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December 12, 2012

Transaction Analysis

The Diamondbacks Deal Bauer to Cleveland, and the Reds Get Choo

by Ben Lindbergh and Sam Miller

IN THIS ISSUE

American League

Cleveland Indians

National League

Arizona Diamondbacks
Cincinnati Reds

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Team Audit | Player Cards | Depth Chart

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Traded OF-R Shin-Soo Choo, LHP Tony Sipp, and 1B-L Lars Anderson in exchange for RHP Trevor Bauer, CF-R Drew Stubbs, RHP Bryan Shaw and RHP Matt Albers. [12/11]

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20 comments have been left for this article.

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code of conduct

Lou Doench

The Reds have been faking the leadoff spot since Bip Roberts, The upgrade here is enormous. Putting runners in front of the Votto/Ludwick/Bruce trio will have a bigger effect on the Reds offense than any other upgrade I've seen this winter. This is exactly what a GM saddled with Dusty Baker as manager has to do, cover up his weaknesses by taking bad choices away from him.

Zack Cozart will benefit a great deal from hitting 8th. For one thing he'll have Ryan Hanigan on base in front of him a lot. ;)

Dec 12, 2012 06:34 AM

rating: 4

gweedoh565

"The Reds have been faking the leadoff spot since Bip Roberts" <-- this was my exact impression as well, until I went back and looked at the last decade and was reminded of a certain Ryan Freel who filled the role quite nicely from '04-'06 (~.370 OBP).

Regardless, it still somehow FEELS like two decades since the Reds have had a prototypical leadoff hitter, thanks no doubt to the chasms of out-producing suck that were Stubbs, Cozart, Willy Taveras, Orlando Cabrera, and Corey Patterson.

Dec 12, 2012 08:40 AM

rating: 4

Lou Doench

Freel had his moments, but he really didn't play any position well, and his reckless play in center almost killed him. That three year run was nice though.

Dec 12, 2012 15:32 PM

rating: 1

bheikoop

I'm really interested to see how Choo hits in this ballpark. He's going from #20 in the majors to #2.

Dec 12, 2012 07:25 AM

rating: 1

jfribley

"Defense is important—really important, though a bit less every year we move deeper into the strikeout era"

Mike Trout, Jered Weaver, and JJ Hardy would beg to disagree:

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1210882/TroutCatch.gif.opt_medium.gif

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1210873/TroutWeaver.gif.opt_medium.gif

http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/1210875/TroutHardy.gif.opt_medium.gif

But seriously, Ben's last paragraph on Arizona nailed it.

Dec 12, 2012 07:38 AM

rating: 0

hmamis

If you go to the website "HARBALL TIMES" Bauer's training routine is shown. It seems that his routine is unique to baseball. He does outfield long tosses before games, which I believe that the Japanese pitchers do.

I believe that they got rid of him for one reason "Attitude"

hm

Dec 12, 2012 08:39 AM

rating: 0

RedsManRick

As a Reds fan, this surprised me quite a bit. One the one hand, it may just underscore how much the Reds hate strikeout prone hitters. On the other, it may show that Jocketty is taking more of a "WAR" approach to his position players (most overall production), regardless of Dusty's want to load a lineup with 8 perfect archetypes. This move probably made the Reds ~2 wins better. And when you're a playoff caliber team, two wins makes a big difference.

Dec 12, 2012 09:14 AM

rating: 1

BayCityM

Did Bauer's makeup problems stem from his "wanting to do things his own way" attitude? Seems like he always worked his tail off even if it was in different ways.

Dec 12, 2012 09:30 AM

rating: 1

ScottyB

Lincecum always went his own way, too

Dec 12, 2012 10:32 AM

rating: 0

Beau Giles

Promote Hamilton, use him as a late inning defensive replacement/pinch runner, wheeeeeee!

Dec 12, 2012 09:39 AM

rating: 2

ofMontreal

Towers! Old skool booooyyyyyyy!

If Choo gets hurt again this will really blow up. At least the Reds will get a sandwich pick - cause they will offer arb no matter what and Boras will say no, no matter what. ;-)

If Stubbs really has rebuilt his swing as ESPN has reported, it will be interesting for Indians.

Dec 12, 2012 12:06 PM

rating: 0

mattb2485

Even in 2011 when Choo got hurt he had an ok season. OPS+ over 100 and decent OBP. Would still be an improvement offensively. Hopefully he just doesn't get a DUI and hopefully he's not facing Jonathan Sanchez.

Dec 12, 2012 18:05 PM

rating: 1

JoshC77

Maybe the Reds can acquire Sanchez and stick him in AAA to keep him away from Choo :)

Dec 13, 2012 06:19 AM

rating: 0

OonBoon

And the elephant in the room is a certain free agent and former Red, who happens to play center. Tommy Hambone? Jack Houlihan? What is that guy's name

Dec 12, 2012 15:55 PM

rating: 2

stockmaj

The older, more expensive, more injury prone one who misses a couple of weeks here and there with caffeine withdrawal or nicotine withdrawal and isn't any more a CF than Bruce (or probably Choo)? Or is there another I am forgetting?

Dec 13, 2012 07:40 AM

rating: 1

Richard Bergstrom

I thought Ken Griffey Jr. retired...

:)

Dec 13, 2012 10:35 AM

rating: 0

stockmaj

I think he's just napping in the back. Maybe some energy drinks would have done him some good

Dec 13, 2012 11:11 AM

rating: 3

wilymo

Uh-huh
This is beginning to hurt
This is beginning to be serious
It used to be a game
Now it's a cryin' shame
'Cuz you don't wanna play around no more
Uh-huh
Sometimes I push too hard
Sometimes you fall and skin your knee
I never meant to do
All that I've done to you
Please, baby, say it's not too late

Dec 12, 2012 17:53 PM

rating: -1

wilymo

negative one, huh. i guess someone's not a weezer fan

Dec 13, 2012 16:18 PM

rating: 0

Richard Bergstrom

You actually notice a -1? :)

Dec 13, 2012 16:56 PM

rating: 0

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