, accepted a one-year $12 million deal from the Yankees on Tuesday.