Written by Rich Swerbinsky

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Last night the Tribe dealt first baseman Ben Broussard to Seattle for outfielder Shin Soo Choo. Choo is a major league ready outfield prospect that was having a very nice year for the Mariners AAA affiliate in Tacoma. Choo will join the Indians big league club immediately and see time in both left and right field. All the details on this deal, and the ramifications for the Indians are inside. For the second time in under a month, the Indians have dealt a first baseman to the Mariners.

Indians GM Mark Shapiro sent Ben Broussard to Seattle yesterday for outfielder Shin Soo Choo.  In addition, the Indians will recieve a player to be named later by August 31st as part of the deal, and also sent some cash over to Seattle to help pay some of Broussard's remaining contract for this season.  This trade comes just under a month after the team sent Eduardo Perez to the Mariners for shortstop prospect Asbrudal Cabrera, who is currently playing starting for the Indians class AAA affiliate in Buffalo.

Choo is a major league ready prospect who has been on the Mariners top prospect lists for several years now.  He was the teams minor league player of the year in 2004, and was having a very fine year in AAA Tacoma this year for Seattle ... where he was hitting .323 with 13 HR and 48 RBI with 26 stolen bases in 30 attempts.  He was named to the Pacific Coast League All-Star team, and played four games with the Mariners earlier in the season, going 1-11 in spot duty.

Choo will begin to play immediately for the Indians, and will likely be a fixture in their lineup against right handed pitching.  He's hit .362 versus righties this season, but has struggled against lefties, hitting just .205.  He has great speed, which the Indians lack, and appears to be a great candidate for the leadoff spot or two hole in the lineup, which may allow the Tribe to move Grady Sizemore down into the three hole in time.

The Indians flagship station WTAM also mentioned that Casey Blake will start to play some games at first base to open up some opportunities in right field for Choo, who will also likely see some time platooning in left field with Jason Michaels.  Ryan Garko will also likely be called up soon and be thrust into the mix at first base and left field.

Broussard was having a fine year for the Indians, but the team has several players capable of first base, especially in the wake of Victor Martinez starting to see time there.  The team desperately lacks speed, as well as top of the lineup candidates, and Choo fills both needs.  Jason Michaels is not signed past this season, and Casey Blake is capable of playing several positions ... so corner outfielder is an area where the Indians needed to add a guy or two who can help there in 2007 and 2008, and Choo appears to be a fine candidate to be one of those guys.