Cleveland Indians: 5 ways Bauer trade helps Tribe get back to World Series

1. Reyes is the centerpiece

Make no mistake about it, Padres right fielder Franmil Reyes is the center piece of this trade. San Diego boasts one of the best farm systems in baseball, which made the 24-year-old expendable.

Entering July 30, Reyes was batting .257 (.843 OPS) with 27 bombs and a 0.4 WAR.

He hits from the right-side of the plate. This is exactly the type of player the Indians were talking about when all the rumors kept popping up that the Tribe was looking for controllable talent that is ready to help the big league club immediately.

Reyes is a classic Indians’ buy, meaning he’s cheap. He’s not arbitration eligible until 2022 and can’t be a free agent until 2025.

He’s played an overwhelming majority of his big leagues games in right field, so look for the Indians to make a home for him there.

Designated hitter will also be an option, because no one’s held a permanent spot down at that position. You’ll definitely see Reyes DH some time, because the “other” guy the Indians got in this deal, Yasiel Puig, is also a right fielder.