Cleveland Indians: No Pitching Trade Inquiries For Months

The interest from MLB teams in Cleveland Indians starting pitchers has been non-existent.

Despite the Cleveland Indians multiple starting pitching options who could be trade targets, the organization has not received the interest they had in the past. According to MLB Network’s Peter Gammons, it has been two months since the Tribe has last discussed a trade for one of their starting pitchers.

Since the last phone call was received prior to Christmas, Cleveland’s opportunity to make an impact via trade has likely passed. Among the starting pitchers the Indians have that gained plenty of trade interest includes Corey Kluber, Carlos Carrasco, Danny Salazar, and Trevor Bauer.

Due to Cleveland’s inability to go out and sign whomever the organization wants, trades are critical. Prior to Christmas, the Cleveland Indians were in trade discussions with multiple teams. Cleveland needed to be more realistic in what they could have received in return. In order for one of those potential trades to have happened, one of their key pitchers needed to be dealt.

Nothing has changed as a pitcher still needs to be dealt. The Cleveland Indians could have made a deal that improved the team for this season and beyond. Instead, the Tribe’s lack of willingness to be flexible to obtain that outfielder or a first baseman at the time cost them.

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Now, just under a month before the Cleveland Indians arrive in Arizona for spring training, the picture is clear as to how their season is going to play out. One of two scenarios is going to occur for Cleveland and they both depend on the success of the offense. The Indians offense will produce just enough to keep the team in contention and finish with a record around .500. Or because of the question marks around the diamond and issues in the outfield will force Cleveland to struggle to win 70 games.

The Cleveland Indians will continue to be in a battle to compete with their division rivals. How can they compete with a Detroit Tigers lineups who just added outfielder Justin Upton, a Kansas City Royals team who is bringing back nearly the same team that won the World Series, or a Chicago White Sox team who could add outfielder Yoenis Cespedes? The Tribe is going to be back against the wall.

Even though Cleveland’s record history likely will repeat itself this season, there are aspects why at least some success is going to occur. The first and most obvious  is because of their starting pitching. There were many reasons why other teams earlier this offseason wanted to trade for them. Other players who are reasons why some sort of success will occur is shortstop Francisco Lindor, second baseman Jason Kipnis, and outfielder Michael Brantley (when he gets back to being healthy again).

All that is great, but the Indians do not have enough balance between pitching and offensive production. That said, Cleveland’s best chance of an improved team is trading away a pitcher, even though it is a strength of the team.

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Until that happens, another upcoming Cleveland Indians season means another hope for the best, but expect the worse type of situation.