Reds Acquire Choo for Boos

Drew Stubbs heard them all year.  Boos cascaded upon the swift centerfielder for the Cincinnati Reds.

Stubbs frustrated Reds' fans with his offense while he delighted his manager and pitching staff as arguably the best centerfielder in the league.  Fans that did not watch him every day didn't understand the value of his defense.

When he was introduced to the stage at Redsfest this weekend, boos were audible at the event set up as a love fest between fans and the players.

Stubbs had his worst year at the plate in 2012, yet with him as the every day player, the Reds won 97 games, the most since 1976.  As the boos mounted his confidence was shaken at the plate.

With the tools of a leadoff hitter, Stubbs frustrated fans and management alike with an extremely low on-base-percentage and high strikeout count.  His presence in the lineup was as difficult to defend as the wrong shade of lipstick on a man's collar.

Sin-Soo Choo, on the other hand, turned down several contract extension offers from the Cleveland Indians.  The 2013 season is the last that Choo will be bound to Cleveland.

Both players will get a change of scenery and a fresh start.

One player who won't know whether to laugh or cry would be Bronson Arroyo.

The Reds veteran righthander is a fly ball pitcher, who really appreciated Stubbs ability to run down fly balls at Great American Ball Park.  On the other hand he will no longer have to pitch to Choo. The newest Red hit seven home runs against Cincinnati.  Arroyo served up four of them.

Choo can hit for power, launching 16 home runs, while hitting .283.  Choo drove in 63 runs and stole 21 bases, nine fewer than Stubbs.  But the Reds most covet Choo's ability to get on base frequently.  His career on-base-percentage is .381, contrasted to .233 for Stubbs.  Over 600 plate appearances, that translates to 90 more base runners ahead of Joey Votto and Ryan Ludwick, who re-signed with the Reds Monday as a free agent.

Along with Choo the Reds obtained Jason Donald, who will fill the role that Miguel Cairo, a free agent, held.  Donald is 10 years Cairo's junior.  Donald played secondbase, shortstop, thirdbase, left field and  center field.

The Reds also collected $3.5 million from Cleveland to balance the difference in payroll involved in the deal.

The Reds also traded Didi Gregorius, a rising star in the Reds system.  Gregorius will get his chance to play for  Kirk Gibson in Arizona.  Cleveland packaged Gregorius, LHP Tony Sipp and firstbaseman Lars Anderson to Arizona.  The Indians will welcome righthanded pitchers Trevor Bauer, Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw.

Gregorius speaks four languages and was among the top Reds' prospect, playing in eight games and hitting .300.  He is known more for his excellent defense at shortstop.

"It was very difficult giving up home-grown talent like this," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said. "But we think Choo can fill the missing parts of our lineup both offensively and defensively.  Choo is an exciting player, and we expect him to set the table."

Cleveland general manager, Chris Antonelli, said of Stubbs, "In Drew Stubbs, we received a great defensive player of speed and power to our lineup."

Choo played mostly rightfield for Cleveland but will most likely take over in centerfield for Cincinnati.  Stubbs will compete with Michael Brantley for playing time in centerfield.

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