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Trevor Bauer was dealt Tuesday in a multi-player deal with the Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Reds. In return, the Diamondbacks acquired Didi Gregorius, Tony Sipp and Lars Anderson (AP File Photo)
Where there's smoke, well, typically there's fire.

Especially when it comes to a trade rumor regarding a team run by Kevin Towers.

During last week's Winter Meetings in Nashville, Towers was rumored to be interested in a young shortstop, primarily Asdrubal Cabrera of the Cleveland Indians.

Tuesday night, Towers completed a multiplayer deal with the Indians for a shortstop, but it wasn't Cabrera. The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired shortstop Didi Gregorius, left-handed pitcher Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson in a three-team deal with the Indians and Cincinnati Reds.

In return, the club traded pitching phenom and former No. 3 overall pick Trevor Bauer along with relievers Bryan Shaw and Matt Albers to Cleveland.

"We are very excited that we were able to acquire what we think is one of the premiere young shortstops in the game in Didi Gregorius," Towers said in a conference call Tuesday night.

While he was thrilled to add at positions of need, Towers admitted there was a definite cost to making the deal.

"We had to move some good bullpen arms and one of our premiere arms in Trevor Bauer," said Towers. "But, hopefully this is a deal that works for both Chris [Antonetti], Walt [Jocketty] and myself."

Bauer, who was drafted in 2011 out of UCLA, pitched just 16 1/3 career innings with Arizona in 2012. He recorded a 1-2 record with a 6.06 ERA. While he did excel in the minors -- winning the organization's Pitcher of the Year award last season -- the front office's frustration over the 21-year-old's perceived lack of maturity was apparent this off-season.

Speaking with Arizona Sports 620's Burns & Gambo on October 3, Diamondbacks managing general partner Ken Kendrick was not bashful in his assessment of Bauer.

"I will say this: he is the employee, and in an employer/employee situation it's incumbent on the employee to make adjustments to satisfy the needs of his employer," Kendrick said. "And I hope and trust that that will occur."

In return for Bauer, the D-backs have added a young, controllable shortstop to add even more depth at a position that already includes Cliff Pennington, John McDonald and Willie Bloomquist.

Gregorius, a 22-year-old Dutch shortstop, played in 129 games in the Cincinnati Reds organization last season. Between Double-A Pensacola and Triple-A Louisville, Gregorius hit .265 with seven home runs, 54 RBI and 70 runs.

The native of Amsterdam was called up in September and batted .300 in 20 career plate appearances.

Going into the 2012 season, Baseball America ranked the defensive-minded Gregorius as the No. 8 prospect in the Reds' farm system.

He is also already familiar with the Valley having played 15 games with the Peoria Javelinas in the Arizona Fall League this year. He batted .284 with eight RBI.

Gregorius was acquired earlier in the evening from Cincinnati, as the Indians shipped off outfielder Shin-Soo Choo and infielder Jason Donald to the Reds.

Sipp also provides Towers and Co. with the big left-handed arm they were looking for to round out their deep bullpen. In 63 appearances, Sipp had 1-2 record with a 4.42 ERA in 2012.

Anderson was a 16th-round draft selection by the Boston Red Sox back in 2006 but has struggled in his limited big league opportunities. In 56 career plate appearances, Anderson has a .167 batting average with four RBI. He was called up in early April by the Red Sox last season but was traded to Cleveland in May to make room for prospect Will Middlebrooks.

In 18 games with Triple-A Columbus, Anderson had just 11 hits and seven RBI. Heading into spring training, he will likely compete for time backing up Paul Goldschmidt with fellow left-handed bats Eric Hinske and Kila Ka'aihue.

"We think we are a better ball club today and in the future for making this deal," said Towers.

The other two pieces the D-backs gave up in the deal -- Shaw and Albers -- came out of an already right-handed heavy bullpen.

In parts of two seasons with Arizona, Shaw, a former second-round pick by the organization back in 2008, compiled a 2-6 record with a 3.18 ERA.

Albers was acquired at the trade deadline in a deal with the Red Sox that sent Craig Breslow to Boston. Albers made 23 appearances with the D-backs and had a 1-1 record with a 2.57 ERA.

The deal marks the second time in as many years Towers has parted with one of the organization's top pitching prospects. Last December, Towers sent former first-round draft pick Jarrod Parker, Colin Cowgill and Ryan Cook to the Oakland Athletics for Trevor Cahill.

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  • Abuse
    Jack B. wrote...
    Bauer and the boss
    I guess Bauer must have really p.o.'d Kendrick and Tower for them to wash their hands of this "can't miss prospect" for a Dutch infielder. As Upton found out - if you don't kiss managements behind, you don't fit in. Some of the biggest stars in sports are different individuals.
  • Abuse
    freckledanish wrote...
    KT
    It seems like Towers just likes to make deals for the sake of making deals. We had a solid left-handed option in the pen last year in Craig Breslow. We traded him to get Albers, who we now shipped in part to get an average (at best) lefty in the bull pen. AND we trade a top ten prospect in all of baseball for Cincinnati's 6th best prospect. We're getting cents on the dollar. At least our organization acquired some good talent for the broadcast booth this year.
  • Abuse
    Shaun wrote...
    Keith Law says it best...
    "It's a very disappointing and premature ending to Bauer's tenure in Phoenix, and Diamondbacks fans have to be wondering how the team ended up with so little in return for one of the game's top pitching prospects entering the season."
  • Abuse
    Rainex80 wrote...
    SHAW?!?
    Shaw?!??! NOOOOOO!!!! Please know what you are doing Kevin.
  • Abuse
    gra55h0pper wrote...
    Shortstop for years to come
    Our new SS is a defensive stud, he has a rocket for an arm and will provide highlight clips regularly (already has a dozen or so from the few games he did play in last year with the Reds). He is uber-quick and once he develops his contact/base running skills under one of the best in Gibson(IE: Goldschmidt), this guy can pay-off for the next decade.
  • Abuse
    Steve S. wrote...
    Still Sitting on J-Up
    might be a plan for the future. He might be working a big deal that only he knows about. As for bailing on "Jack" Bauer, that might come back to haunt us but from what I saw last year, I wasn't "Wowed." I know it was his first time up, so I'll give him a few more chances. Bandwagon fans are just that; those of us who know the game, realize that to improve the team and change the chemistry, things must be adjusted. Come spring, I'll be curious and ready to rock!
  • Abuse
    genetic_fallacy wrote...
    Terrible Trade
    First, Towers trades a good lefty in Breslow for garbage pitcher Albers. Then, he trades Albers, Shaw and a top prospect for what amounts to be a garbage lefty, a backup first baseman and a backup shortstop? I understand Kendrick being all up in arms about Bauer's attitude, but why rush to trade him for garbage? IF Bauer matures, this could be like the Brett Anderson, Carlos Gonzalez, Chris Carter (Carlos Quentin) et al for Dan Haren trade.
  • Abuse
    DisgustedD wrote...
    Relax
    everyone & let KT build up this team. Heck he's done a solid job & SS has to be improved. He finally rid us of CY, he's built up the BP, our young pitchers are excelling, & we'll be much improved in 2013. I believe Bauer's mechanics also played a roll in this; just look at what has happened to Lincecum. I would have preferred Cabrera as I believe Bauer would have been enough. I am bummed about losing Shaw but getting a NLW lifer in Heath Bell will be able to cure that. J-Up may still get traded so we'll see.
  • Abuse
    mesa mad man wrote...
    @Tony S
    I dont think the "whiners" are complaining that we shouldnt have traded Bauer. I think the bottom line is that on paper this doesnt look like a fair value trade. When Bauer is projected by many to be a potential ace, you automatically expect to get a lot for him. That said, its hard for the everyday joe to judge just how good Didi is - we have never seen him, he wasnt a high draft pick, and his stats dont jump off the page at you. Once he gets in there, perhaps, and hopefully, he will prove us all wrong.
  • Abuse
    jsantia79 wrote...
    For nothing.
    I just don't get it. I don't mind trading Bauer, cause he seems like a he is a pain in the rear....but to get Didi Gregorius? He's not even a top prospect. In a draft, would he be the 3rd overall selection? Plus we lose Shaw, I don't know. We needed a guy to take over for a few years until Owings was ready. Unless Owings is not as good as they make him out to be. Another dumb trade.
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