The Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, and San Diego Padres have agreed to terms on a three-team deal, as first reported by Jeff Passan of ESPN. The Reds get Trevor Bauer, the Indians get Yasiel Puig, left-handed pitcher Logan Allen, and powerful outfielder Franmil Reyes, and the Padres get outfield prospect Taylor Trammell per Passan and Dennis Lin of The Athletic.
Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com reports that the Reds are also sending left-handed pitching prospect Scott Moss to the Indians.
AJ Cassavell of MLB.com also notes that infield prospect Victor Nova is going from the Padres to the Indians.
There are a lot of big names in this surprising deal, the biggest of which being Trevor Bauer. After an outstanding 2018 season in which he went 12-6 with a 2.21 ERA, AL-leading 2.44 FIP, and 11.3 K/9, he has struggled with his command a bit in 2019. He leads the Major Leagues with 156.2 innings pitched, but he also leads MLB with 63 walks and 14 HBPs. He is 9-8 with a 3.79 ERA, 4.17 FIP, and 1.213 WHIP.
The next biggest name is Yasiel Puig who is heading to the Indians, a team in desperate need for outfield power. Puig is hitting .255/.305/.480 with 22 home runs and 60 RBIs in 99 games this season in the hitter-friendly confines of Cincinnati. As this article was being written, however, Puig was right in the middle of a Reds-Pirates brawl in Pittsburgh so he could be suspended upon his arrival in Cleveland, if the trade isn’t called off completely.
Cleveland also added significant power by acquiring 24-year-old Franmil Reyes from the Padres, who has slashed .253/.312/.535 with 27 home runs and 46 RBIs in 98 games. The last player they acquired is lefty Logan Allen who was 2-3 with a 6.75 ERA in 25.1 innings (eight games, four starts) for the Padres this season. The 22-year-old has had a very successful minor league career, sporting a 3.08 ERA across five seasons.
The Padres acquired one of the best young prospects in the game, Taylor Trammell, from the Reds. The 21-year-old is hitting .236/.350/.338 with six home runs and 17 stolen bases in 93 games in Double-A. He has showcased more power in past years, but has always featured great speed on the basepaths. He profiles as a possible center fielder, but if he keeps getting bigger and slows down, he could be relegated to corner outfield duties.
