Indians Part Of 3 Team Deal, Gutierrez Gone as Tribe Nets Relief Help and Infielder

Franklin Gutierrez is no longer a Cleveland Indian. The Indians' GM, Mark Shapiro, announced Thursday a massive three-team swap which netted them right-handed reliever Joe Smith from the Mets and infielder Luis Valbuena from the Mariners in exchange for outfielder Franklin Gutierrez.

The Mets received the Mariners' closer J.J. Putz, outfielder Jeremy Reed, and right-hander Sean Green. The Mariners got Gutierrez from the Indians, and from the Mets they got right-hander Aaron Heilman, outfielder Endy Chavez, and four Minor Leaguers (1B Mike Carp, pitchers Maikel Cleto & Jason Vargas, & outfielder Ezekiel Carrera).

The three-way trade came together at the MLB Winter Meetings being held in Las Vegas this week because of the Mets' interest in Putz, the Mariners' interest in Gutierrez, the Indians' recent talks with Seattle about Putz, and the regular communication between Shapiro and his friend Minaya.

Don't expect the Tribe to sit back now, however. They don't believe their work is done. While Smith will immediately join the bullpen, Valbuena is not seen as the solution to the Indians' hole in the infield. For now, he is viewed as an upper-level prospect that adds depth to a thin area in the organization, which is the middle infield.