The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Bauer traded to the Reds
Tribe acquires sluggers Puig, Reyes, pitcher Allen, prospects in three-team swap
The Indians beat the 4 p.m. July 31 trade deadline by trading starting pitcher Trevor Bauer to the Reds in a three-team deal minutes after the Indians were shut out, 2-0, July 30 by the Astros.
The Indians did not confirm the trade, but according to Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic and several other reports, the Indians acquired slugging outfielder Yasiel Puig and pitching prospect Scott Moss from the Reds plus outfielder Franmil Reyes, pitcher Logan Allen and thirdbase prospect Victor Nova from the Padres.
The Reds sent left fielder Taylor Trammell to San Diego.
Reyes has 27 home runs and 46 RBI. He is hitting .253. Puig has 22 home runs and 60 RBI. He is hitting .255.
Puig will be a free agent when the season ends. Reyes, 24, won’t be eligible for free agency until 2025.
Getting a player under club control for five more seasons was a critical part of the deal for the Indians.
Bauer can be a free agent after the 2020 season.
Allen is a 22-year-old lefthanded pitcher. He has appeared in eight games with four starts this season. He is 2-3 with a 6.75 ERA. He will likely be sent to the Indians’ Triple-A team in Columbus.
“He’s one of those guys that are set in his ways. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad teammate or a bad person. He could be misunderstood at times.”
The 49 combined home runs by Reyes and Puig obviously make the Indians more potent. Currently, Carlos Santana leads the Indians with 22 home runs. Francisco Lindor is second with 18.
Bauer declined to speak to reporters after the trade, but he shook hands with several individually and wished them well. His eyes were red.
One by one, teammates hugged him or shook Bauer’s hand.
“We’re losing a good pitcher in a race right now,” Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis said. “That’s no fun for our clubhouse.
I’m sure it wasn’t fun for the front office. It’s a hard trigger to pull, but hopefully we get some guys here who are ready to compete and buy into what we’re doing here.”
Bauer is 9-8 with a 3.79 ERA. His last outing with the Indians was a disaster. He lost to the Royals on July 28 and had a meltdown when he heaved the ball over the center-field wall as Manager Terry Francona was walking to the mound to pull Bauer from the game.
“I think he has a high bar set for himself, sometimes, actually, probably not attainable,” Francona said. “Everybody kicks themselves in the rear end a different way. I’ve been with Trevor for six years
now. I don’t want this to be his legacy. This kid is a good pitcher.”
Bauer became expendable because the Indians got good news on starter Corey Kluber.
Kluber, out since May 1 recovering from a broken right forearm, will pitch a simulated game Aug. 3 at Classic Park in Eastlake or at Mahoning Valley.
Kluber could be back in the Indians’ rotation by next week if all goes well, Francona said.
Kipnis was not bothered by what happened in Kansas City.
“Regardless what happened to Trevor the past couple days, he was pulling on the same rope we were,” Kipnis said. “He’s one of those guys that are set
in his ways. That doesn’t mean he’s a bad teammate or a bad person. He could be misunderstood at times.
“Once you find that middle ground, you learn how to communicate with him and work with him. I think we got there. No one has to be best friends here. I don’t think you have to love everybody you play with, but you will respect everybody and you will fight alongside them and for them, and he was doing that.”
Bauer would not have pitched again until Aug. 2 against the Angels had he not been traded. Zach Plesac (5-3) will face Jose Urquidy (1-0) of the Astros in a 7:10 p.m. game July 31 at Progressive Field.