I feel like it makes a ton of sense. This trade essentially sweetens the Homer Bailey trade.
No chance you sign Puig back, and yes you could have made a QO and gotten a draft pick, but how often do draft picks pan out in the MLB?
This trade gives you a pretty stinking tough 1-3 next year in the rotation. I’ll run Sonny Gray out against anyone’s #3. That’s if they don’t sign either Wood or Roark back, and I think they sign one of the two, more likely Roark.
Rather than flip Bauer I see the Reds trying to work a 3-4 year Gray-esk deal. Unlikely Bauer takes it as his biggest goal (and he’s been vocal about it) is FA payday.
Solid trade either way. Makes you a true contender next year and doesn’t completely kill you in the stretch run this year, which was already a long shot.