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SNS sports mobileCleveland Indians acquire former Wright State star Joe Smith
Friday, December 12, 2008
One of the players the New York Mets gave up in the three-team, 12-player deal that landed them all-star reliever J.J. Putz on Wednesday night, Dec. 11, was former Wright State star Joe Smith.
The submarine-style right-hander who gets plenty of ground balls is headed to Cleveland, where he is expected to play a key role in the Indians' bullpen.
"Joe Smith clearly goes right in the major-league bullpen as a guy we've had long-term interest in," Cleveland Indians GM Mark Shapiro said. "A different look, complements our 'pen well. We think he can be an important part of the back end of a 'pen."
New York shipped reliever Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez, lefty Jason Vargas and three minor leaguers to the Mariners for Putz, center fielder Jeremy Reed and reliever Sean Green. Promising outfielder Franklin Gutierrez was sent from the Indians to Seattle while Cleveland got Smith from the Mets and 23-year-old second baseman Luis Valbuena from the Mariners.
