Earlier tonight, the Reds, Indians, and Diamondbacks completed a three-team deal that will change the complexion of all three teams and have a significant effect on the rest of the major league offseason. We already saw some fallout from the trade when D'Backs General Manager Kevin Towers said that it is "highly unlikely" that he will move Justin Upton now that the team has addressed its other needs. Here's more reaction to the deal..
- The Reds aren't done and are still planning to add a utility man, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports.
- Jim Bowden of ESPN.com (via Twitter) spoke to two scouts who watched Shin-Soo Choo last season and both believe that Reds manager Dusty Baker will wind up slotting Jay Bruce in center field and Choo in right field. The Reds reportedly plan to use Choo in center and even referred to him in their press release as a center fielder, despite having played only ten games there as a big leaguer.
- The Reds will probably make a qualifying offer to Choo to get a first round pick next year when he becomes a free agent and Billy Hamilton is ready to take over the position, Bowden tweets.
- If Upton is staying put in Arizona as Towers says, the Rangers pretty much have to sign Josh Hamilton with the options rapidly dwindling, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com tweets.
- When Reds GM Walt Jocketty said that he was seeking a one-year option in center field at the winter meetings, Crasnick (Twitter links) figured he was talking about a Coco Crisp or a David DeJesus type. Instead, Jocketty went way bigger.
- Didi Gregorius reminds Towers of "a young Derek Jeter", tweets Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.
- It's possible that the Diamondbacks will move Chris Owings over to second base if Gregorius succeeds at short, tweets Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.
- Choo doesn’t have to be good or even average in center field to be an overall upgrade over Drew Stubbs, writes Jack Moore of Fangraphs.
- Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports (via Twitter) tips his cap to Indians GM Chris Antonetti for turning Choo and spare parts into six years of Trevor Bauer.
