The Arizona Diamondbacks acquired Didi Gregorius on Tuesday in a three team, nine player trade that attempted to solidify Arizona’s future at the shortstop position. Mandatory Credit: Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports

The Arizona Diamondbacks continued their busy off-season on Tuesday by acquiring what they hope to be their answer at shortstop for years to come in a three-team, nine player trade also involving the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. Arizona acquired young shortstop Didi Gregorius from Cincinnati and left-handed reliever Tony Sipp and first baseman Lars Anderson from Cleveland.

Arizona shipped prized pitching prospect Trevor Bauer and relievers Matt Albers and Bryan Shaw to Cleveland. Cleveland also acquired outfielder Drew Stubbs from the Reds. Cincinnati received Indians outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, shortstop Jason Donald and about $3.5 million from Cleveland.

Arizona’s Trevor Bauer was shipped to the Indians on Tuesday in a three team, nine player deal involving Cleveland and Cincinnati. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

The center piece for the Diamondbacks was Gregorius, a player that GM Kevin Towers said reminded him of “a young Derek Jeter”. Considered more of a defensive standout, the 22 year-old Dutchman got his first taste of big league action last season. Gregorius hit .300 with two RBI’s in eight games with Cincinnati last season. In five minor league seasons, Gregorius hit .271 with 20 home runs and 166 RBI’s, splitting time between rookie ball t the lowest level and Class AAA at the highest. His best season in the minors came in 2010, when he hit .272 with five home runs and 41 RBI’s split between Class A ball and  professional baseball in Australia. He also hit 11 triples for the Reds farm system that season.

The Diamondbacks had an obvious falling out with Trevor Bauer and he became expendable with the signing of Brandon McCarthy last week. While Bauer has massive potential, his throwing program and attitude irked people in the organization and he became surplus for the Diamondbacks. They had to give him up to get their man in Gregorius. Bryan Shaw was going to see his role reduced this season with the acquisition of Health Bell and Albers was seen as a stop-gap in the bullpen for the short term.

Tony Sipp will get his chance to compete for a left-handed spot in the Arizona bullpen with Matt Reynolds. The left-handed Sipp pitched the last four seasons in Cleveland. Last season, Sipp was 1-2 with a 4.42 ERA in 63 appearances for the Indians.

Anderson will most likely be sent down to Class AAA Reno. Anderson hit .250, with 9 home runs and 59 RBI’s last season with Class AAA Pawtucket and Columbus.

D’Backs outfielder Justin Upton is on the trade block, but should the D’Backs move the two-time All-Star outfielder? Mandatory Credit: Jennifer Stewart-USA TODAY Sports

With the Winter Meetings coming to a close this week, some are surprised that Justin Upton is still a member of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The rumor mill was afloat this entire week with the names of possible destinations for the 25 year-old, two-time All-Star outfielder. Texas and Cleveland were the two teams who seemed to be linked the most with the D’Backs as the main components of a trade seemed to fit best with those two franchises (Upton, pitching, shortstop).

Arizona GM Kevin Towers has been steadfast in his refusal to discuss trade particulars, but has acknowledged that the Diamondbacks are listening to other teams in talks regarding Upton. This has been a non-secret since the last trade deadline. when Upton’s name was floating around in trade rumors.

There are a number of things that Kevin Towers has going for him in any possible trade negotiations regarding Upton.

First, Towers does not have to move Upton. He is locked up through the 2015 season. Upton really has no leverage, even if he wanted to leave. While Upton’s contract will make him difficult to trade down the road, he is a bargain next season. If he has the season’s that many think he will have as he moves into the prime of his career, his contract could make him downright affordable.  In 2012, Upton is due $6.75 million, in 2013 that jumps to $9.75 million and for the 2014-15 seasons he will make just over $14 million per season.

While the D’Backs would like an upgrade at shortstop, Upton does provide a proven bat in the middle of the lineup if he stays put. His defense could be better, but it is an effort issue versus a technique issue with Upton. If Manager Kirk Gibson can get Upton’s head screwed on straight, Upton could be an excellent defensive player.

Second, the D’Backs should be in no hurry to trade Upton. Arizona should not be desperate and be raked over the coals in any deal involving the right fielder. I do not think that an Upton-Cabrera swap with the Indians is equal in value and would require more from the Cleveland Indians to obtain the mercurial right fielder. The same can be said for an Upton-Andrus deal with the Texas Rangers. Both have been proposed as potential deals and while both strengthen the Arizona middle-infield, you lose a lot of offense inserting Gerardo Parra in right field every day and a lot of range defensively by inserting Jason Kubel in right field every day.

Asdrubal Cabrera is one of a multitude of trade targets that have been linked with Arizona this offseason. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-USA TODAY Sports

The bottom line is, the D’Backs should be in the driver seat on any of these negotiations for Upton. If they come across a deal that they feel that they cannot turn down, take it. But, be wary. This is a five-tool outfielder that they would be giving away and it could come back to haunt the franchise. The last thing the franchise wants to be known as is the franchise that gave away a guy that could be a potential future MVP of the league.

If they decide that they cannot find the right deal, the first thing they could do is stop shopping him and repair any harm that has been done to the relationship up to now. That will take some time, but it’s never to late to start to try to fix the ill will that has been created over the past two tumultuous seasons in Arizona.

Either way, the D’Backs do not need to move quickly on this. Patience is a virtue and it seems like after the Winter Meetings, that veteran GM Kevin Towers has quite a bit of that virtue stored away for this type of situation.

If you like this, please follow us on Facebook @VenomStrikes

Please follow me on Twitter @mikejenkins_99

Arizona Diamondback starter Ian Kennedy delivers a pitch against the St. Louis Cardinals in Phoenix on May 8, 2012. Kennedy struggled in the game, giving up six earned runs in seven innings of work. (Image: Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE)

Kennedy will have repeated nightmares about this game and the one person in those nightmares will be outfielder Carlos Beltran.  Beltran had a huge night, going two for four with all six Cardinal RBIs.  He hit a two-run homer in the first inning and smashed a  grand slam in the second inning.  Thanks to Beltran, the team has not missed Albert Pujols, and his bat in the lineup.

After those two innings, Kennedy was able to settle down and shut down the Cardinals the rest of the way.  He finished with this stat line, seven innings pitched, giving up six hits, six earned runs, walking two and striking out six batters.

The Diamondbacks were unfortunately held in check by former Cleveland Indian,  Jake Westbrook.  He did not allow a run in seven innings, gave up four hits, walked two and struck out eight.  The only run scored against the Cardinals was a run in the ninth off reliever Mitchell Boggs, when Miguel Montero doubled in Justin Upton.

This game highlights some of the things plaguing the team this young season.  The team is third in the league in strikeouts, with 242, trailing only the Chicago White Sox and the New York Mets.  It is something which improved last season, but the team seem to be reverting back to its old ways.  Both Jason Kubel and Upton have 28 strikeouts on the season, followed by Montero, Willie Bloomquist, and Aaron Hill, all over 20 strikeouts.

Other offensive disappointments have been the struggles of Paul Goldschmidt and Ryan Roberts.  Both were expected to have big seasons, but neither has lived up to the expectations.  Goldschmidt is hitting .232 with a mere four RBIs while Roberts is hitting a woeful .190.  Both players will have to step it up or Lyle Overbay and Cody Ransom will take over for the pair permanently.

The Diamondbacks will need to put it all together, even with it being early in the season, because you don’t want to fall to far behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the division lead.  The next month or two will be key in determining if they will still be in it.

Follow me on Twitter @roberts_843.

For all things Venom Strikes, follow us on Twitter @venomstrikes and like our Facebook page.