Choo will play in Cincinnati in 2013
The Cleveland Indians agreed to send right fielder Shin-Soo Choo and infielder Jason Donald to the Cincinnati Reds for center fielder Drew Stubbs as part of a three team deal that included the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The Diamondbacks announced that pitchers Trevor Bauer, Bryan Shaw and Matt Albers will also go to the Indians for shortstop Didi Gregorius, pitcher Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson.
Cincinnati Acquisitions
Cincinnati has been searching for a lead-off hitter and Choo had a .389 on-base percentage in 98 games in which he let off last season with Cleveland.
Choo will become a free agent after the 2013 season and is represented by agent Scott Boras, and reportedly wants to test the open market according to Boras.
Donald 202 in 43 games last year for the Indians.
Choo hit .283 with 16 homers and 67 RBIs in 155 games last season. Donald hit .202 in 43 games.
Arizona Acquisitions
Arizona got the shortstop they have been seeking and reportedly wanted Gregorious instead of veteran Asdrubal Cabrera.
Gregorious played in Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Lousiville, Gregorius hit .265 with seven home runs, 54 RBI and 70 runs.
Entering the 2012 season baseball America ranked him the number eight prospect in the Reds farm system.
Anderson was traded to Cleveland from Boston last season to make room for prospect Will Middlebrooks and has struggled in his MLB career hitting .167 with four RBI and 56 plate appearances.
Sipp, 29, went 1-2 with 1 save and a 4.42 ERA (27 ER in 55.0 IP) in 63 relief appearances with the Indians in 2012.
Cleveland Acquisitions
Bauer was the third overall selection by Arizona in the 2011 Draft and should immediately be inserted into the Cleveland rotation.
Bauer went went 12-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 22 starts in Double-A Mobile and Triple-A Reno.
Albers, 29, split the 2012 season with the Boston Red Sox and Arizona going a combined 3-1 with a 2.39 ERA
Shaw, 25, spent 2012 in the Diamondbacks bullpen he went 1-6 with 2 saves and a 3.49 ERA.
Stubbs hit .213 with 14 homers and 40 RBIs for Cincinnati in 2012.
Upton off the Market ?
The deal, according to Diamondbacks general manager Kevin Towers, likely means that outfielder Justin Upton will remain in Arizona, now that the Diamondbacks have filled their needs from other teams.
Upton has been the subject of trade rumors since last summer with the Rangers said to be in hot pursuit of the young slugger.
Josh Hamilton could now become the focus of the Rangers again.
