I suppose you can't always do things in exactly the right order. Had Walt not moved in when he did on Ludwick, he may have lost him. And you never know what sorts of exchanges the Indians are having about Choo.
Choo will be FA after 2013. Hopefully Reds make qualifying offer and get the picks. If he accepts, they can (hopefully) always trade Ludwick.
Ludwick needs his rest.
My guess is that Choo would play some CF and some LF.
Heisey would fill in at center when Ludwick rests, with Choo moving to LF.
That's my guess.
Worst case Choo can't really play CF, he moves to LF and Hamilton takes over CF. Otherwise, they trade Ludwick and Heisey takes over CF. Either way I'll take it- it's better than the status quo.
This would be perhaps the best of all possible upgrades to bridge the way to Hamilton's arrival.
Despite the rumor being Choo in CF, they'd have plenty of time to make that decision later if they feel Bruce would be better there.
From Cot's (aka BP), he's in his final arb year (MLB service time of 5.119).
Code:1 year/$4.9M (2012)
re-signed by Cleveland 1/17/12 (avoided arbitration)
1 year/$3.975M (2011)
re-signed by Cleveland 1/18/11 (avoided arbitration)
1 year/$0.4611M (2010)
re-signed by Cleveland 3/10/10
1 year/$0.4203M (2009)
re-signed by Cleveland 2/22/09 ($234,300 in minors)
1 year/$0.3904M (2008)
re-signed by Cleveland 3/7/08
1 year/$0.3831M (2007)
re-signed by Cleveland 2/07 (split contract paying $109,600 in minors)
1 year (2006)
re-signed by Cleveland 3/06
acquired by Cleveland in trade from Seattle 7/06, with Indians paying Mariners undisclosed amount of cash
signed by Cleveland as a free agent from South Korea in 2000
$1.3M signing bonus
agent: Scott Boras
ML service: 5.119