Indians Trade Bauer to Reds, Acquire Puig, Reyes

The Cleveland Indians traded starter Trevor Bauer to the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. They acquired outfielders Yasiel Puig from Cincinnati and Franmil Reyes from San Diego as part of a three-team deal that included the Padres.

Left-handed 22-year-old reliever Logan Allen, minor league infielder Victor Nova and left-handed pitching prospect Scott Moss are also headed to Cleveland from the Padres. Minor league outfielder Taylor Trammell, formerly of the Reds and one of the highest-rated prospects in baseball, was sent to the Padres in the exchange.

Bauer, an All-Star in 2018 and the biggest name in the three-team swap, posted a 3.79 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 185 strikeouts in 156 2/3 innings this season. He has not pitched as effectively as he did in last year's breakout campaign. 

Trevor Bauer was sent to the Reds in a blockbuster deal. (USA Today Sports Image)

With Bauer set to become a free agent after the 2020 season, the small-market Indians wanted to deal the mercurial right-hander before he eventually hit the open market. 

The eccentric Bauer had a disastrous final outing with Cleveland, chucking the ball over center field after he was taken out of the game by manager Terry Francona in a loss to the lowly Kansas City Royals. Bauer surrendered eight runs (seven earned) in 4.1 innings in the defeat and took his frustrations out in embarrassing fashion.

After giving up a go-ahead, 2-run single, Trevor Bauer chucked the ball... over the centerfield wall 😳

(via @FSKansasCity) pic.twitter.com/s3LNn7kLzf

— Sports Illustrated (@SInow) July 28, 2019

One of the best strikeout pitchers in baseball, the Reds hope the 28-year-old Bauer will be a key piece of the future in their rebuild.

By acquiring Puig and Reyes, the Indians are adding much-needed power to their lineup. Puig mashed 22 homers with 61 RBIs across 91 games for the Reds. Reyes launched 27 homers and added 46 RBIs in 99 contests with the Padres. The Indians' corner outfielders have combined for just 28 homers thus far in 2019.

The Indians (62-43) hold the American League's top wild-card spot and trail the Minnesota Twins by just two games in the AL Central.