Report: Reds Looking to Trade Drew Stubbs to Indians for Shin-Soo Choo

Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty has been on the lookout for a leadoff hitter and it looks as if he might acquire one from the Cleveland Indians.

Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com says the Reds and Indians are deep in talks on a deal that would send center fielder Drew Stubbs and shortstop Didi Gregorius to Cleveland in exchange for center fielder and leadoff man Shin-soo Choo. The Reds would also receive another player in the trade.

Stubbs first took the field for the Reds in 2009 where he saw limited action. In 136 games during the 2012 season, the right-handed hitting outfielder posted a .213 average with 14 HR and 40 RBI. He is a career .241 hitter.

Gregorius only played in eight games at the major league level last season. In that brief time, the native of The Netherlands collected six hits in 21 plate appearances. Splitting time in the Reds organization between Double-A and Triple-A last year, he posted a combined average of .265 with seven home runs.

The 30-year-old Choo would bring a career .289 average down I-71 to Cincinnati. Last season, the left-handed hitter belted 16 homers and drove in 67 runners. The Korean-born veteran also racked up 21 stolen bases for the Indians while seeing action in 155 games.

The Reds are expected to use Choo in center field should they acquire him. However, he has not played the position since 2009, and that was only for a total of 10 games. He served as the Indians' leadoff hitter 98 times last year, posting an on-base percentage of .389.

According the Knobler report, Choo will be eligible for free agency at the end of the 2013 season.

Richard Allen is a member of the National Motorsports Press Association. For NASCAR stories such as Matt Kenseth, Joey Logano Among Those to Benefit Most From Charlotte Testing please visit RacingWithRich.com.