The Indians are still engaged in trade talks to add to their outfield mix, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. While a deal is ultimately seen as unlikely, Cleveland appears to be exploring all possible means to upgrade a unit that still has many questions as the season approaches.
As MLBTR’s Steve Adams wrote in reviewing the club’s offseason, it was surprising that the organization did not do more to address the outfield — especially after losing Abraham Almonte for eighty games due to suspension. Since that piece was published, of course, the club did pick up Marlon Byrd on a minor league deal and has received positive signs on Michael Brantley‘s injury rehab, but it seems that the overall mix remains a concern.
As before, the Indians are weighing the idea of moving pitching for the right player. But Rosenthal says that the club’s top three starters are no longer seriously being discussed. Instead, per the report, rotation options such as Trevor Bauer, Josh Tomlin, Cody Anderson, Michael Clevinger, and just-optioned southpaw T.J. House could be “in play” in trade dialogue.
It isn’t clear precisely what kind of player might be pursued at this point, but Cleveland does have some options on hand. Brantley will be expected to play everyday in left once he’s ready, of course. Rajai Davis, Will Venable, and Shane Robinson all have experience in center, while Byrd, Joey Butler, and Lonnie Chisenhall are also available to man right field. While a relatively minor addition could certainly make sense to improve the platoon mix at those two spots, the club might be more inclined to part with pitching depth to acquire a more-or-less full-time piece — particularly, someone capable of playing up the middle.
JBJ and Owens for Carrasco?
Do you want Salazar to with that huge over the top roster.
You should look into stats theyre very useful when you want to talk baseball. Carrasco starts with at least one of benintendi, moncoda, or Rodriguez. They turned down Hoffman, Norris and Pompey from the jays ffs, that’s 20x better than your offer
You mean JBJ is not already a HOF? Dont tell him that. He thinks every Red Sox player is a MVP and HOF already. Even the ones that are not born yet.
Hey people
I come here for entertainment. If you rag too too much on bagpipe, he shall stop entertaining me. I love his offers, keep them coming.
Indians don’t have the cash to pay Moncada or Rusney Castillo.
Castillo is expensive, but Moncada doesn’t cost anything. He’s also a few years away from making a contribution at the MLB level though.
In his (Papi) defense, Owens was actually the top pitching prospect over E-rod as of last year. However With the success of Eduardo, Owens is a bit expendable., though he should still have plenty of trade value. With that said, I still think the trade is light because JBJ is such a risk at the plate and no one knows what Owens could be whereas Carrasco is dirty, I think for the Sox to trade for a Carrasco type, Margot would have had to be involved or Betts would have to mov.e. Doubt the latter happens.
Margot? Well, he would never be involved because he plays for the Pads. hmm. are we trading other team prospects now? and you call yourself a Sox fan? smh
lol…at least this guy is consistent about his ridiculous “trades”.
A true homer he is.
Normally he wants 3 of a teams top players for one of a over rated Red Sox player. Maybe he is learning?
You mean like No. 4 overall pick Dillon Tate for Christian Vasquez?
Clearly TX would have to add more to make the Red Sox agree to that deal.
Tate is 3 yrs away minimum, draft position is irrelevant in trade value. Obviously texas would prefer multiple lesser prospects. But in terms of value it kind of lines up. There is probably a 15% tate is any kind of above average starter, a 10% chance he is a back end starter a 40% chance he ends up in the bullpen as an above reliever and a 35% chance he never puts it together and fizzles out. While there is a 100% chance vazquez adds positive value to ml team this year with 4 more years of control after. If tate was in AA and had thrown over 100 innings in a season then he has more value but right now he is an elite lottery ticket basically. That was a weak draft by the way.
They should give David Murphy another shot. He did well there last year and why not flip him again if they fall out of the race like they did. He wouldnt cost much and could platoon with Davis or Napoli at first
I agree with this. Murphy isn’t a minor league player. While he isn’t great in any one metric, he is at least decent across the board. They should be able to get him for cheap.
Please no Murphy. We been down that road before with all respect to how he played.
The Tigers will give you Cameron Maybin and Mike Aviles for Rajai Davis.
Lol, Mike Aviles for Rajai Davis would be interesting. Not gonna happen, but it’d definitely be unique
No thanks, we will keep Maybin. Aviles might be available, but doubt Cleveland has a need.
No spot for Aviles. We have a much better super utility guy in Jram, even though Mikey is one heck of a guy.
They can take Carl Crawford and give the Dodgers a bucket of balls
Thought the same for Michael Bourn. Cleveland is already paying half his salary anyway.
Not Crawford but I like to have Joc ( extreme bias cause he is one of my fave players). He would look good in CF. No, I’m not saying they would trade him but love to see him play everyday out there.
Michael Bourn and $5M for a minor league pitcher sounds like a fair swap.
Good call, fair and not one sided like most proposals.
The Orioles and Indians match up fairly well when u think about it
Alejandro De Aza needs a new home.
De Aza will have to approve any trade that he’s involved in before June 15th, since he was a FA signee. I’d bet he’d approve the deal if he was guaranteed a starting role in CF…..He’s going to play 2x a week in NY……
The Bourn Idea makes some sense too…….Braves don’t want him……but couldn’t Cleveland just wait until Bourn is released?
Agreed, I can’t imagine he would turn down any deal where he becomes the de facto starter. It would make sense for both sides, depending on what expectations the Mets have for a return (Salary relief should be enough, but you never know).
Agree to your view on “wait until Bourn is released,” hints why I hope Braves hang on to both. No sense in outright releasing them in my opinion.
All respect to Bourn but he is not coming back to Cleveland. That would be like getting rid of a rash and asking for it back. He didn’t enjoy his time here and the tribe has all but said Swish and Bournie was a mistake. I don’t think the FO is that stupid to make the same mistake twice..than again, we do have Antonetti running things.
With the way Mallex has played just move Markakis, shift Inciarte to right put Mallex in center and call it a day.
I keep reading that the Indians are “talented” and will finish 1st or 2nd in the ALC.
They had to sign Rajai Davis as a RH platoon guy – one that can’t play the OF anymore. They signed Napoli and Uribe – not to platoon – but to start at 1B and 3B. All 3 players were let go by contending teams (Napoli played for 2 teams in 2015, Uribe for 3). Now they have finally figured out that they don’t have a legitimate major league CF or RF, and that Brantley in LF is coming of shoulder surgery.
I follow the Indians because I cannot believe how such a poorly designed team (for 4-5 years they have been overloaded with LH batters so teams call up LH pitchers from the minors before a series, and more often then not the Indians can’t beat them) has become a darling of the national sports media. The last 3 years they’ve gotten more favorable publicity then the Royals – who went to 2 World Series and won one.
On the Royals vs. Indians pub:
Whenever I read about the Royals its that their starting pitching is not that good (they don’t have a true ace), they have to platoon in RF (never mention that the guys out there are quite good), that they don’t hit many HR’s, etc. But when I read about the Indians, all I see is how great the starting pitching is, and how Brantley, Kipnis, Gomes and now Lindor are under-appreciated. No comment that they went into the off-season knowing their best position player was coming off of major surgery, and not having players to start at 4 positions – while by spring training 2 of those 4 positions were filled by players at the end of the line that no contending team wanted to sign as a bench player.
Is Russell Branyan available?
I didn’t know we were the darlings. Most of the talk is outside Cleveland because tribe fans hate us. Our offense is bad. No way to put it..I think we have some good pieces but Rajai Davis, Cowgll were joke signings. I thought we should have gotten Ozuna when we had the chance but, as I was not in the room when they discussed,,I don’t know what Miami wanted. Seems like he is staying there now. We do have some very good starters. Our top 3 have a chance to all compete for the Cy Young if they pitch to their talent, which i agree can be said of many pitchers. As far as Uribe, he is not a “bad” player. He is old but still productive. I believe he could still be that but their’s always a worry of progression when you’re getting ready to collect social security. I think he can hold the fort enough for Urshela to hopefully develop a major league bat cause he is gold defensively. I think the initial plan is to platoon Uribe, Davis, Napoli, (and Cowgill before we found out what everyone else knew. he can’t hit a beach ball) and win by manufacturing a few runs. Will it work? I don’t know but my gut says no as Napoli can’t hit righties, Davis lost a step, and Uribe; I just know father time never loses. Take this all with a grain of salt as it is being written from a hopeful Indians fan
Rays have too many options in the OF and could use another solid pen arm…
I couldn’t agree more. Souza jr to Cleveland for any above named Indians pitcher.
Braves may be interested in a trade of Ender Inciarte and Christopher Ellis for Danny Salazar.
Except, as the article says, the Indians don’t plan to move Kluber, Carrasco, or Salazar. I imagine that if Cleveland was willing to move Salazar for Inciarte, ever, then Arizona would’ve done that instead of putting together the Shelby Miller package
Good call, but do not think the need was as dire for Cleveland when the Miller trade happened. Still do not see this trade happening, as much as I would like it. Slot Bourn in CF for half the season and if he generates, ship him off to not best his option under contract with ATL.
Wouldnt make sense for the braves. They are still 2 yrs away min. They would actually be giving up a yr of controlm salazar is good but they would only have him for 2 yrs in their window.
The Indians have a TEMPORARY need and people are acting like they have to trade a starting pitcher or a prospect for an outfielder, they dont, get a grip.
If their need is TEMPORARY, then why don’t they just play Davis, Chisenhall, Naquin, and 3 other guys mentioned n the article?
what about if the Reds trade Bruce for kluber
I’ll assume that was a joke.
Bruce and who else? You better be talking Stephenson, Winker.. Otherwise, it’s a no go. Also, Bruce would have no where to play. Chiz is in right and it would make no sense to have both..
Bruce added the Indians to the list of teams he will veto a trade to.