Indians trade Shin-Soo Choo to Reds in 3-team deal; Drew Stubbs, Trevor Bauer in return haul

The Cleveland Indians made their big move of the offseason on Tuesday night, dealing outfielder Shin-Soo Choo to the Cincinnati Reds in a three-team trade with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Indians will receive Reds center fielder Drew Stubbs, top Arizona pitching prospect Trevor Bauer and Diamondbacks relievers Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw. They will send Choo and third baseman Jason Donald to the Reds and reliever Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson to the Diamondbacks. The Reds get Choo and Donald at the expense of Stubbs and shortstop prospect Didi Gregorius, who is getting shipped to Arizona.

Choo was in the final year of his contract with the Indians and it had long been believed that the team had little interest in re-signing him beyond the 2013 season. Stubbs, meanwhile, is under Cleveland's control for three more seasons and Bauer for six. Shaw, a second round pick in 2008, posted a 3.49 ERA in 59.1 innings for Arizona last season while Albers put up a 2.39 ERA in 63 combined innings for Arizona and the Boston Red Sox.

There were rumors earlier in the night that Indians starting shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera was involved in the deal, but those turned out to be false despite the months-long speculation that he may be a target of the Diamondbacks. Instead, the Indians facilitated the move of Gregorius to Arizona, picking up Bauer in the process.

The Indians also will send the Reds $3.5 million to make up for the difference in salaries between Choo and Stubbs.