Cincinnati Reds: 3 best trades under Dick Williams

3. Reds trade Yasiel Puig and two prospects to acquire Trevor Bauer.

At the time this trade was consummated on July 31, 2019, most Reds fans were scratching their heads and wondering how all the team received in return was right-handed starter, Trevor Bauer. Granted it was a fair question.

Through the first four months of the 2019 season right fielder, Yasiel Puig established himself as a fan favorite. Whether it was hitting towering home runs, making spectacular throws from the outfield, or fighting the entire Pittsburgh Pirates roster, the Wild Horse rarely failed in the entertainment department.

However, Puig was entering free agency following the 2019 campaign and it was obvious from the lack of overtures from the Cincinnati Reds front office to Puig that he was not in their long-term plans. As the Reds continued to remain out of serious playoff contention, it only made sense to move him.

What really sent the heads of Reds Country spinning was the inclusion of 21-year-old outfield prospect Taylor Trammell. The left-handed-hitting Trammell was a first-round pick of the Reds in the 2016 draft and was the No. 16 rated prospect in all of baseball by MLB.com. Trammell went to the San Diego Padres as part of the three-team deal between the Reds and Cleveland Indians.

Trammell finished his 2019 season playing 126 games at the Double-A level and slashing an underwhelming .234/.340/.349 with 20 stolen bases. On August 30th of this year, Trammell found himself on the move again as the Padres traded him to the Seattle Mariners.

Even though Trammell’s future still remains bright, his star does not shine as brightly as it once did. Entering the 2020 season, Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com has dropped him to No. 57 in MLB’s prospect rankings. Trammell is currently the No. 5 prospect in the Seattle organization.

Scott Moss, the final piece of the deal, was a fourth-round pick of the Reds in the same 2016 draft. The southpaw was impressive during the 2019 campaign starting 26 games between Double-A and Triple-A in the Reds and Indians organizations.  Tossing 130.2 innings he compiled an impressive 2.96 ERA and fanned 159 opposing hitters.

When Trevor Bauer arrived in the Queen City he was in the midst of a fairly pedestrian 2019 season. Sporting a record of 9-8 with a 3.79 ERA in 24 starts the Indians were not receiving the same type of production they received from Bauer the season before.

During the 2018 season, Trevor Bauer was sensational. Earning his first All-Star selection, Bauer went 12-6 with a microscopic 2.21 ERA while leading the American League with a 2.44 FIP and 0.5 HR/9 rate. Both the Indians and the Reds had to be wondering which version was the real Trevor Bauer.

Let’s just say Bauer’s first impression was not a positive one as a Redleg. Making 10 starts to close the 2019 season, Bauer went 2-5 with a ghastly 6.39 ERA in a Cincinnati uniform. Reds Country had every right to be skeptical about parting with a fan favorite and one of the top-rated prospects in baseball for these types of numbers.

Thankfully, Trevor Bauer was nothing less than dominating during the 2020 season. He led the National League in ERA, shutouts, complete games, WHIP, hits per nine innings and ERA+. There’s a good chance next month he could become the first pitcher in Reds history to capture the elusive Cy Young Award.

Despite hitting free agency this winter, the trade for Trevor Bauer did nearly everything the Cincinnati Reds could have hoped for. He pitched brilliantly and led the Reds to the postseason for the first time since 2013. If Bauer’s career as a Red is indeed over, his performance this season will be remembered as one of the best ever by a Cincinnati hurler.