The Cincinnati Reds have traded outfielder Adam Duvall to the Atlanta Braves for outfielder Preston Tucker and right-handed pitchers Lucas Sims and Matt Wisler.
The 29-year-old Duvall has struggled at the dish this season, batting .205/.286/.399 in 105 games, but has showcased his customary power stroke with 15 home runs and 19 doubles. An All-Star in 2016, Duvall had back-to-back 30-homer seasons entering 2018.
The Braves add a power-hitting outfielder about to enter his first year of arbitration. As a result, Duvall won't be eligible to hit free agency until 2022.
All three pieces headed to the Reds have spent time in the big leagues and were fairly highly touted at various times.
Sims, selected 21st overall by the Braves in the 2012 draft, is the only member of the trio who was fully homegrown. And while his MLB ERA over 68 career innings is a shaky 5.96, he's been much better in Triple-A. In 73 innings across 15 games (14 starts), Sims is 4-3 with a 2.84 ERA and 10.23 K/9 in 2018. The Reds see Sims as the centerpiece of the trade, according to Mark Sheldon of MLB.com.
Wisler has compiled a 5.27 ERA in four major-league seasons and hasn't become the rotation fixture the Braves likely expected. Originally acquired from the San Diego Padres as part of the Craig Kimbrel trade in 2015, Wisler is set to enter his first year of arbitration following the season.
With Tucker, the Reds get a slugging outfielder who has yet to put it together at the biggest level. He's hitting .256/.307/.444 with four home runs in 62 games this season after being picked up in an offseason deal with the Houston Astros.
