The Cincinnati Reds are not about to go into full-scale rebuild mode. Instead, they are looking to contend next season.
According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, Cincinnati has acquired All-Star starter Trevor Bauer from the Cleveland Indians in a three-team deal.
The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal notes that top Reds prospect Taylor Trammell is headed to the San Diego Padres as part of the deal.
Meanwhile, former All-Star outfielder Yasiel Puig is headed to the Cleveland Indians as part of the trade.
This is yet another surprising deal consisting of a non-contending team adding a top-end starter. It comes a few days after the New York Mets picked up Marcus Stroman from the Toronto Blue Jays.
Bauer is under team control for the 2020 season, so it makes sense from Cincinnati’s perspective.
As it relates to the Indians, they traded a staff ace for a player in Puig who could be a rental and a few young stars.
Apparently, the team thought it needed more pop at the plate in an attempt to overtake the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central.
Cleveland also receives Franmil Reyes and Logan Allen from San Diego in the trade.
Allen, a left-handed starter, is currently San Diego’s No. 7 prospect. Meanwhile, Reyes has hit 27 homers and driven in 46 runs for the big league team this season.
There’s still a lot to sift through regarding this blockbuster trade. But for now, all three teams seemed to acquire players to fit its plans, both short and long term.