Reds trade Alfredo Simon to Tigers

Source: #Tigers getting Alfredo Simon.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 11, 2014

As first reported by Ken Rosenthal, the Reds have made their first big move, unloading Alfredo Simon to the Detroit Tigers. Simon is projected to make $5.1M in 2015.

Still waiting to hear on returns, but with the GMs about to speak, we'll update this soon.

UPDATE by -MBP:

The Reds receive RHP Jonathon Crawford and IF Eugenio Suarez from the Tigers in exchange for Alfredo Simon.

John Sickels had Crawford no. 3 and Suarez no. 8 on his 2014 top 20 prospect list for the Tigers, which is quite an impressive haul for one year of service from a pitcher coming off a career year.  This is what Sickels has to say about the two 23 year-old prospects last spring.

3) Jonathon Crawford, RHP, Grade B-: 2013 first-rounder from Florida features plus fastball and slider, dominates when his mechanics are right, which they aren’t always. May wind up as a reliever in the long run but upside is quite high.

8) Eugenio Suarez, INF, Grade B-: Very effective in A-ball, had some contact issues in Double-A but I still like the total package here including solid defense and a chance to hit for average with more pop than many middle infielders.

Crawford had a solid 2014, starting 23 games in the Midwest League for with a 2.85 ERA.  He walked a few too many batters (3.7 BB/9) and didn't strike out enough (6.2 K/9), but was able to limit dingers and work around a fair amount of jams.  He will likely start the 2015 season in Daytona.

Suarez played in 85 games for the Tigers last season with 81 of those games at SS.  He held his own in 277 PA, slashing .242/.316/.336.  Compare that to Cozart's .221/.268/.300 line, and things may get interesting in Arizona this spring.  Suarez has shown the ability to get on base in the minors, and has a career MiLB line of .278/.362/.415, which is pretty tasty from a middle infielder.